Getting Ready for IslandWood

Here's a list of what you should bring. We have some gear available for check out, but we ask everyone to make an effort to bring their own. (All the time spent checking gear in and out could otherwise be used out playing games, watching animals, and learning!)

What to Pack!

• Lunch for the first day (only if you want to eat)

• Name Tag

• Clothing

  • Sneakers or hiking shoes
  • Extra pair of sturdy walking shoes
  • Warm jacket
  • Sweater and/or sweatshirt
  • Long underwear (we haven't seen a red "Union Suit" yet - maybe you can be the first!)
  • T-shirts or other light shirts
  • Daily change of underwear
  • Daily change of warm, thick socks
  • 3 pair of long pants
  • 1 pair of shorts (in warm weather)
  • Warm pajamas and slippers
  • Hat and gloves
  • Plastic bag for dirty clothes
  • Raingear- if available*

• Bedding

  • Sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow

• Personal gear

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Towel, soap, and shampoo
  • Brush or comb

• Outdoor activity gear

  • Backpack/knapsack
  • Water bottle

• Optional gear

  • Flashlight
  • Bug repellent (not spray type), lip salve, sunscreen,sunglasses
  • Inexpensive camera and film
  • Money for gift shop (we recommend no more than $20 per student)
  • Books and writing materials
  • Photos or items to provide comfort at night. (Photo of Aunt Hildegard, your favorite little brother, etc.)

*Please bring your own raingear if you have it. That way, we can reserve ours for kids who need it.

What NOT to Pack!

Don't bother bringing the following items:

• Money (unless your teacher plans to let you visit the gift shop. Otherwise, there's nothing to spend it on.)
• New clothes or shoes that can't get dirty (You may even find out how important dirt is to the world!)
• Sandals or open-toe shoes (They just don't offer enough protection from rocks, mud, man-eating plants, etc.)
• Radios, CD or tape players, electronic games (Reception is bad here, and you won't have time to use them, anyhow.)
• Knives, other sharp items, weapons (We are a school program.)
• Matches or fireworks (We like our trees.)
• Chewing gum, candy, food - other than lunch on the first day... (You'll get all you want at our meals. We don't want snacks in the lodges as it just tempts our crittiers to come inside instead of staying outside in their own places.)
• Jewelry or valuables (Impress us with your desire to learn!)
• Hair dryers, curling irons, or other electric appliances (You look goregous no matter what your hair is like.)
• Cellular telephones, pagers, or other electronic devices (The reception is really, really bad on our campus.)
• Alcohol or drugs (duh!)
• Medicines that have not been turned over to the teachers for safe keeping (Anything you need should be arranged with your teacher BEFORE you leave school.)
• Aerosol insect sprays or sunscreen sprays (Just doing our part to save the Ozone Layer.)

Make sure you can carry your bags. Limit your luggage to one suitcase, backpack, or duffel bag, plus one sleeping bag or bedroll. No trunks! (Except for elephants.) A heavy-duty trashcan liner can be used instead of a suitcase.

Avoid bringing unnecessary items. IslandWood is not responsible for articles you leave behind, but we will try to get them back to their owners.

Make sure your you can carry your own bags. It's about twenty miles from the bus drop-off to your lodge! (Not really, but it is a bit of a walk.)

NO WHEELED BAGS - you have to go on a gravel path, and it will be like pushing a bad cart at the grocery store - really annoying!