What to bring

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

General

The items here are universal, but 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, JHU)
  • As of 2019, book lights are not considered contraband
• Scissors - can be considered as a weapon at some sites and are therefore contraband (CAR)
• Snacks!!! (no peanuts or peanut products at LAN, LOS, or JHU!)
  • Ramen and other instant noodles (if you know how to cook them)
    • 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, SUN, PAL, and EST ), other drinks
  • Energy drinks are now forbidden at all sites.
• Bring enough clothing so you don't have to do laundry
• Make sure to bring extra long sheets if you have them. Regular sheets will keep falling off the beds.
• Curling/straightening iron
  • These are essential for dances in girls' dorms
• Tissues (they can be hard to find on site for some reason, and there's a good chance you'll need them on the last day)
• Headphones
• Laundry bag for dirty clothes
• Bug spray or some other form of bug repellent
• Unless you plan to use it for some other reason, there's no need to buy a desk lamp to do CTY homework as there is no CTY homework
  • Desk lamps do, however, make a good light source for ISO's
• A dressing gown or REALLY long towel.
  • Not everybody wants to stand partially naked in front of their site mates when the fire alarm goes off whilst showering. (Some kind of bathrobe also proves useful when moving between your dorm and the showers)

Traditionish Stuff

• Masking tape/duct tape for Love Tape Day
• Glowsticks or poi sets - for raving
  • Lanyard-type objects for stringraving (shoelaces are recommended)
• Rubik's Cube (3x3 is essential. Other shapes are also recommended)
• Clothes to lend for cross-dress day (in a range of sizes)
• Old CTY lanyards
• Black lanyard/Turquoise 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
• Sharpie/Fabric Marker if you want people to sign your shirt
• Old Casino night money that you make copies of//Monopoly money (For Casino Night)

Other Stuff

• Camera(s)
• Computer (not required by CTY coordinators but preferable for most classes)
• Deck of cards and Poker chips - forbidden but unenforced at CAR
  • Bring your best deck as there are sometimes wars for who has the best card deck design
• iPod/other MP3 devices 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)
• Don't forget chargers! (Port-adapters are A MUST for international students)
• Comfortable walking shoes for the more active afternoon activities
• Gum/mints
  • If you're not great at talking to people, offering mint or gum is an easy way to start a conversation and/or make friends
• A considerable amount of Cash, especially at CAR.

Lancaster

• Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade (or money to buy it on weekend trips)
• 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
  • There are five dances at LAN, so unless you don't feel like dressing up for all five, bring enough fancy outfits.
  • If you find a friend your size, you can always swap fancy clothing for a dance or two
• Be prepared for random themes for dances, last one is more formal while the rest tend to be casual
• 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. (The problem with KIVO is that it has the best (READ: only edible) food so be prepared for lines.)
• Onesie for Onesie Wednesday
• Frisbees!!!
• Duck tape!!!!! for love tape day (3rd Monday!)

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.)
  • America themed clothing for America Day
• 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
• Speed Queen App (As of '18, laundry no longer takes quarters, but rather uses the speed queen app. Money must be added to an account on the app for laundry to be done)
• Rain jacket or umbrella (bring with you everywhere, as rain in Carlisle is like a light switch)
• LED lamp light (contraband but not 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/phone charger
• At least $75 worth in cash to be used at Devils Den, Walmart, etc. (not including textbook purchases)
• Glowsticks- thick for glowstringing, thin for bracelets at dances.
• Trash can (in '19 none of the room had trashcans because Dickinson is big on sustainibility)
• Paper towels (for the same reasons as above)

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 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
• A screwdriver of sorts for taking apart things (for the daring)

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 freezing
• 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
• Dressy clothing for dances
• Comfortable shoes for dances - NO HEELS! They kill your feet.
• Cup of noodles (the food at the cafeteria can become bad by the third week)
• Drag day outfit or clothes to lend on Drag Day.
  • Girls: baseball cap
  • Boys: Fake hair/ hair extensions
• Fan (electric) - Huesman or Doheny are 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 nasty as the session progresses)
• Hats
• Laundry hamper/bag
• Magazines/some form of entertainment for the weekends, in which you will have large amounts 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
• A casino outfit (People wear a black dress/suit. Some talented youth bring heels, but wear pumps if you're comfortable going up and down stairs for three 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!
• 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, and/or rain jacket -- there may [read: WILL] be thunderstorms or at least heavy rains
• Hoodie/Sweater for cold classrooms
• Extra dressy clothes -- for girls, for guys, for dances.
• Flashy clothing for Casino Night and Cross-Dress 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.
• iPhone or iPod Touch -- JHU runs a guest wi-fi network
• A non-trivial amount of spending money -- the local Barnes and Noble bookstore
• 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 -- books, frisbees, or footballs, because you are not allowed back in the dorms between lunch and the afternoon class
• Food
• Bug repellent -- lots of bugs with large appetites

Bristol

• Nice clothes for dances, Casino Night etc.
• No need for desk lamp (schoolwork isn't allowed in the dorms)
• Food (popcorn, ramen, and mac and cheese)
  • Microwaveable food
• 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 breeze
  • The classrooms are HEAVILY air-conditioned
• Wipes if you're planning to do paint twister
• Clothes that can be torn or dirtied

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 cologne and nice clothing for the dances. DON'T MAKE OUT IN THE UPSTAIRS FARINON BATHROOM!
• SPOONS: Blammo is 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 - bring appropriate clothing for field trips.
• No glitter
• EXTRA PHONE CHARGERS!

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 (playing depends on the 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

Seattle

• Kleenex. Unless you want to use paper towels to blow your nose, bring some.
• Fan. During the summer of 2017 and 2018 it was hot, and in 2018 the front desk only rented out five.
• Curtains. If your room faces the sun, YOU WILL NOT SLEEP UNLESS YOU BRING CURTAINS OR TAPE TOWELS UP AS CURTAINS
• Unlimited data - We are not given the wifi password, but you can use your own data or find a friend with a hotspot and unlimited data