How to make summer camp care packages

A good care package is as important to me as a piece of mail. It means something to know that a close friend or Clark family member took time to pick out items, carefully assemble them, and personally send them, especially when sending a text or buying something to ship right to someone’s doorstep is so much easier. Sometimes these boxes are a cure for homesickness, or just a way to send something specific — like the time my mom shipped me a USPS medium flat rate box shoved to the brim with 12 mangoes to help me cope through my first-ever East Coast winter.

A care package is essential for any summer camp experience. Polygon Summer camp inspired Nicole Carpenter and me to make this a priority. Both of us love all things arts and stationery, and here’s a dorky little fun fact: We were pen pals before we both landed at Polygon. We both love to draw and paint, (incidentally we also love watercolor, Holbein Acrylic Gouache) just as much as playing games. You could combine your hobbies and give each other something fun.

As kids, neither of us could afford summer camp so our energies were diverted to making these care packages deliver on the dreams we shared. How would you feel far from your family? It would be good to have some snacks and some crafts for the trip. We had some great ideas and we got to work. Here’s what we came up with.

Let’s start with the reveal

Grid View

Nicole Clark: I had tons of fun opening up this package in the week leading up to not-E3 — it was the ultimate pick-me-up. I was greeted with a “Welcome to Polygon Summer Camp” postcard which was very, very cute, and looked so much like one of those welcome postcards you can buy during road trips. I have no idea how she managed to get it to look so accurate, but I’m incredibly impressed.

Just as I was about to finish my last composition-sized notebook, I started looking for one. The one you see here and the spiral-bound one are perfect. I’m going to cover these bad boys in stickers. I also love the bird watching book — a hobby I’d been wanting to try for a while, and perfect to take on a camping trip. I can also take some cute pics of birds and also adorable wildlife with this disposable camera; because it’s “expired” everything will have a soft, faded look.

Let’s now move on to my favourite little boy. He is so cute!

Photograph by Daniel Matyas, Polygon

It was a perfect snack. I had never had Flamin’ Hot Funyuns before (I didn’t even know they existed!They are a staple in my daily life, and I can’t imagine my life without them. Funyuns have always been a favourite snack, especially since I like spicy and tangy foods. Half of the bag was gone, and I used chopsticks to keep any dust off my fingers. I’m not opposed to it, but I did once accidentally rub my eyes after chopping a pepper, and let’s just say I’ll never forget it. Pikmin gummi gummies were delicious and I did try one during my daily walks. Pikmin Bloom.

Last but not least, she also made me a friendship bracelet. I’m wearing it as I type this!!!

Photo: Nicole Carpenter/Polygon

Nicole Carpenter: Nicole can put together an excellent care package. This care package arrived just in time for the busy not-E3 period. It included many things that I have used since then. The incredible painting of An Easy Hike, one of my favorite games ever, is now hanging right above my desk alongside cute art — some also made by friends! Squirtle is my new best friend and hangs above all of my notebooks. (My pen selection has new additions now, too — beautiful soft Mildliner highlighters and Tombow markers that match Squirtle himself!)

Photo: Nicole Carpenter/Polygon

Speaking of notebooks, Nicole included a Kirby notebook and other delightful Kirby things — like a cup and saucer! This set is perfect for taking camping with the Animal Crossing cards that Nicole sent. I truly can’t get over how cute the packaging is — it’s like I’m flush with Bells!

Nicole said that the snack were perfect. All the right flavor notes were met by her: sweet, spicy and sour. The Sour Patch Kids were immediately opened and I ate all of them.

The care package is put together

Photo: Nicole Clark/Polygon

Nicole Clark:Here’s how I made the sausage. (Sorry for the bad phrase. This is actually quite cute. This cover is my attempt at painting. An Easy HikeA camping-inspired game, that felt just right. Can I paint? No! Was it a lot of fun? Yes! At Summer Camp, we might not be good at art, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try.

Later, I stopped by a little gift shop in Japantown in Los Angeles in order to get a handful of items, like the Kirby’s Burger-themed plate and cup — which I thought would be fun and portable for eating a campfire snack — as well as the little Squirtle plushie. I also grabbed some snacks like Pocky and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (incredible that we both went that direction).

To purchase Zebra Mildliner pen in Squirtle colors I went to an art supply store. They’re my favorite journaling pens because one side has a fine tip and the other has a highlighter tip, so you can use them in multiple ways. The Tombow dual brush pen has a fine tip and a bristle tip. Knowing Nicole’s extensive collection of fountain pens, art supplies and other tools, I wanted to find a selection that would compliment her existing inventory.

Bell bags in a small size Animal Crossing New HorizonsThe seller of the playing cards, Etsy Shop Zelda Sets made from these same cards. Genshin Impact fans. I have so many memories of bringing a deck of cards to the beach with friends, or on a family vacation — and putting Animal Crossing villagers on them just felt right.

Nicole Carpenter: I can honestly say that putting together the Polygon Summer Camp Care Package for Nicole was my favourite Polygon project. Who doesn’t want to send cute things to their friends?

Photo: Nicole Carpenter/Polygon

First, I started designing the postcard. It was essential that arts and crafts were included in this process, so it took me embarrassingly much time to design the postcard. I finally settled on a layout, and then just did it. My last-minute addition was the cute Charmander by the fire. I absolutely love him. All materials used: acrylic gouache, watercolor and Posca pen, all on watercolor papers.

Next came the task of finding adorable and useful items to complete the care package. Because Nicole and I have a shared love of stationery and we know it, I wanted to make sure there was a wide selection of notepads and stickers. These stickers are Halo- and Animal Crossing-themed.

Of course, there’s her own special friend Pikachu dressed as Snorlax, which I ordered from the Pokémon Center. Pikmin star candies and Pikmin gum came from an Etsy seller in Japan and arrived at me in a shockingly quick time. Then it was on to Nicole. It’s funny how the Funyuns work though. I ordered these online because there appears to be a Flamin’ Hot shortage in my area. Five bags were purchased, believing that they would be small enough to snack on. They were not snack sized, and I’ve also been living off Flamin’ Hot Funyuns.

Making matching friendship bracelets was my favourite part. It’s a great summer camp activity. Picking the beads was simple because we share a favorite color. Do you know what’s not easy? This is how you string these small beads on a stretchy band. It’s been weeks, and I still find beads on the floor.

Because bird watching can be a fun game, I also included a book on bird watching. Gotta catch ’em all… with your eyes!

I bought Nicole a few very cute pens and a correction tape dispenser, but they arrived so late that they’ll come in a separate package. I will not disclose more details so it’s a surprise — summer camp delayed!