Our Students’ Top Tips on Preparing for Camp

Junior School camps are a major highlight of the summer term. But there’s a lot to prepare for when heading off to camp: an extended period away from home, lots of exciting activities packed into a short space of time, not to mention the unreliability of Scottish weather!

With one P6 cohort already returned, another away this week, and Primary 4, 5, and 7 getting ready to go, we asked the P6 children who have already returned what their top tips would be on how to prepare for camp.

ESM Junior School Camp

Date

30 Apr 2026

Category

Outdoor Learning

School Area

Junior

Bailey – Pack clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and wet!

Bailey’s right! Comfy clothes that can handle some dirt and water are a must. Throughout the week, students participate in so many amazing activities. For Bailey and the P6s this included kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, tree climbing, abseiling, archery, gorge walking, mountain biking, dragon boating, and much more!

Many of the activities take place outdoors with several happening on the water. Students are bound to come home a bit dirtier than when they left, so best not to pack their smartest, newest gear.

ESM Junior School

Evie – Name EVERYTHING!

Staff will do their best to keep students organised but with so many campers using shared spaces like dorm rooms and the dining hall, it can be difficult to keep track of everyone’s belongings. The best solution is to label everything. And when we say everything, we mean everything – all the way from their luggage to their socks.

Olivia – Bring layers for all kinds of Scottish weather

As anyone in Scotland can attest, there’s a chance of experiencing all four seasons in a single day. That’s why you should pack lots of layers. We recommend at least three tracksuit bottoms, three thicker tops, one thermal long sleeve, and a chunky sweater or fleece.

It’s better to have on two sweatshirts and remove one when hot than only have one and risk being cold.

Bryce – Bring Bug Spray (but don’t spray it in your room)

The wee beasties are starting to stir in Scotland’s Cairngorms. To avoid any bites, we suggest bringing bug spray to cover exposed skin. But as Bryce mentioned, probably best to apply the bug spray outdoors!

ESM Junior School

Tom – Think about what helps you get to sleep at home

It won’t just be the activities that push students out of their comfort zone but the whole camp experience. For many students, this may be the longest period they’ve been away from their parents. While at camp, we want to make sure students are happy and having fun. A goodnight sleep is a big part of this.

To help, it may be useful to introduce a routine from home. Perhaps it’s packing their favourite pyjamas or bringing a book they can read before bed. Small things like these can help students better adapt to the sleeping arrangements.

And parents can rest assured that our staff are incredibly experienced in supporting students at camp, ensuring they feel safe and comfortable just like they do at home.

Lydia – Pack outfits in packing cubes or small bags to keep yourself organised

Using packing cubes or small bags can help students find what they need much faster than having to rummage through one large bag. It also means there are specific places to put items away when students are tidying. Plus, carrying two smaller bags tends to be easier for students to manage than having to lug around one large bag.

ESM Junior School

Have fun!

The most important thing is that students enjoy themselves. If they have any questions leading up to camp or are feeling nervous about the experience, many of our teachers offer drop-in lunch time sessions where students can talk through everything camp related.

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