Hey, Winter Lovers!

These post-Thanksgiving days ring in the coming holiday season along with dropping temperatures and shorter days—the perfect season for getting cozy with a blanket and enjoying a good movie. While hunkering down and staying warm definitely has its appeal, there will be plenty of time for that! But don’t miss out on this beautiful season indoors the whole time! Grab your mittens, put on your snow boots, and embrace the great outdoors, staying happy and active this winter season!

Growing complacent in a sedentary lifestyle during the winter months can have a serious impact on our health. Prolonged periods of inactivity have been shown to result in a number of health issues like weight gain, muscle loss, and higher risk of diseases. That’s why it’s important to stay active—even when it’s cold outside.

Let’s take a look at some of the fun, active things you can do outside in the next few months:

Ice Skating

Ice skating is a fun way to stay active during the winter months. It improves balance, coordination, and leg strength. Plus, it's a great way to enjoy the crisp winter air and beautiful scenery. 

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a fantastic way to explore the winter landscape while getting a great workout. It strengthens leg muscles, improves cardiovascular health, and enhances balance and stability. Plus, it's an excellent way to connect with nature and enjoy the tranquility of snowy forests.

Building Snowmen

Building snowmen is a timeless winter activity that encourages creativity and imagination. It also promotes teamwork and social interaction when done with friends or family. Plus, it's a fun way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is a fantastic aerobic workout that engages both the upper and lower body muscles. It improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens core muscles, and enhances balance and coordination. Plus, it allows participants to explore scenic winter trails and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Winter Hiking

Winter hiking offers a unique opportunity to experience the great outdoors in a peaceful and serene setting. It provides an excellent cardiovascular workout and strengthens leg muscles. Plus, it allows participants to enjoy the beauty of snowy landscapes and spot wildlife along the way.

Sledding

Sledding is a classic winter activity that kids love. It provides a thrilling rush of adrenaline as they slide down snowy hills. Sledding also promotes physical activity and outdoor play, which is essential for overall health and well-being.

Snowball Fights

Snowball fights are a fun and playful way to stay active during the winter months. They promote agility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. Plus, they provide an opportunity for social interaction and bonding with friends and family.

Building Snow Forts

Building snow forts is a creative and imaginative winter activity that promotes teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also provides a great upper body workout as participants lift and pack snow. Plus, it's a fun way to spend time outdoors and enjoy the winter weather.

These outdoor winter activities not only keep kids physically active and healthy but also help them develop essential life skills such as teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills. These activities also provide an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature and create lasting memories with friends and family. So bundle up, head outside, and embrace the magic of winter! Till next time, Folks. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Problem-Solvers!

Summer camp means adventure, laughter, and forging lifelong friendships. But like any vibrant community, conflicts can arise among campers. From simple misunderstandings to more serious disputes, dealing with these dust-ups the right way is key to keeping camp a happy and positive environment for everyone.

When campers bump heads, the initial step is always to listen. Each child deserves the opportunity to share their story without judgment. This process not only helps in gathering the full picture but also reassures the campers that their feelings and perspectives are valued. It’s very important that no camper considers themselves to be overlooked. Each issue must be addressed uniquely with everyone feeling like their voice matters.

Next up, we do a bit of detective work, talking to the counselors and any camp folks who saw what went down. Sometimes, piecing the story together can be challenging but getting the whole picture helps clear the air. Bring everyone together, hash it out, and if needed, share apologies.

The work doesn’t stop there! Keep the camp harmony by reviewing the camp rules with the involved campers, making sure they all know what’s expected of them. Keep parents informed about any significant incidents as well so they’re aware of their child's experiences and can aid the resolution from home.

Preventing conflicts is equally important as addressing them. Help to keep the peace by stirring up fun with icebreakers and team-building. Mix up the teams often so everyone gets a chance to be pals with someone new. Regular reminders of camp rules keep everyone on the right path, and activities that boost how to deal with our feelings and friends keep the campsite a friendly spot for all.

Encourage your camper to keep things light at summer camp! Every camper should feel free to branch out and come away from camp with great memories. Summer camp is a unique opportunity for personal growth and development to which each camper is entitled.

Grab your gear and hit the trail for a summer of growth and giggles. Every day is an adventure and every camper is part of the crew! Thanks for reading, Camp Folks. And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

It’s an exciting and transformative experience for families when children and parents decide to give summer camp a try! As you prepare to send your camper off into this great unknown adventure, you may find yourself wondering what their days will truly be like amidst the wilderness and camaraderie of camp life.

Fear not, for we're about to take you on a journey through a typical day in the life of your camper, offering a glimpse into the joys and adventures that await them.

A Day-in-the-Life of Your Child at Summer Camp….

Nestled in the picturesque wilderness of your child’s summer camp stay, your camper wakes up along with their cabin mates who jump out of their bunks as they hear the breakfast bell tolling. The sun is peeking over the horizon as your camper and the rest of the cabin get themselves prepared to hit the Dining Hall and bolt out the door.

After a hearty breakfast of pancakes and fresh fruit in the rustic dining hall, your camper races out within a stampede of kids headed straight for the waterfront for the morning swim session. A sense of freedom washes over your particular camper who enjoys the cool water as it invigorates their senses and awakens their spirit.

