Packing Tips

Each trip has a specific packing list, which you can find on that trip’s page. Below are some tips on packing for your adventure!

Carry on or check luggage?

You should be able to pack everything you need in a large duffel bag (that you’ll check) and a smaller school-sized backpack (that you’ll carry on). Check with your airline for size and weight limits on checked bags; it is very possible to fit everything you need in a bag that weighs under 50 pounds. 

What if I’m having trouble fitting everything?

No worries! The hardest part is packing your bags to fly to Bold Earth. If you have a trip that requires a sleeping bag, you can often just carry your sleeping bag on as a personal item. Once your child arrives at Bold Earth their sleeping bag can be stored separately from their duffel on domestic trips.

ID and passport

On international trips, each student will need a valid passport (passports should be valid for six months after the end date of your trip; some trips will also require visa documents). Please pack these documents bundled together with other important items, like your wallet and electronics, in your smaller carry-on backpack. For U.S. citizens traveling domestically, students under 18 are not required to show an ID to get through security and board their flight.

We recommend packing the following inside a gallon-sized Ziploc or stuff sack in the carry-on bag:

• ID/passport/visa documents
• Cell phone and charger
• Medications
• Change of clothes and essentials like toothbrush and toothpaste, contacts and solutions, water bottle, and sunglasses

What to wear

Please wear your brand-new Bold Earth T-shirt (that we send prior to the trip) so that trip leaders can easily recognize you at the airport. You’ll want to wear comfortable clothes for your flight, like closed-toe shoes and a sweatshirt in case the plane is cold.