What to pack for our DGS’s PGL week.

[Guest]

Boreatten Park is lovely. But it is much bigger than a lot of the others. So he should expect to do a fair big of walking between activities. You can see quite a bit on googlemaps. Mine used to take three pairs of trainers. One of them so ratty that they were only good for going in the river and usually thrown away afterwards, often the £2.50 cheapo shoes / second hand shop trainers we used to buy and dump. The other two were one for outdoor activities and one for when you have nothing dry left!

As an aside, PGL are really really good at the hand over. You go - hand in their medical form, hand in their pocket money (not a lot as is mainly tuck shop) and get taken by a camp leader to their room. You will have about 1 minute to drop their stuff off and they are gone off to meet the other kids. You find your own way back to the car. Like ripping a plaster off, no long drawn out goodbyes.

It works well. Seems to stop homesickness. Mine never took phones and were discouraged from calling back by PGL. Think they have softened on this to an extend but for my 13 yo it is the only time she will voluntarily leave her phone at home. Which in itself says something. I know some of the others take theirs so each to their own.

[arielrocks]

Extra warms clothes! I went on a pgl trip 24 years ago and remember the weather turning and it being cold at night. My mum hadnt packed me any warm clothes!

[marypoppins38]

Hi Jan, I found this that shows what to pack. Hope this helps. pgl/Files/Document...it-List-UK.pdf
My son has been to Boreatten Park, he had an absolute ball. Hope he has a great time!

[Jan]

Oh dear. This is a bit of a nightmare! Sonny came to stay with us on a visit. He has a return ticket to Singapore for 14 August. Judging by the list of stuff, we will be off to Sports Direct tomorrow to spend some money. He doesn’t even own half of the stuff he seems to need. And as for bedding, we don’t have a sleeping bag or a single duvet. One of the mums booked it and I know next to nothing about it. Feeling slightly p*****d off.

[Princess Alison]

I think you could buy much of this from charity shops -

T-shirt’s
jogging bottoms.
Then you can buy cheap trainers from primark or second hand - one needs to be kept for wet activities.
One jumper.
Toiletries
An outfit for the disco - ie trousers and shirt! Or T-shirt

Shorts - which could be swimming shorts so they can be used for water too.

Underwear

Can you send him with a duvet from home from his bed?

I’d also recommend if possible writing a letter before he goes and sending it on the Saturday, so it arrives when he does. They love receiving letters

[Smilesonfaces]

Daughter has been to PGL a few times. Most important is a pair of old trainers ( did he not bring a couple of pairs with him ?) and a waterproof coat. Could you ask other mums if they have a spare sleeping bag ? T-shirt’s, joggers will be cheap enough at Primark. A decent outfit for the evening. A pillow. A small amount of cash for the tuck shop.
Hope he enjoys himself. Daughter loves PGL.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Jan

Oh dear. This is a bit of a nightmare! Sonny came to stay with us on a visit. He has a return ticket to Singapore for 14 August. Judging by the list of stuff, we will be off to Sports Direct tomorrow to spend some money. He doesn’t even own half of the stuff he seems to need. And as for bedding, we don’t have a sleeping bag or a single duvet. One of the mums booked it and I know next to nothing about it. Feeling slightly p*****d off.

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I would avoid sports direct, clothes will be treated badly. Cheap and cheerful from asdas, Primark and second hand shops.

[marciehatter]

Decathlon is great if you have a store near you.

[Blue nose]

Definitely cheap stuff. No labels. It will get ruined, dirty or lost.

Use a Sharpie to put his name in everything.

[Kellea]

waterproof jacket, old trainer for getting wet and dirty, another pair for an evening, I went asda and bought a weeks worth of cheap tops and leggings so they could be either washed or binned (depending on the state of them at the end of the week) something to change into of an evening, slippers or sliders, pyjamas, warm jacket (tracksuit top or similar), costume, towel, we had to provide bed linen, something to wear for a disco night at the end of the week. I receive everything back in cabin bag so dont send anything worth any money x