We know sending your babies to camp can be both scary and exciting. Here you will find resources to help make your family's experience at Camp Tanako a memorable one, after all, we are in the forever business! 

First Time to Camp?
​Camp Tanako has welcomed generations of children since 1948. We pride ourselves on running a top notch Summer Camp. Our 10 weeks of programing are ecumenical. Partners  from the Presbyterian Church USA, Church of the Brethren, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church (ELCA) and Baptist worked together to develop InsideOut's curriculum.

Attention to Inclusivity
The diversity of God’s creation extends to our campers and families. We know that outdoors is not the natural habitat for all our campers, and we are sensitive to those unfamiliar with the setting. Coming from different backgrounds, all campers should find a safe and warm welcome at camp. We are intentional about creating activities and experiences that are affirming of all God’s people. Diverse images of God, appropriate language for ethnic identities, and words that do not devalue the humanity of a person for physical or emotional differences are important. This is equally important to issues of gender identity and expression. Allowing space for campers to share their own identity rather than label them is crucial to supporting their personal growth and spiritual journey. However a camper arrives at camp, and however they understand themselves, we want them to know they are a beloved child of God.

Know you are welcome to visit with our team members prior to coming to camp if you have any questions or concerns! 501-262-2600

What to Pack
The most important thing to be sure and pack is your smile and the willingness to join others for a great time.  Below is a list of the other things that you should bring to camp with you.  Along with what to bring we also have things that you should not bring and you can find these below as well.

Day Camp
In you camp bag, you will need:

• Bible & Journal
• Bug spray
• Closed-toe shoes
• Sunscreen
• ​Swim clothes (we try to have a water activity everyday)
• Towel
• Wate bottle
• Water shoes

Overnight Camp

• ​Bible & Journal
• Bug Spray
• Camera 
• Camp and play clothes
• Closed-toe shoes
• Flashlight with Batteries.
• Light sweater/jacket in case of chilly evenings at worship or Outpost
• Rain gear. Jacket or poncho preferred, umbrellas work just fine as well.
• Pillow and a sleeping bag or sheets with a blanket
• Sleepwear
• Small Lock for personal locker (counselors)
• Sunscreen
• Swimsuit
• Toilet articles, towels, washcloths, etc.
• Water shoes
• Water bottle

What NOT to Pack

• Cell phones
• Other electronic communication devices
• Recording and playback devices

Things to Know for Overnight Camp

• ​Check-in will take place in the Tanako Life Center (TLC) between 2P-3P on the day of your arrival. You will park in the parking lot, check-in, and a Tanako staff will direct you to your cabin, and one of our bellhops will help you carry items to your cabin.
• You do not need to bring any paperwork with you. You are prompted during registration to fill out your health form and waiver. During check-in, we will have you fill out a waiver if you signed up for horseback riding and an authorized release form.
  • If your camper has medication, they will check in with our health administrator after check in. If the medication is a prescription, please bring in the original   bottle.
• Your camper will not need any money with them during camp. We will have the gift shop open during check-in and check-out.
• Check-out will take place in the cabin at 11A on your departure day. Medications will be checked out of the TLC.
• We would like to invite parents and guardians to join us for closing worship at 10A in the Chapel.
• BUNK1 is our photo sharing system. You will receive login credentials when you receive your email reminder the week before camp.
• If you wish to bring mail for your camper to open, there will be a drop-off in the lobby at Check in. The camper first and last name must be on the envelope. (Campers love mail!!! You can do one day or all the days!)
• WACKY WEDNESDAY-Pack all your tie-dye things or silly or mismatched clothes.
• Outpost (overnight camping in a hammock) is an optional activity during the week where we will sleep under the stars and cook breakfast over a fire. Tanako will provide a backpack with blanket, hammock, and flashlight for each camper.

Tanako Overnight Packing Hacks
Camping packing hacks from am a former camper, staff member, and now parent to an avid Tanako camper. I wanted to share 8 packing hacks to make your life and your camper’s life a little easier (and maybe their cabin counselor too). These would likely work at any camp where the shower/bathrooms are in the same building as the sleeping areas (if by chance you live too far from Camp Tanako. Though it is the B-E-S-T, best!)
 
1.Pre-soaped washcloth: Take your washcloth (I always send the ones that are one step away from being a dust rag) a few days prior to packing. Lay them out on a counter or tray where they won’t be disturbed. Add the amount of 3 in 1 soap product (so that you get body wash and hair care in one product) that your child would normally use. You can gently spread it out with your finger for faster drying. Allow it to sit and air dry. This usually takes 24 hours. Then put them in a plastic bag so that they stay dry until shower time!
2.Pack clothes by the day: There are a few ways to do this. I like to take a shirt and lay it on the bed, then shorts, then undies, and socks each on top of the other. Then I fold the whole thing in half, sleeve to sleeve, and if needed the tail of the shirt up to the collar. You can then put a rubber band around it, put it all in a plastic grocery bag, put in a zip lock style storage bag, or even leave them folded like this with nothing to keep them together (though this last option sounds like hard work down the drain, when it all unfolds as the kid rummages through their bag).
3.Disposable camera: I recommend a disposable camera. Yes, they still sell them. Unless you have a digital camera you are willing to possibly part ways with.
4.Dirty clothes bag with a draw string: This can be a cloth/mesh bag or a trash bag with a drawstring. The draw string is important because under the cubbies is a towel rack that the dirty clothes bag can be looped through so that it hangs there and your child can throw their dirty clothes in there every day. If using a cloth/mesh bag you should attach it to the bunk bed post for easier removal at the end of the camp. (remember the bag will grow in size so you might want to test this at home before choosing your method) If you use a plastic trash bag you can cut the draw string off the towel rack.
5.Draw cord type back pack: This should have their Bible, flashlight, and water bottle in it.
6.Knee length bath/house robe: knee length because the shower area floor gets wet and no one wants a soggy robe. Here is why you want a robe. Prior to going to the shower area the camper can change out of their clothes (put them in their hanging laundry bag), put their robe on, grab the pre-soaped washcloth and bath drying towel. Now as a kid (big or small) they are only carrying to the shower area, a rag that will get wet, the towel they will dry off with, and they will put their robe back on after they are dry. Once back to their bed they can drop their wet rag in the laundry bag, hang their bath towel up to dry, and change into their clean clothes in a dry area.
7.Put their name on everything: This is a cabin counselor speaking, not a mom. As a mom your thought is, it doesn’t matter if we make it home with the same or any sunscreen or that old towel or whatever. But as a cabin counselor, if it can be identified as this kid’s or that kid’s without the kid trying to remember or possibly even one being upset because now they don’t know where their sunscreen is or will someone at home be upset that I lost my towel, etc. If the kid doesn’t want their name on it, pick a symbol that can be theirs.
8.SEND MAIL! This is me as a camper. Every camper no matter how old they are wants to get mail. If you don’t want to mail it for fear of it not getting there or forgetting then bring it and drop it off discreetly at the office window after your camper gets settled in their cabin. You can write day 1,2,3, etc. on each envelope so they are delivered in order. Make sure the camper and the camp is listed on the envelope. And no food per camp rules! (Sorry that last part was the staff member in me)
 
Happy Camping!
Courtney