Next, it's off to arts and crafts, where creativity knows no bounds. Your child, amongst their peers, tries their hand at creating colorful projects.

After enjoying a little downtime, they head out for a thrilling hike along the wooded trails that surround the camp. Amidst the towering trees and chirping birds, a connection to nature is felt deeply, grounding the camper in the beauty of the wilderness.

After a picnic lunch by a babbling brook, it's back to camp for an afternoon of sports and games on the grassy fields!

As dusk falls, your camper gathers around the campfire with friends, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. As the fire crackles and sparks dance in the night sky, everyone listens to tales of adventure and bravery, shared by camp counselors and other storytellers.

Finally, time comes to retreat to the cozy cabin, where your camper hops into bed and curls up for the night, filled with excitement for the adventures that tomorrow will bring!

As you envision your child embarking on their summer camp adventure, rest assured that each day will be filled with new experiences, friendships, and memories that may last a lifetime. From sunrise to sunset, camp life is a whirlwind of excitement, learning, and growth. So send them off with a smile, knowing that they're about to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime at summer camp! As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks! And Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

How is your trunk getting to camp this summer? There are a variety of options folks take to get the job done. Maybe you’ll be driving your child to camp yourself in which case you can bring the trunk to camp directly. Some summer camps offer a service in which they’ll come get your trunk and transport it for you. There are other services you can use such as Ship Camps that will take your trunk and get it where you want it to go.

These avenues may not be available to you or may not be an affordable route. So how else can you get your trunk to camp?

Reuse your Box from Everything Summer Camp

Our first piece of advice for new trunk owners is to hang onto your box from Everything Summer Camp if it remained in decent enough shape to reuse it. This is, obviously, the best box and means of packaging you can achieve. By repackaging your trunk in the same box it came in, all you’ll need to do is put a shipping label on it and take it to your local FedEx or UPS store.

Acquire your Box

If your box arrived too beat up to reuse, you’ll have to find another box you can use that’s big enough. Perhaps you’ve held onto other large boxes from a recent a purchase of a lawnmower or some other equally large item. Some people will even cut and tape a couple boxes together to craft a single box large enough to fit your camp trunk. But if you’d rather just go to the store, you can find large enough boxes and other packaging material with the Moving Supplies offered at hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes.

Leave it to the Experts

Of course, if you’d rather let somebody else take care of the packaging completely, you can just take your unboxed trunk to your local FedEx or UPS store and ask them to properly box it up themselves. They’ll take care of the job for you, but will charge you a good amount to do it.    

At the very least, it’s important that you cover your trunk in some way so you avoid scuffs, scratches, or other similar, cosmetic damages. That’s where our Shipping Protector Bag comes into the picture. Certainly not protective against severe damages the C&N Shipping Protector Bag will, however, keep your trunk from scuffs, scratches, and the like.

Not that you want to have to take us up on our Lifetime Free Repair Warranty, but all other damages are covered under our warranty. As we like to say about our camp trunks, the trunk your kid takes to camp could be the trunk THEIR kid takes to camp!

Thanks for reading, Everyone! And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Lovers!

Getting your child to summer camp can sometimes be a feat in itself. And it’s not just your child you need to transport, but all their packed clothing and gear as well. Do you know what container you’re packing inside? Among the various options available, trunks or footlockers stand out as favorites among campers and camp staff alike.

Summer camp experts Dr. Christopher Thurber and Dr. Jon Malinowski give us a special shout-out in their handy guide, ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’, “The trunks we like best come with a lifetime guarantee and are manufactured in Wisconsin by C&N Footlockers and sold by EverythingSummerCamp.com.”

But is a hard trunk the right choice for you?

These sturdy containers are tough, compact, and easy to organize, making them ideal for the demands of camp life. But there are a few things to take into consideration before you hop on board the hard trunk train.

Summer Camp Says So

First things first, you’ll want to see what your camp has to say about the container in which you pack. The camp's information packet usually specifies the preferred container, but if not, it's always a good idea to give the camp a call and ask. After all, the camp directors know best about the space limitations of the living quarters and whether closets, drawers, or lockers are available on-site.

Tricky Trunk Travel

Just because your camp allows for a hard trunk doesn’t automatically make it the best option. When choosing a container for camp, it's essential to consider how your child will be traveling. For campers going to camp by airplane, a suitcase with wheels may be the most convenient option.

Storage After Camp

Outside the camp season, lots of kids proudly present their trunk at the foot of their bed in their room at home and end up taking it along when they eventually go to college for safekeeping in their dorm room. However, some families may feel their homes are already too full without housing a footlocker trunk. If you don’t have the space for it when your camper gets home, it’s not a good choice for you. 

For whatever reason, if a hard trunk isn’t an option for you, our C&N Pop Up Soft Trunk or one of our many duffel options make great choices. Duffel bags can be easily folded and stored under a bed or in a drawer, keeping clothes and gear neat and organized throughout the summer.

So long as a hard trunk IS a viable option for your summer camp experience, there’s no better choice than our Traditional Steel Camp Trunks. C&N Camp Trunks can serve multiple purposes at camp, doubling as card tables, chairs, and even step-ladders to top bunks. Recommended by more summer camps than any other trunk, C&N Camp Trunks are the best packing container for summer camp! Thanks for reading and Happy Camping!

- John