Hey, Camp Fans!

As we make our way through the captivating stories of summer camp from this year’s 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest right here at Everything Summer Camp, each submission is getting its own spotlight right here on our Blog. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to Renee P. who wrote in to share her relationship with summer camp this past summer. She attended Camp Huawni when she was a child and had a blast! Check out her entry about her time there—the adventure begins now...

Camp for the Ages

“I’m 43 now but my camp story began before I was born. My dad was a founding camper at Camp Huawni so he paved the way for my experience at Summer Camp. He had large tales of wild animals in the woods or funny counselors that impacted him. At seven, he and my mom dropped me off at Camp Huawni to experience my own growth for two weeks. Life lessons and friendships that I treasure 36 years later all because my grandparents took a chance on a new camp in the Pineywoods of East Texas. I gained independence, learned about others from all over the world, and got to focus on my interest in a loving and fun environment. So imagine my delight getting to drop all my kids off this summer to share in the LOVE I have for camp. Each child came home with their own tales and love for Camp Huawni and I couldn’t be more excited! Getting to share the camp connection with my kids is special and singing the camp song on closing day can make a momma cry. Summer Camp can be life changing! It’s one of the best gifts my parents gave me and I’m hopeful my children will look back one day and say that too.”

Fantastic, Renee! Thanks for submitting this great entry in to our contest. That’s awesome that Camp Huawni has been a shared experience through the generations in your family and that you can return to the campgrounds with your children and you can all relate so well to each other’s camp stories of summers past. Camp Huawni must be one special place!

For anybody else interested in spending a summer stay at Camp Huawni, you can give it a closer look when you click right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hello, Summer Camp Lovers!

As we go through, one-by-one, each of the summer camp stories we received for this year's 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest right here at Everything Summer Camp, each submission shines in its own spotlight on our Blog. Today, we're excited to introduce you to J.W. G., who recorded an unfortunate ailment that made the rounds at camp, yet it still managed to be a great experience! Dive into his entry about his camp experience right now...

“This year, I had such a fun time at camp. The first day was rough, but then I started to try new things, like sailing, fly fishing, and paddling. Those were so much fun. On Sunday, at our first cookout, we were all doing good, but that Monday morning, a few of my cabinmates had disappeared from their beds! I asked my counselor where did they go, and he said the infirmary because they got sick. I counted myself lucky that I didn't get sick. Then, that evening before dinner, I had to run to the bathroom- it was HORRIBLE DIARRHEA! I ended up having it for the rest of the camp session. I took a day trip for fly fishing, then I went paddling, but they canceled my overnight trip because the counselors had diarrhea too! So I tried again, and I did a two day paddling trip. It was awesome and I felt better. I had the best cabin mates and counselors ever! Getting better, after feeling sick, with all my friends getting sick, and all of us getting back to our activities was the BEST summer camp experience EVER!”

Hey, J.W.! YEESH! Rough stuff with the bathroom trips. I wonder what did it to everyone! But I’m glad that the HORRIBLE DIARRHEA didn’t completely ruin your summer camp stay and you were able to enjoy some awesome camp activities like fly fishing and your two-day paddling trip! Good for you to be able to have that perspective on your camp stay, despite getting sick. Thanks for sharing with us, J.W.! And thanks to everyone else for reading. As always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hello, Camp Enthusiasts!

As we make our way through the captivating stories of summer camp from this year’s 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest right here at Everything Summer Camp! Each submission is getting its own spotlight here on our Blog. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to CJ C., who wrote in to share his first-ever trip to summer camp this past summer. He attended Camp Mowglis and had a blast! Check out his entry about his time there—the adventure begins now…

“My name is CJ and I am 9 years old. I went to Camp Mowglis in Hebron, NH this summer. I have never been to summer camp before, but I had a really great experience. One of my favorite memories is that we went to Scoops, because we got 18 Inspection points in my dorm called Ford Hall and I got Death by Chocolate. Everyone got a sugar rush except me, Surge, and Ryder. Did you know that the dorm used to be called the Cave? That’s why we are called “Caveites.” My favorite industry was the ropes course, I climbed all the way up! We also swam before dinner and we call it “Soak,” it's very fun! My top five industries are Riflery, archery, paddling, ropes course, and canoeing. My favorite thing to do there was hiking. We hiked all the way up Mt. Cardigan and it was so windy that I fell over! At the end of the summer we have a ceremony before we all go home again and it is called Mrs. Holt’s day.”

