Punky “Who”—ster?

Hey, Summer Campers!

Famous former summer campers are all over the place. Many celebrities in the music and film industries have their own summer memories from their camp days. Some we know by their songs and others we love to watch on the big screen. Plenty of television stars have gone to summer camp as well. Soleil Moon Frye was once a summer camper just like yourselves back when she was closer to your age.

Attending Cottontail Ranch Camp in Malibu Canyon of California, Soleil—named after the sun (pronounced like So-lay)—has her own summer memories of the 2600 acres of the neighboring State Park and four-mile trips to Malibu Beach. But even before her days at camp, she was in the business.

She showed signs of interest in acting when she was only two years old and she saw her father and brother on TV. Her father got her an agent. Her mother became her manager. And by the time Soleil turned 8, she had been in five made-for-TV movies! But she really made it big when she landed the role of Penelope “Punky” Brewster at the young age of eight as well.

“Punky Brewster” never got the greatest ratings, however, the character of Punky became a huge hit with young children the world over and is an 80's icon. Her fun and funky style and personality are fondly remembered by many. Soleil went on to  attend a private high school in the San Fernando Valley as well as New School University in New York for a year.

Soleil was childhood friends with Ms. Melissa Joan Hart (a.k.a. Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and she ended up playing the role of Sabrina’s best friend, Roxie King on the show. Aside from her successful television career, Soleil has also appeared in a number of movies. She even directed a film called “Wild Horses” and she wrote a screenplay about a group of high schoolers who have strange encounters in a cafe.

 Have a blast at Cottontail Ranch Camp like Soleil! You can check it out for yourself right here and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans! 

-John