Ultimate PGL School Residential Trip Kit List – What To Pack?

Ultimate PGL School Residential Trip Kit List – What To Pack?

It’s that time of year again – year 5 and year 6 children across the country are heading out on exciting school residential trip adventures with their classmates. If your child is going on a PGL School Residential Trip and you’re wondering what to pack, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will look at what a PGL school residential is and what your child is likely to need. If you want to skip ahead to the PGL School Residential Trip Kit List, click here.

What is a PGL School Residential Trip?

A PGL school residential trip is an experience for primary school or secondary school students, organised by the company PGL Adventure. PGL stands for Peter Gordon Lawrence who is the company’s founder. This organisation specialises in creating memorable and educational outdoor experiences with overnight stays for schools. PGL school trips are popular for Year 5 and Year 6 residentials here in the UK.

The company offers a wide range of locations all across the country, including:

• Devon, Barton Hall
• Dorset, Osmington Bay
• East Sussex, Windmill Hill
• Isle of Wight, Little Canada
• Kent, Grosvenor Hall
• Lancashire, Winmarleigh Hall
• Lincolnshire, Caythorpe Court
• Norfolk, Overstrand Hall
• North Yorkshire, Newby Wiske Hall
• Northumberland, Ford Castle
• Perthshire, Dalguise
• Shropshire, Boreatton Park
• South Yorkshire, Dearne Valley
• Suffolk, Bawdsey Manor
• Surrey, Marchants Hill
• Wiltshire, Liddington

What to Pack for a PGL School Residential Trip

Packing for a school residential trip can feel overwhelming – especially if it’s the first time a child of yours is heading on an overnight school trip. Exactly what to pack can vary between locations and depends on what activities have been scheduled for your child’s school. The school might provide you with a packing list from PGL too (which I believe you can also find on the PGL website). My guide here will take you through the things that are recommended by PGL as well as other items that I would recommend packing. Plus some tips and tricks!

Packing List: PGL School Residential Trip Kit List

Clothing

PGL advises that clothes are likely to suffer wear and tear, get dirty and/or wet. For this reason, pack plenty of clothes and choose old but durable clothes or clothes that are not precious. Think comfort and choose clothing suitable for the weather and season as well as for the activities that your school has planned. 

Clothing Essentials Include: 

• T-shirts.
• Long-sleeved t-shirts (arms need to be covered for some activities).
• Waterproof jacket (sometimes waterproof rain trousers are recommended).
• Fleeces and/or jumpers for layering.
• Trousers – joggers or leggings are great. Avoid jeans as they get heavy and cold when wet and are not comfortable for many activities. 
• Pyjamas (1-2 pairs depending on how long the trip is).
• Underwear and socks. 
• Evening wear. In the evening, children can wear regular clothes for calmer activities and there might also be a disco or party one night.
• Swimwear if applicable. You can also pack things like UV rash vests and swim shorts for water sports/water activities. 

Footwear

PGL recommends that each child arrives with two pairs of trainers – 1 pair for activities and 1 old pair for water sports. They also recommend taking 1 pair of dry shoes for evening activities. Choose comfortable trainers that you know your child likes. We normally do a mix of trainers (evening wear), old trainers (for water sports), and hiking boots (for activities). 

I would also recommend packing a pair of flip-flops/Crocs/sandals to use as shower shoes. Communal showers are a breeding ground for verrucas and warts so you wouldn’t want your child barefoot when showering.

