PACKING LIST & TIPS

 
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CLOTHING:

  • Boots (recommended if working on a water project)

  • Sneakers

  • Sandals or Shower shoes

  • 2 - 3 Lightweight Work or Hiking Pants

  • 9+ T-Shirts

  • 2 Shorts (conservative)

  • 9+ Undergarments

  • 9+ Socks

  • 1 - 2 Working Glove Pairs

  • Belt

Optional

  • Long Sleeve Dri-fit Shirts

  • Cap/Hat

  • Bandanas

  • Sunglasses

Supplies:

  • Sleeping bag or sheets (twin)

  • Mosquito repellent

  • Sunscreen

  • 2 -3 Dark Colored Towels

  • Canteen, large water bottles, or hydration pack (2 quarts)

  • Flashlight or Headlight

  • Batteries

  • Mosquito net

  • Laundry/dirty clothes bag

Optional

  • Battery-operated Portable Fan

  • Rain poncho/jacket

  • Pillow

  • Ear Plugs

  • Camera, GoPro, video camera

Toiletries

  • Deodorant

  • Body wash

  • Shampoo & Conditioner

  • Toothpaste & Toothbrush

  • Personal medications (EpiPen if prescribed is required)

  • Baby wipes

  • Brush/comb

  • Personal Hand Sanitizer (Recommended for use throughout the day. We will be providing hand sanitizer and hand washing stations).

Optional

  • Contact lenses & solution

  • GoldBond (for chaffing)

  • Feminine products

  • Sanitizing wipes

Food:

  • Breakfast items (A very light breakfast of crackers, jelly, coffee, milk, cereal, etc. will be provided)

    • Granola

    • Instant oatmeal

  • Snacks (individually wrapped)

    • Protein bars or shakes

    • Trail mix

    • Goldfish

    • Pretzels

    • Jerky etc.

    • Tuna/Chicken Packs

  • Powdered drinks (Highly recommended for hydration: Liquid I.V., Water Boy, Gatorade, tea, lemonade, generic electrolyte powders, etc.)

Valuables:

  • About $80-100 in credit/debit cards

    • If you are checking in a bag at the airport, you will pay $35-$45 each way to American Airlines. This must be paid with card. American Airlines does not accept Apple Pay or cash at their counters.

    • You will also have the opportunity to purchase lunch at the airport on your way back home.

  • Passport (cannot be expired)

  • Dominican Electronic Customs Form

Luggage:

Carry-On Luggage:  You can bring one personal item that fits under your seat (18 x 14 x 8 inches). A backpack is ideal. You can also bring one carry-on bag that shouldn’t exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (including handles & wheels). Must fit in the sizer at the airport. If you purchased a service trip kit, that would be considered a carry-on bag.

In your carry on please include:

  • Passport

  • Dominican Electronic Customs Form (printed or on your phone)

  • Wallet/Money

  • Medication

  • One change of clothes (1 pair of work pants and 1-2 t-shirts)

  • A few pairs of underwear and socks

  • Camera, phone, book, etc. 

  • A sandwich/snack for the plane/bus rides

Checked Luggage: We recommend bringing an inexpensive duffle bag or 50-60 liter backpack. Your checked bag can not exceed 50 lbs. or dimensions totaling 62 inches (to calculate add the total outside dimensions of your bag: length + width + height).

Tips for packing:

  • Your bag will be loaded onto the bed of a truck or a cargo trailer with limited space. Please do not bring any expensive luggage as it may get damaged and/or rained on. Try to avoid bags with wheels due to our space and capacity on the bus. Duffle bags are strongly encouraged.

  • Please remember that we will be living in an environment we are not used to. Pack items that you have used before, especially with food. If you like eating pretzels at home, you’ll enjoy them even more on your trip. If you like candy and can’t go a day without it, make sure to pack some. If a severe nut allergy is identified for your trip, we will notify you in advance. We kindly request that you avoid nut products to prevent any potential risks in this case.

  • Write your name on all items of clothing. Your t-shirts and pants may get wet and when hung out to dry, it gets very hard to differentiate what belongs to who.

  • We recommend packing all your clothes/blankets/pillows in large, gallon sized Ziploc bags or a trash bag. Your duffle bag may get wet while being transported to the campo and Ziploc bags will keep it dry. We recommend bringing old clothes or clothes you wouldn’t mind getting dirty or ruined.

  • Highly recommend to share items on the supply, toiletry, and food list with friends who will be joining you on the trip. 

  • This is a recommended list. You do not have to purchase everything on this list, please use it as a guide. Most of the items on the list are items you most likely already have.

Recommended items:

  • Mosquito net: SansBug tents are highly discouraged. American Airlines may require it to be checked and charge an additional $35 - $45 as they most likely will not consider it to be a carry-on item. Additionally, they often take up too much space in the sleeping area provided by the community. We recommend bringing Coghlan’s Mosquito Net Single Wide (Amazon; included in our trip kit) and using a fitted sheet to pinch the corners and sides. This achieves the same effect as pop-up tents like SansBugs. Night Cat Pop-up Mosquito Tent (Amazon) is a smaller alternative (Floor Width) to the SansBug as well.

  • Headlight/Flashlight: Energizer LED Headlamp Pro260 (Amazon). Our trip kit also includes a flashlight (batteries included).

  • Duffle bag: Water Proof Duffle Bag (Gonex). Our trip kit also includes a branded carry-on sized duffle bag.

  • Lightweight Work or Hiking Pants: Visit your nearest GoodWill to find some khaki work pants or scrubs. Old school uniform pants work great as well. Pants that reach your ankles must be worn for work. Leggings cannot be worn as work pants.

  • Look in your house or closet for an old pair of sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, belt, twin sized bed sheets, old dark colored towels, flashlight, rain jacket, water bottle, a hat/cap.