Because people have occasionally asked on the Live and Learn Conference site for a repeat of the growing checklist, I'm putting it here BUT... You the reader should lift it into a file on your own computer and customize it, print it out, have fun!

Items below are from various people's lists for the conferences in St. Louis and Albuquerque. Add or delete as appropriate to the place you'll be.

sunscreen

Clothing

light jacket (it's cool at night)

light weight sweaters or whatever to wear in the hotel if the conference rooms are chilly

grooming needs

*bathing suits

sandals to use going back and forth from the pool

first aid kit - make sure to stock it before leaving home

preferred remedies for upset stomach, headache, cold/congestion, stress

bottled water (bought or home water if you want)

pillows for sleeping if you dislike hotel pillows

sleeping bags for 'overflow' bodies - if you've got 6 people but only 2 full size beds, for example

pillows and lap blankets if you're travelling by car

travel-appropriate entertainment (for car or plane or train)

headphones for electronic devices

travel-appropriate snacks/foods

gear for funshops you want to attend (yarn for round loom, laptop and software for network gaming, Yugioh stuff, etc)

gear for talent show if you are going to participate

membership cards for your local science center

favorite stuffed animals, books, etc for the kids - help them to feel 'at home' in the hotel room

cash for misc items (even if you are putting most of the trip, hotel and travel and such, on plastic, cash is handy for the raffles and random snacks and such)

cell phone and charger - we bring both cell phones and DS has one and DH or I have the other so we can keep in contact if DS is at a funshop and we're elsewhere. Some families use walkie talkies for the same purpose

Hotel confirmation numbers

Maps - if you are flying in, you might just want a map of the area for sightseeing; driving you'll want maps to cover your travel

Sharpie markers to label stuff that goes out in public (Gameboys for example)

deck of cards, cribbage board, chess/checkers board

camera and batteries or recharger

Mp3/iPod/music stuff and batteries or chargers

net bags for dirty clothes

ziploc bags for miscellaneous storage (storing things in grocery bags risks getting them thrown out) teabags

raffle items

Laptop computer and appropriate cables for network games in and out of the funshop.

Zoo Pass

Binoculars (for the zoo and other outdoor sightseeing)

Umbrella

Journal or notebook to help you remember everything you saw/did/learned/discovered

Nightlight (for those with little ones who might get scared/ disoriented in a dark hotel room)

Walkie Talkies for keeping in touch