Seasonal Essential

Depending on the season and the weather forecast, you might need some of the following:

• Sun hat/cap
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Shorts
• Warmer coat
• Hat and gloves

Personal Items

• 2 x Towels – One for showering and one for water sports activities. Just like with clothing, choose old towels that are not precious. 
• Reusable water bottle so that your child can stay hydrated when doing activities. Choose a bottle that’s easy to rinse out for your child to keep it clean. 
• Small backpack to use as a daypack to carry any personal items, layers, water and snacks on outings. 
• Toiletry bag with your child’s essentials. Find a list of suggestions below:
  • Travel size shower gel/soap
  • Travel size shampoo and conditioner (sample sachets are great for this)
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Deodorant – roll on or stick options as aerosols are not allowed
  • Hair brush – this compact Tangle Teezer is great for trips!
  • Hair accessories, such as hair ties, if needed. 
  • Lip balm (with SPF for warm weather) 
  • Body cream, lotion, etc. if your child uses them
  • Sun cream (already mentioned above) 
  • Plasters 
  • Period products if needed. It’s also a good idea to pack some teen period pads even if your child hasn’t started their period yet as it could happen on the trip.

Other Items to Pack:

• Sleeping bag or duvet (unless otherwise advised)
• Pillow (unless otherwise advised)
• Laundry bag – labelled bin bag or laundry bag for wet and dirty clothes. I recommend using a large reusable waterproof bag (like this) as a more eco-friendly and more durable option. Much easier to label than a plastic bin bag too.
• Medications if needed. You will be given a form from school to fill in and this will have questions and information about any required medications. 
• Spending money. Your child can take some spending money for the tuck shop and/or for buying souvenirs. Your school might recommend suitable amounts and even send you a gift shop price list to plan any purchases in advance. This list is also available online – just search for “PGL gift shop price list”. 
• Snacks / Treats. Your child will be well fed during a PGL school residential stay but for picky eaters it can be good to pack some snacks just in case. Some treats such as sweets can be nice for the kids to enjoy together too. Food items containing nuts are not allowed though so check before you pack.

What NOT to Pack for a PGL School Trip

There are a few things that are not allowed:

• Electrical devices (iPads, etc.)
• Computer games/games consoles etc.
• Mobile phones (for most schools)
• Jewellery and other valuables
• Aerosol products
• Food items containing nuts

Packing Tips

Finally, let’s explore some packing tips for parents.:

• Label everything! PGL asks that parents put their child’s name on all belongings so label anything that you can label. This can be difficult with things like socks and clothing that no longer has a label (my kids always want the labels cut out!) but do your best to label what you can. Use a Sharpie clothing marker to easily label anything that’s made of fabric and add sticky name labels (use Self Adhesive Address Labels to quickly make your own) for other belongings such as toiletries. 
• Pack plenty of spare clothes. Extra clothing, extra underwear and socks (and extra snacks). It’s better to pack a bit too much than not enough. 
• Keep it as light as possible. Though a few extras are recommended for clothing, do try to keep the luggage light enough for your child to be able to carry everything. A carry-on suitcase is a good choice as the main bag and then you can utilise the required daypack to fit things like a sleeping bag. 
• Pack a small comfort item. For many children, it can be nice to have just one small, loved item from home with them – especially if it’s their first time away from home overnight. This could be a small teddy, a book, a special pillow, or a photo of the family for example. 
• Get your child involved. Don’t pack for your child – do it together. Not only will this add to them feeling excited about their trip, but it will ensure that they know what they have in their bag and where everything is.
• Make a list. When packing, make notes of everything that you have packed and how many of each thing there are. This will help your child keep track of their things and ensure that everything comes back home with them.

Lost Property

Labelling all belongings significantly reduces the chance of losing items on a school trip. But it can still happen, of course. If your child does leave anything behind, you can contact PGL via your party leader. If the lost property is found, PGL will post it to you but you will have to cover the postage cost.

Conclusion – What to Pack for a PGL School Residential Trip?

There we have it – my guide to packing for a PGL school residential trip. Armed with all the above tips and the kit list (plus any information provided via your child’s school), you will hopefully feel more prepared and ready to confidently help your child pack and prepare for this exciting trip.

Now, the hardest bit will be waving goodbye to your child as they get on the coach! You will miss them, but they will have so much fun and you’ll be so proud of them for all the amazing things that they will have done on the trip and for being able to travel without a parent!

Also read my previous guide: Packing for a School Residential Trip (not specific to PGL)