What to bring

A list of things that CTY Coordinators don't know you need.

General

The items here are generally universal; they may not apply to a site or two. Please do not repost this list for individual sites.

Room Stuff

• Flashlight - forbidden at some sites (CAR)
• Scissors - can be considered as a weapon at some sites and are therefore contraband (CAR)
• Snacks (no peanut/peanut products at LAN, LOS, or JHU!)
  • Ramen and other instant noodles
    • Plastic forks (unless you plan on robbing the dining hall) and a microwaveable bowl (Ramen containers are NOT microwaveable)
• Vitamin water, energy drinks (now forbidden at CAR, LAN, LOS, BRI, SAR and EST), other drinks
• Bring enough clothing so you don't have to do laundry

Traditionish Stuff

• Duct tape
• Glowsticks - for raving
  • Lanyard-type objects for stringraving (shoelaces are recommended)
• Rubik's Cube
• Clothes to lend for cross-dress days
• Old CTY lanyards
• Black lanyard -- be careful of confiscation (white Lanyard if you were lucky enough to get one in 2007)
• A copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Fishnets, corsets, and other RHPS items
• Masking tape/duct tape for Love Tape Day
• Sharpie, if you want people to sign your shirt

Other Stuff

• Camera(s)
• Deck of cards and Poker chips - forbidden but unenforced at CAR
• iPod and speakers
  • Batteries for any MP3 player(s)/CD player(s) you bring
• Frisbees, balls, or minor sports equipment
• Permanent markers
• Reusable water bottles
• Extra batteries / charger for your calculator
• A hairbrush and plenty of hairties (for dances)
• Nail clipper
• Bubble mix
• Facial tissues
• Tide To Go
• Umbrella
• Tide Pods are great for laundry, but DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DETERGENT SLOT. THEY GO IN THE DRUM. (This caused 2 of the washers to break in EST 16.1 and 16.2)

Lancaster

• Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade
• Snacks cannot contain peanuts; they cannot even have been made in a factory that also processes peanuts or makes peanut products. RAs WILL confiscate contraband food.
• Bathrobe and extra towels for Thursdays
• Halloween costume
• Fancy clothes for dances
• Band-aids
• IF YOU EAT KOSHER, don't bother getting the kosher meal plan. costs extra, and the KIVO has good kosher food every day anyways.

Carlisle

• Sidewalk chalk
• Assorted clothing for various theme-days
  • Fishnets and copious amounts of eyeliner for girls (Goth Day)
  • Clothes for the opposite sex to wear for Drag Day (clothes you don't mind getting ripped, stretched out, dirty, etc.)
• Large beach towel for Passionfruit (Lower Quad is wet in the morning) and just for sitting on outside.
• Nail polish remover for Drag Day
• Eye makeup remover for Goth Day
• Costume/cosplay for Summerween
• Quarters for laundry (laundry should be done at least twice while there, so about five dollars in quarters should be fine (cost per load is $2.25))
• Rain jacket or umbrella (bring with you everywhere, as rain in Carlisle is like a light switch)
• LED lamp light (technically contraband, but not really monitored. Useful for studying during free time at night.)
• LED poi (for glowstringing), as they tend to stand out more than glowsticks at meet market and dances
• Portable battery
• At least $75 worth in cash to be used at Devils Den, Walmart, etc. (not including textbook purchases)

Saratoga Springs (Skidmore)

• Insect repellent (!!!!!)
• Fans - if you're in Howe/Rounds, then no fans are needed.
  • 17" box fans fit perfectly in the windows and are highly recommended
• Extra towels/bathrobes
• Hats (especially snapbacks for Drag Day)
• Extra Clothes to give away for Drag Day
• Ballerina-like clothes (for Rina Day)> RIP Rina Day
• Boots
• Rain jacket
• Sweatshirt
• Expo Markers
• Rainbow items for Pride Day
• Black nail polish/lipstick for Goth Day
• Glowsticks and Shoelaces (if you want to learn how to rave...which you do)
• Love tape (White masking tape)
• Frisbees
• Swim suit or water clothes for water day
• 'Flip Flops' and closed toed shoes
• Any and all microwaveable foods/snacks
• Plastic spoons/forks if you plan on eating in the dorms

Loudonville (Siena)

• Duct tape, strong string, and clothes hangers for Fairy Princess Day
• Clothes for Naughty Catholic Schoolgirl Day
• A backpack
• Snacks or change for vending machines
• Fans - Ryan Hall, the boys' hall, is cramped and has no A/C
• Alarm clock
• Long-sleeved tee and/or hoodie - the movie theater and the classrooms are usually extremely cold
• An umbrella, raincoat, and rain boots
• Lots and lots of clothes - there are few working laundry machines

Los Angeles (LMU)

