Summer is here, school is out and kids everywhere are gearing up for summer camp! There’s nothing that makes kids think of summer more than bunking in a cabin, eating in a mess hall and participating in all kinds of fun activities with new friends. But for parents, finding all the crucial camp essentials at a great price can just be an extra hassle in their already busy lives.

This year, Old Navy wants to change that! The store with the trendiest family fashions at the lowest prices is also your one-stop shop for everything your son or daughter will need for their summer camping adventure. Recently, I got the chance to review a few of Old Navy’s camping essentials for myself.

I received a fabulous camouflage backpack full of handy Old Navy camp items to review. The backpack itself is the perfect camp essential; it’s big and roomy with lots of pockets for easy organizing and once summer is over it would also make a great back-to-school backpack! At only $16.94, it’s the perfect affordable choice as well.

The stylish Old Navy swimming towel and goggles were the next items I reviewed. While Zackary is a little young for overnight camp, he does take swimming lessons every summer and the colourful oversized beach towel is going to be so handy when the time comes to hop out of the pool. Even better, it is big enough that when we head to the lake, he’ll have the perfect spot to sit and relax with all his beach toys.

The goggles feature grinning sharks above the lenses and are absolutely adorable. Like many young children, Zackary has a huge issue with water in his eyes. I can’t wait to see if he enjoys his swimming lessons a little bit more with these fun and funky goggles to make sure that his eyes are protected from the pool.

The ingenious Cold Core Water Bottle was probably my favourite item in the backpack. This clever BPA-free water bottle features an inner core that can be filled with water and placed in the freezer. Then, when it’s time to use the bottle, the inner core keeps the water icy cold for longer. Zackary loved how easy this bottle was to drink from and when his school had its annual Play Day, he took the bottle, complete with the frozen core, to keep him hydrated through the hours of outdoor play.

The final item I received may not be on every adult’s list of camp essentials, but it is certainly on every child’s! The classic Whoopee Cushion was the final item in the backpack and Zackary was definitely not too young for it! He had a great time blowing it up and then sitting down on it and laughing hysterically. There’s no doubt that a kid with a Whoopee Cushion at camp is going to have an extra bit of fun!

In addition to the fabulous camp items I received, Old Navy also has tons of other camping essentials under $20 including clothing, swimwear and footwear. Gearing up for summer camp has never been so easy or so affordable! And to always keep up with Old Navy’s latest sales, deals and contests, why not check out the Old Navy Canada Facebook page or follow Old Navy Canada PR on Twitter?

I was really impressed by the quality of the Old Navy camp essentials I received and the prices were just phenomenal. I can’t wait to head out with Zackary and enjoy some summer adventures together and I know he’ll be so glad to have his gear with him wherever we go. If you have a son or daughter that’s heading to camp this summer and you’ve been dreading getting the gear together, take a trip to Old Navy and get your child camp-ready quickly and affordably. You and your child will both be glad you did!

Buy It: To purchase any of the clothing or camping gear from Old Navy, check the website for a retailer near you or shop online now

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a backpack full of camp essentials from Old Navy

To Enter (mandatory): Let me know about your most important camp or summertime essential

Bonus Entries:

· Like Mommy Kat and Kids on Facebook
· Share the Mommy Kat and Kids Facebook page with your friends
· Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post
· Follow Mommy Kat and Kids on Google Friend Connect
· Grab my button
· Like Old Navy Canada on Facebook
· Subscribe to my blog by RSS Feed
· Subscribe to my blog by email (2 Entries)
· Follow Mommy Kat and Kids and Old Navy Canada PR on Twitter and ReTweet this: RT @mommykatandkids #Giveaway #Win a Backpack full of Camp Essentials from Old Navy Canada-ends July 21 http://bit.ly/kCSkjv (can be Tweeted once daily for extra entry)

Giveaway ends 11:59 pm CST on July 21, 2011. Open to Canada Only

Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm for the purposes of this review. Opinions expressed belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and are NOT influenced in any way. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies