Camp season is here. And if you are anything like most parents, you are standing in front of a duffel bag wondering what you are forgetting. Sleeping bag, swimsuit, flashlight. Those are the easy ones. But the body care products you tuck into that bag? Those matter more than most people realize, especially for kids with sensitive skin who will be spending entire days outside.

Most conventional sunscreens marketed to kids contain chemical ingredients that many families would rather skip. Chemical UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate have been linked to endocrine disruption and are now banned in Hawaii and other regions due to environmental harm.

The goal is simple: Send your kid to camp with products that protect their skin and handle the inevitable scrapes, without any of the harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances that can trigger irritation, especially in children with eczema or sensitive skin.

Here is a camp-tested packing list for clean sunscreen and natural body care. Everything your kid needs to stay protected, comfortable, and free from the stuff you would rather not put on their skin.

 

The Camp Body Care Checklist

1. Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30 or Higher)

This is the most important item in the bag. A mineral formula with non-nano zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection without chemical filters that can irritate sensitive skin or absorb into the body.

For camp, look for water resistance of at least 80 minutes. Kids swim in lakes, sweat on hikes, and generally spend more time outside in a single camp day than they do in a typical school week. The sunscreen needs to hold up through all of it.

Format matters too. Spray sunscreens are convenient, but the American Academy of Dermatology cautions against spraying near the face due to inhalation risk, and kids tend to miss spots with sprays. A lotion or stick gives more complete, even coverage, and it is something a child can actually do themselves.

Our pick: SPF 50 Kids Butter Stick. Easy for kids to apply on their own, no mess, fits in a pocket or clips onto a backpack. Non-nano zinc oxide, organic ingredients, 80-minute water resistance, and reef-friendly for lake and ocean swimming. The butter stick format means a camp counselor can hand it to a child and trust that their face and ears will actually get covered.

2. Lip Balm with Sun Protection

Lips are one of the most commonly forgotten spots for sun protection, and one of the most vulnerable. The skin on your lips is thinner than the rest of your face, contains less melanin, and has no sebaceous glands to provide natural moisture. Kids' lips burn fast. And unlike a sunburned shoulder, a blistered lip makes it painful to eat, drink, and smile through the rest of camp week.

Our pick: All Good Lips SPF 15, The Original. Unflavored mineral lip protection with non-nano zinc oxide. No synthetic fragrance, nothing they should not have near their mouth. Simple enough that kids will actually use it.

3. Gentle Body Wash or Soap

Camp showers are quick, sometimes five minutes if your kid is in a hurry to get back to the campfire, and the water temperature is not always friendly. A gentle, plant-based body wash that cleans effectively without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier makes a real difference, especially over a full week.

Avoid sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate), synthetic fragrance, and artificial dyes. These are the most common triggers for skin irritation in children, especially kids prone to eczema or contact dermatitis. A fragrance-free or naturally scented formula is the safest choice for shared camp bathrooms where strong fragrances can also affect bunkmates.

4. Soothing Balm (for Scrapes, Bug Bites, and Dry Patches)

Camp means scraped knees, bug bites, rope burns, blister-prone feet, and the occasional mystery rash that no one can quite explain. A multi-purpose balm handles all of it without needing a separate product for each problem.

Our pick: All Good Goop, 1 oz. Made with organic, plant-based ingredients. Goop works on dry patches, minor cuts, chapped skin, cracked lips, and bug bites. The 1 oz size fits in any pocket or first-aid kit.

5. Aloe Vera Gel (for Sunburn Recovery)

Even with perfect sunscreen application, sunburns happen, a missed spot on the back of the neck, a reapplication that came 30 minutes too late, or a cloudy day that turned out to be stronger than anyone expected. Pack an aloe vera gel for after-sun care.

Look for one with minimal additives, real aloe vera as the first ingredient, not green-dyed gel with aloe listed fifth. Avoid products with alcohol (drying on sunburned skin), artificial fragrance (irritating), or lidocaine (can cause allergic reactions in some children).

Application Tips for Camp Counselors

Many camps allow or even require counselors to help with sunscreen application, especially for younger campers. If your camp allows it, consider tucking a note in your child's bag with these pointers:

• Timing: Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside. Mineral sunscreen works immediately, but this buffer ensures complete coverage before kids get distracted by something more interesting than sunscreen.
• Amount: About 1 ounce (a shot glass full) per full-body application for adults. Children need proportionally less based on body size, roughly half an ounce for an average 8-year-old.
• Reapplication: Every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming, heavy sweating, or toweling off.
• Missed spots: The most commonly missed areas on kids are ears, the back of the neck, tops of feet (in sandals), and the part line in hair. Worth calling out specifically in your note.

A small thing that helps: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating. Print that out and tape it to the inside of your child's toiletry bag so counselors have an easy reference.

What to Avoid in Kids' Body Care

When choosing body care products for camp, here are the ingredients worth steering clear of:

• Oxybenzone and octinoxate: Chemical UV filters classified as endocrine disruptors. Banned in Hawaii and other jurisdictions due to harm to coral reefs and concerns about human absorption.
• Synthetic fragrance ("parfum" or "fragrance"): A catch-all term that can include dozens of undisclosed chemicals. It is the most common cause of contact dermatitis in children with sensitive skin.
• DEET concentrations above 10%: For children under 12, per American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Avoid entirely for children under 2.
• Aerosol spray sunscreens near the face: Inhalation risk for children. The FDA has not finalized safety data on spray sunscreen inhalation.
• Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A palmitate): Sometimes added to sunscreens as a "skin conditioner." Some research suggests it may accelerate skin damage when exposed to sunlight.

The simplest rule of thumb: turn the bottle around and read the ingredient list. If most of the names are unrecognizable, there is likely a cleaner option out there.

The All Good Camp Kit

We put together a suggested camp kit with everything your kid needs, and nothing they do not:

• SPF 50 Kids Butter Stick, mineral sunscreen, mess-free, 80-min water resistance
• All Good Lips SPF 15, The Original, mineral lip protection kids will actually wear
• All Good Goop, 1 oz, multi-purpose balm for scrapes, bites, and dry skin

Plant-based, organic ingredients, safe for sensitive skin. Explore our full product lineup to see what goes into every formula and why each ingredient earned its place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sunscreen should I use for kids at camp?

SPF 30 or higher with non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient. Look for 80-minute water resistance and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Avoid chemical UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are linked to endocrine disruption and have been banned in several jurisdictions.

Is mineral sunscreen safe for kids?

Yes. The FDA recognizes zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective), the only two of 16 reviewed UV filters to receive that classification. Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin's surface and reflect UV rays without absorbing into the body, making them the preferred choice for children and adults with sensitive skin.

How often should kids reapply sunscreen at camp?

Every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating heavily, or toweling off. This recommendation comes from the American Academy of Dermatology and applies to both mineral and chemical sunscreens. For camp days with swimming, plan for reapplication approximately every 80 minutes during water activities.

Can I use the same sunscreen on my baby and my older child?

For children 6 months and older, a non-nano zinc oxide mineral sunscreen like SPF 50 Kids Butter Stick is appropriate. For infants under 6 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies out of direct sunlight entirely and using protective clothing and shade rather than sunscreen.