• Bathing suits (and waterproof camera, if you have one)
• Bathrobe - if you get caught in the shower during a fire drill (Note: Fire Drills happen the day after they tell you they will happen) (not required with or without fire drills)
• Candy
• Clothing of many different types, mostly dressy, for themed dances - girls
• Comfortable shoes for dances - NO HEELS! They kill your feet.
• Cup of noodles (the food at the cafeteria can become pretty bad by the third week)
• Drag day outfit, or clothes to lend out on Drag Day.
  • Girls: baseball cap
  • Boys: Fake hair/ hair extensions
• Fan (electric) - Huesman or Doheny are unbearably hot; Whelan & Rosecrans are better, and Desmond is by far the best (Desmond, however, is not perfect. Depending on the year, Desmond residents may need to use a fan every day or never.)
• Flip flops that don't break easily and can be used in the showers (which, at least in Desmond, get pretty nasty as the session progresses)
• Hats
• Laundry hamper/bag
• Magazines / Some form of entertainment for the weekends, in which you have large durations of personal time)
• Masking and duct tape (for Love Tape Day, and to mark your lanyard/room card holder if you're prone to losing things)
• Popcorn (can be popped in the 4th floor lounge in Desmond)
• Sidewalk chalk - they often run out in the activity
• Some sort of casino outfit (People generally wear a black dress/suit. Some talented youth bring heels, but, as a word of advice, wear pumps if you're comfortable going up and down stairs for 3 hours in them.)
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Sweatshirt (for breaks during night class, when it's freezing in Sunken Gardens)
• Tennis racket/balls (If Guys, both kinds are needed)
• Towels: Beach towel, hand towel, full-sized shower towel for Last Thursday
• Your lovely self! (not required)
• xkcd

Baltimore (JHU)

• Two pairs of sneakers, or durable flip-flops -- in case [read: when] the rain soaks the Gentle Slope
• Hand-held Fans -- Because we're hot.
• Umbrella, poncho, or rain jacket -- there may [read: WILL] be thunderstorm(s) or heavy rains
• Hoodie/Sweater -- for cold classrooms
• Extra dressy clothes -- for girls, for guys, for dances.
• Ridiculously flashy clothing -- For Casino Night, and possibly Cross-Dressing Day (depends on how you want to dress for that.)
• Ghost Stories
• Laundry basket/hamper/bag
• Power strip/extension cord -- power outlets may be hard to find.
• Laundry detergent, and roughly $10 worth of quarters -- for doing laundry (laundry machines take somewhere around $1.25 for the washer and dryer, however the extra-large machines take around $1.50-$1.75)
• iPhone or iPod Touch -- JHU runs a guest wi-fi network
• A non-trivial amount of spending money -- your RA group can visit many restaurants (including Chipotle, which is incredibly expensive), the local Barnes and Noble bookstore, a local movie theater, and the Inner Harbor stores over the weekends. You can also get Chinese take-out, which costs money. The Book Thing, however, takes no money (The Book Thing is a warehouse-sized store where you can get books of all genres for free. It's a bit of a walk, though.)
• Musical instruments and/or piano sheet music -- you will be able to practice during some activity periods in JHU's music rooms
• Something to do outside after lunch period -- this usually includes books, frisbees, or footballs, because you are not allowed back in the dorms between lunch and the afternoon class
• Lots of food -- just food in general

Bristol

• A lot of nice clothes for dances, Casino Night etc.
• No need for desk lamp (school work isn't allowed in the dorms)
• Food (Mostly popcorn, ramen, and mac and cheese)
  • A lot of microwaveable food is good
• Plastic silverware and bowls for Ramen
• More underwear than you think necessary
• Tissues
• Casino night money from past sessions
• Multiple Sharpies of assorted color for t-shirt signing
• Lots of money for pizza (Domino's) and Chinese take-out for after dances and Casino Night
• Perhaps a soccer ball or tennis racquet (be careful of confiscation)
• Band-Aids because there are a lot of places for people to trip
• Bug-Spray
• More sweatshirts, pants and blankets than you think necessary
  • The site is near the ocean so you get a lot of breeze
  • The classrooms are HEAVILY air conditioned
• Wipes if you are planning to do paint twister
• Clothes that can be torn or dirty

Easton

• Clothes of every color for Swashbuckler (Colors/teams: red, black, white, blue, orange/yellow "Reese's", green, pink, purple)
• At least 10 pairs of underwear in case you run short before Laundry Day
• NOT a desk lamp - we don't even do homework in our dorms
  • I disagree. Although we don't do homework, desk lamps are great for providing light during sleepovers/ISOs.
• Random looking clothes for the dances: neon, sea-themed, movie/hollywood, outer space, etc
• Nice looking clothes for Casino Night & Semi Formal
• Extra Money for:
  • Wawa
  • Bookstore trips
  • Ordering Domino's/Pizza Doro/Chinese food
• Tennis racket
• Bug spray<especially if in Easton dorms>
• I SECOND THAT: there are gnats on the quad and OMG BRING BUG SPRAY
• Girls: Lots of hair products for dances
• NOTE: There is no need to bring quarters for washing machines/ dryers. As of 2008, all washing machines/dryers are free.
• Expo Markers to write on the white-board on your dorm door, or on other peoples', or even your RA. (see Illuminati wars from 16.2)
• Guys: Bring a lot of cologne and nice clothing for the dances. DONT MAKE OUT IN THE UPSTAIRS FARINON BATHROOM!
• SPOONS: Blammo is very likely, so bringing unofficial decoy spoons is a good idea.
• BRING WATER. The only functioning water fountains in Keefe are in the basement. The tap is fine to drink, however.
• For those of you taking Great Cases- PLEASE bring appropriate clothing for field trips.

Princeton

• Flashlights are not banned
• Tennis racket if desirable
• PASSIONFRUIT JUICE! There was none available in 2012
• Badminton racket
• Bathingsuit if desirable
• Dress clothes for semi-formal dance
• Your heart
• Your brain

Berkeley

• non-flashy clothes which you don't mind getting dirty
• water bottle
• tennis racket (although actually playing depends on availability of courts each day)
• spending money for the local area, thrifting etc.
• Power strip/extension cord -- power outlets are in awkward corners
• sidewalk chalk
• henna cones