The Episcopal Mission Center
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • About Philadelphia
    • Partners
    • Experiences
  • Calendar
  • Programs
    • Summer Break
    • Alternative Breaks
    • Weekends
  • Participant Portal
    • Participant Forms
    • What to Pack?
    • Excursion Options >
      • Above Par Putting
      • Art, Art Everrywhere
      • Cheesesteak Adventure
      • Church SUPPER
      • Dinner & a Movie
      • Parkway Picks
      • Philly: Old & New
      • Take Me Out to the Ballgame
    • Experiences
    • How was your stay?
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT US
    • Donations

Get Packing!

 We've created a packing list to help you get ready for your EMC experience. 

What to bring:

This is a week to live simply. This packing list has all of the necessary items you will need. Please make sure to double-check this list as you are packing. There are not many shopping stores near the EMC and we will have very little spare time to go out and purchase forgotten items. Plus, this is a week to really experience having only what we need and to try not to spend money unnecessarily. ​
Clothing
  • 3-4 Pairs of shorts or pants (must bring at least one pair of pants)
  • 5-7 Tees or tops
  • 1 White shirt to tie-dye
  • Pajamas  
  • 7-8 Undergarments
  • Raincoat/poncho or light jacket
  • Long-sleeve shirt/tee (outdoor work)
  • Sweatshirt/sweatpants
  • Modest Bathing suit

Footwear
  • Sneakers (must bring at least one pair of closed-toe shoes)
  • Socks (1 pair of long socks for garden work)
  • Sandals
  • Flip-flops (for shower use and required for pool visits with City Camp)

Toiletries:
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush/paste
  • Deodorant
  • Lotion
  • Tissues
  • Shampoo/conditioner
Bedding
  • Twin XL sheet/blanket(s)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Pillow
  • Towels
  • Wash cloths
  • Laundry bag

​Misc. Items
  • Sunscreen (highly suggested)
  • Lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Baseball hat
  • Flashlight
  • Cash

Personal Items
  • Water bottle (necessary)
  • A notebook & pen
  • Book
  • Camera
  • Cards
  • Any necessary medications

What to leave:

This is a week to live simply.  You are intentionally taking a break from many of the material possessions that we take for granted and are often time-consuming. You will also be sharing a concentrated space with a lot of people, so there will not be room for extra or unnecessary items.

Take some time to consider what items you could leave behind for a week. There are some items you should not bring, including:

  • Video game devices
  • Posters, pictures, or other decorative items
  • An excessive amount of clothing/outfits
  • Any explicit or revealing clothing (including crop tops, short shorts, holed jeans, and paraphernalia) ​

What to keep in mind:

This is a week to live simply. These additional notes and reminders will make sure you enjoy it!

  • Staying hydrated is really important for days full of service and other activities. Make sure you have a water bottle you can reuse throughout the week. The EMC will not have bottled water.
  • Bring well-worn clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and possibly stained with paint.
  • Groups will have the night off on Wednesday to explore Philadelphia on your own, so feel free to save your favorite outfit for that night!
  • The EMC has bedding sets available for rent for $12.00. (Set includes: sheets, pillow, blanket, towel, and washcloth)
  • The EMC has 5 showers. Come prepared to be flexible—bring a hat or a hair tie for a quick and easy routine.
  • We cannot wear flip flops or sandals to service sites. Please make sure to pack a close-toed, comfortable pair of shoes and at least one pair of long socks for farming and gardening sites.
  • We will spend a lot of time outside, so sunscreen is highly suggested. You can coordinate with other members of your group to share. You also may want to bring aloe, in case you get a sunburn.
  • Living simply ≠ Lame or boring – the EMC has board games and a Wii that groups can use for fellowship during breaks and other free time, not to mention a beautiful garden with a fire pit.

A little help from your friends at the EMC

Our EMC team put together some good (and not so good) practices for packing for EMC Summer Experience. Enjoy!
Picture
For outdoor service days Jill packed long pants, tennis shoes, and long socks. And don’t forget the hat, sunglasses and long sleeve layers to protect from the summer sun!
Picture
Ellen came prepared to stay hydrated and free from bug bites and sunburns by remembering to bring her water bottle, sunscreen and bug spray.
Picture
Roberto packed sneakers to wear at service sites and a Book of Common Prayer for evening reading!
Picture
Sarah shows us what NOT to do at the EMC! Not only are her dress and rain boots inappropriate work attire, Sarah is not engaging in the community as she listens to her headphones and texts on her phone.
Printable Packing List 2017
File Size: 1498 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
The Episcopal Mission Center
​is located on the campus of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in the historic Germantown section of Philadelphia.
5421 Germantown Ave, 
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-844-8544
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • About Philadelphia
    • Partners
    • Experiences
  • Calendar
  • Programs
    • Summer Break
    • Alternative Breaks
    • Weekends
  • Participant Portal
    • Participant Forms
    • What to Pack?
    • Excursion Options >
      • Above Par Putting
      • Art, Art Everrywhere
      • Cheesesteak Adventure
      • Church SUPPER
      • Dinner & a Movie
      • Parkway Picks
      • Philly: Old & New
      • Take Me Out to the Ballgame
    • Experiences
    • How was your stay?
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT US
    • Donations