After a summer full of adventures and memories, what could serve as better icing on the cake than a week-long getaway from the city? For bloggers Hui Wen and Richard, along with myself, it’s safe to say that the next item in our summer itinerary has us sitting on the edge of our seats. All three of us are heading off on a week-long vacation, and the fact that we get to experience it together makes it even more exciting! We aren’t headed for Paris, or London, or Milan, or Disneyland, no, but I think we’re headed for a destination equally as unforgettable. We’re going…to SUNIA!! SUNIA is a week-long summer camp that takes place either from August 14th-19th or 21st-25th, depending on if you go week A or week B. This is a camp that highlights the skills of Model United Nations, an extracurricular which is both fun and valuable. However, it wouldn’t be a summer camp if all we did was Model United Nations… that’s why SUNIA is located at the Goldeye center in Nordegg, Alberta, where there is wildlife and nature galore. Like any overnight summer camp, we’ll be hiking, swimming, canoeing, eating amazing food, and taking lots and lots of photos! Richard, Hui Wen and I are city dwellers, so we drew a bit of a blank when it came to what to wear at an outdoor camp. (the most important thing, obviously.) Literally though- I questioned Hui Wen multiple times on what to wear/bring, because my entire wardrobe is from brands which begin with “Urban”… Thankfully, Hui Wen has a flawless sense of style no matter the situation, so she came up with the fabulous idea of doing a Summer Camp Lookbook. The outfits she put together gave me a pretty good idea of what to bring to summer camp, camping, etc, so no matter the type of camp you head off to during summer, here are some staple looks!
OUTFIT #1
Being comfortable and cute at the same time isn’t hard- in this outfit, Hui Wen has paired a cozy pullover with ripped skinny jeans and sneakers. It’s always nice to bring a pullover that will keep you warm, especially since weather everywhere can be quite unpredictable. Under the pullover Hui Wen has on a basic tee (featured in the next outfit), so she can prevent overheating by simply taking her pullover off. Sneakers are essential for summer camp, because hiking up mountains in heels or flats can’t be a fun experience.
OUTFIT #2
Hui Wen demonstrates how to pack light by styling this Tee shirt three different ways- under a pullover in OUTFIT #1, with rolled up sleeves in OUTFIT #2, and with a flannel in OUTIFT #3. In OUTFIT #2, all Hui Wen has done is taken off her pullover and tied it around her waist. If you’ve been hiking/outside for a while and the temperature is really bothering you, an easy way to stay cool is to roll up the sleeves of the shirt you’re wearing. This trick works especially well with T-shirt sleeves. Another useful essential when out at camp is the hair elastic. Whether you’re swimming, too hot, hiking, or having your hair being blown by the wind into your face, a hair elastic is fool-proof.
OUTFIT #3
Hui Wen is still wearing the same T-shirt, but unless I looked closely I would think she had on a completely different outfit. Flannels are adorable no matter the season, and since they are super comfy bringing them to camp is a big yes. They are also quite versatile- you could simply layer a shirt with a flannel, or you could button it up to conserve warmth, or you could tie it around your waist, or you could sit on it. Also, wearing a belt does no harm, especially if it’s as cute as the one above. Belts tend to pull outfits together, so even if you’re feeling lazy just pop one on, and there you go!
OUTFIT #4
Simple shorts and a T-shirt work great in any summer setting, especially summer camp. This outfit would probably be worn on a hotter day when you wouldn’t want to be bothered by full length skinny jeans. Any shorts-and-shirt combo works, but make sure what you’re wearing is appropriate for the occasion. Hui Wen is wearing clothes which are a perfect length and fit (since there are going to be diplomats and SUNIA has a heavy academic portion, wearing revealing clothing would do more harm than good), and she would wear this outfit on a casual day as opposed to a conference. On her feet, Hui Wen is wearing a good old pair of Birkenstocks. Birks are perfect for summer-they’re comfy, cute, and they go with everything.
OUTFIT #5
Once again, you can’t go wrong when pairing a good quality pair of shorts with a cute tee. Hui Wen is wearing a basic black T-shirt with the same pair of shorts, belt, and Birks, and she still looks fabulous! We both agreed that the scallop detail on her T-shirt is beautiful.
And there you have it! 5 comfortable, cute, camp-worthy outfits that can last you an entire week in any temperature!
Farewell for a week from Hui Wen, Richard and I as we embark on our SUNIA 2016 journey! A direct quote from Hui Wen: “My summer will start when I go to SUNIA”.
When we return, you can all look forward to both an exciting summer camp vlog of our journey, and perhaps even an interview or two with people who we meet there!