Hi, CJ! I’m glad Camp Mowglis could provide you with such a great first summer camp experience! Death by Chocolate sounds intense, but way to present your resilience to the effects of sugar overconsumption! You, Surge, and Ryder must be some pretty tough Caveites! Sounds like there’s no shortage of fun stuff going on at Camp Mowglis. Riflery, Archery, Paddling, Ropes, and Canoeing sound like a winning combination of an adventure-filled summer. Thanks for sharing the experience with us!

Are you looking for a fun place for your next summer? If CJ’s story sounds like a blast to you as well, check out Camp Mowglis for yourself? You can get a closer look when you click right here! Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We’re continuing ahead with our trove of enthralling tales from summer camp as we delve into the abundant stories we received from campers for our annual 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp! We're publishing each submission individually, right here on our Blog and today, we're delighted to introduce Talia K., who filled us in on her exciting summer journey at Camp Timber Tops this past summer. The adventure kicks off right now:

“I remember hearing the word “Banquet” for the first time at Timber Tops, a mountain camp for girls, I didn't know what it was. I was so confused, for 2 WHOLE weeks I was thinking to myself what's banquet, and why is everyone so excited?

So finally I asked my counselor, and she told me all about it! (I remembered how my jaw almost dropped in excitement). Basically, banquets where the 9th graders at camp throw a huge party for the CAs and it can be any theme, you just all have to agree on it!

Every bunk is named after a tree, mine was called spruce, my sister’s was juniper, and my friend’s was Palm court. Last year the CA’s bunk was called Salix, and the theme for the banquet was Salix’s story book. So this year’s banquet theme was going to be Torreye’s something. I couldn’t wait! Finally, the day of the banquet had come, we had to eat outside because the 9th graders were decorating the dining hall. At shower time everyone started getting super excited and everyone in my bunk (including me) tried to guess the theme. I had guessed Torreye’s toy story. One girl guessed Torreye takes a trip! I couldn’t wait! As soon as it was time for dinner, all of the bunks lined up outside of the dining hall. The 9th grade stood in 2 lines at the front of the dining hall, as they called the bunks, I got ready to race up the stairs into a new world of decorations, food, and balloons! And then I heard the head staff announce “bunk spruce you can go inside.” I stepped through a black curtain and looked around me, I couldn’t believe that this was the dining hall! I sat down and looked at the menu. It was all Inside out inspired food and Inside out decorations.

Banquet was a very important day for me because it was a party representing the CAs moving on and being counselors next year. The CAs also showed me the camp's most important features, they also were always kind to all the campers, and I can't believe that in 4 years I will also experience the sadness of having my last year of camp.”

Hi, Talia! I guess those guys at Camp Timber Tops really know how to have a good time! I’m sure you, your bunkmates of Bunk Spruce, the CA’s, and everyone else in attendance enjoyed an unforgettable time at the Inside-Out Banquet! Savor those next four summers, Talia. Perhaps you’ll continue at Timber Tops as a counselor. Thanks for writing in to us!

Are you looking to party it up, Camp Timber Tops style like in Talia’s story? Take a closer look at Timber Tops when you click right here! Thanks for reading, Everyone! And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We've been sharing your camp stories since September but—don’t worry—there’s a treasure trove of captivating tales as we dive deeper into our collection of entries into our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp! Join us on our Blog as we publish each submission individually. Today, we’ll hear from Gigi S., who is about to take you on an exciting journey through her unforgettable summer escapade at Camp Highlander. The adventure begins now:

“My name is Gigi, and I’m 12 years old, and went to Camp Highlander this summer. I had a wonderful camp experience, like when I went on a thing called “the swing”—part of a really high ropes course that they call Crow’s Nest. The swing is on a platform that would be higher than a typical house, and usually people jump off, but I sat too close to the edge, so the weight of the swing pulled me off! I also did a thing they call Color War. The teams were red & black (Red Dragons) and blue & white (Blue Knights). When I found out that I was a Red Dragon, I was so excited! I ran to my team and gave them high fives. I also liked riflery, arts & crafts and all of the other fun activities they had there. And loved all the new friends I made. I had an amazing time at camp, and can’t wait to do it again next year!”

Hey, Gigi! That’s great to hear that your summer camp stay was so much fun this year. Summer camp is all about making friends and having fun so I’m glad you had your share of both! Pretty funny surprise that the Crow’s Nest gave you! Sounds like you and the rest of the Red Dragons had fun in the Color War! And it’s great that you enjoyed the rest of the fun curriculum they have at Camp Highlander! Thanks for writing in to us, Gigi!

Do you want to try the fun times at Camp Highlander like Gigi? Take a closer look when you click right here! Thanks for reading, Everyone! And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John