Don’t forget a thing with our Camper Checklist!

By Matthew Asuncion
NBTB 2018 Counselor-in-Training

July 1 is fast approaching, and that means you and dozens of other student-journalists from all over the world will descend upon the Stanford campus for Newsroom By The Bay 2018. To help you prepare for life at camp, we’ve put together a little checklist of things you might want to bring with you.

This checklist, like most lists, is not exhaustive, so I’ve enlisted the help of some of this year’s Counselors-In-Training to share some things they wished they had brought to NBTB the first time around!

For Work

Boards at Stanford’s d.school are splattered with an array of sticky notes. Photo by Matthew Asuncion

“Definitely some notepads or sticky notes so you can get used to writing stuff down, especially while interviewing.” — Hannah Jannol

Although we’re in the high-tech capital of the world, low-tech pen and paper can help you better organize your thoughts and build connections between different ideas. Creating a storyboard can be as easy as a pencil, a wall, and some sticky notes!

For Play

“The last day of camp is when we went to the Stanford fountains to fountain hop (as per tradition), but I didn’t have any swim trunks. Bring swim trunks.” — James Starr

As someone who ended up rolling up a pair of khakis before jumping into the fountain and wearing said khakis for the remainder of the day, I wholeheartedly agree. Temperatures range between 70 and 85°F (21 and 30°C) on any given day, so the urge to jump in may strike when you least expect it. Be prepared and have your favorite swim gear in your suitcase, even if you think you might not use it. You probably will.

For Comfort

The Stanford Dish is one of the most popular running trails in the area, but many choose to take it slow and enjoy the view. Photo by Matthew Asuncion

“It’s sunny wherever you go, so save yourself the sunburn and bring sunscreen and a hat.” — Macy Quinn-Sears

With excursions to the Stanford Dish (pictured), downtown Palo Alto, and San Francisco, it’s almost impossible to escape the sun. Be sure to also bring a reusable water bottle (and a knapsack to hold it in) to stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep yourself cool, and look cool doing it!

“Honestly, more snacks. I get hungry a lot, and it helps me think.” — Kelly Trinh

Stanford Dining provides some of the best and most diverse on-campus food in the nation, with options suited for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers alike. However, if you happen to hear your stomach rumble outside normal meal hours, grab a couple friends and (with the permission of your counselor) make a trek to the Tressider Union to grab some grub.

Of course, if anything else happens to cross your mind, go ahead and put them in your suitcase. But be sure to leave room for all the souvenirs and memories you’ll find at Newsroom By The Bay!