Hey, Camp Enthusiasts!

Here at Everything Summer Camp, we loved getting all the wonderful camp stories everyone shared for this year’s 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest. This year turned out to be one of our best contests yet! We’re having a blast publishing each story one by one to share with our online community! Each submission is getting featured right here on the Blog!

The following post comes from Taylor P., who took the time to share a funny story from her time at Camp Sloane this summer. Check out her entry right here:

“Hey my name is Taylor and I’ve been going to Camp Sloane YMCA for 6 years now. Last year I wrote about my entire camp story across the span of 3 weeks but this year I’m choosing a specific moment to write about because there was so much that happened. This year I went to camp for 6 weeks and it was easily the best 6 weeks of my summer by far.

So anyway my funny story moment at camp. One night it was really late like 10:45 at night and I really needed to go to the bathroom. So I got up and walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door because night is the time that counselors get to take over the bathroom because campers and counselors aren’t allowed to be in the bathroom at the same time. My village director came out to tell me it was okay to go in so I went into the bathroom.

Then like 4 mins later I hear a bunch of voices that I recognize as my counselors and so I start freaking out because they definitely didn’t realize a camper was in the bathroom. So I quickly got myself sitting on top of the toilet so that the counselors couldn’t see my feet. Anyway they proceeded to sit down on the floor of the bathroom and started talking so I knew I was stuck there for a while.

About 25-30 mins later I quietly said hey guys would it be possible if I get out? One of my counselors recognized my voice and asked me how long I had been there. I just casually said 30 mins and they just went silent. They told me I could come out and I put my head down and literally sprinted out of the bathroom.

The next day I was talking to some of my friends and apparently the exact same thing had happened to them about 3 days before it happened to me. So that’s my funny story of me literally getting myself trapped in the bathroom and being too scared to try and get out for a solid half hour. That wasn’t even close to some of the more eventful things that happened at camp but it was just a funny little moment.

Camp is hands down the best way to spend my summer and I form bonds with some of the most amazing people from it and I make so many long lasting memories. Only 297 days until camp starts again and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to go back for my 7th year at camp. As an added benefit I’m going to be a LEAD next year which is the first step towards becoming a counselor which I’m incredibly excited about. I’m in Summer 2024 at Camp Sloane!!!”

Hilarious, Taylor! Thanks for sharing this funny story with us. It’s impressive that you were able to stay quiet for that long with your counselors being none the wiser. Super funny that the same thing happened to another camper! Hopefully neither of you overheard anything you shouldn’t have! Congratulations on going into the next camp season as a Lead and working toward becoming a counselor. Some day you might have a camper ‘spying’ on you! Haha!!  

Is anybody else interested in checking out Camp Sloane YMCA? Give this camp a closer look when you click right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Enthusiasts!

We're thrilled by the wonderful camp stories you've shared for this year’s 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. Campers, you've truly surpassed expectations this year! These stories are great and I'm excited to continue featuring them one by one to our online community. Each submission is getting featured right here on the Blog!

The following post comes from Adrinna K., who took the time to share her first-time experiences at Camp Eagle Ridge. Dive into her submission right here:

“My name is Adrinna Keefer. I am 10 years old. I went to Camp Eagle Ridge in Wisconsin. It was so much fun. This was my first time going to camp.

At first I was scared at the thought of going to camp though I pretended I was not so my mom would not be worried. But once I got off the bus and met my counselors and bunk mates, I was very happy. Everyone was so nice.

I loved trying new things like canoeing, catching frogs, feeding an alpaca!!

My cabin was really nice. It felt like a hotel. It even had showers inside and we did not have to go to the shower house. The counselors were super nice. They even helped me braid my hair! The camp store had lots of delicious snacks. My favorite was the chocolate malt. It was my first malt. I had one every day.

I met a new friend. We have talked on the phone and she even remembered my birthday—after camp was over! Our parents have talked, and we may return to camp next year at the same time.

The only thing I did not like were the bugs. I hate bugs. But I still had a great time. I hope I can go back next summer.”

Thanks for your submission, Adrinna! It’s great to hear that you had such a great first year of summer camp (despite your initial concerns)! You must be a very thoughtful girl to keep your concerns to yourself so your mother didn’t worry! How great that you immediately felt at ease?! Way to go trying new things, making friends, and embracing the experience! Your story makes me want a malt and I hope you do return to camp next year.

P.S. I’m with you! Bugs are the worst!

Is anybody else interested in checking out Camp Eagle Ridge? Give this camp a closer look when you click right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Story Lovers!

We've been thrilled with all the camp stories we received for our 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. The stories have been great so far and I’m eager to share them with our online community! Each submission will be getting posted right here on the Blog!

The following post is from Sam P. who wrote in to tell us about his time attending Camp Seneca Lake. Check out his submission right here:

“My name is Sam P. This year I went to Camp Seneca Lake for 7 weeks. This was my 5th year at camp and I was in the oldest age group in my village. I was able to grow closer with all of my bunkmates and I also had the opportunity to lead the younger members of the village. In our village, we had a softball league. I was the only member of my age group on our team and I was able to help lead our team to a championship while playing first base. My sister was also a camper. She is two years younger than me and really had a great time. Next year she wants to go for the full summer like I did. This was my favorite year of camp yet and I am very excited to go back next year when I will be in the oldest age group in all of the camp. I am so grateful to be able to spend time at such an amazing place.”

Thanks for your submission, Sam! It’s great to hear that you love camp so much you keep going back year after year! How cool you get to go for such long sessions too! Seven weeks sounds perfect! The softball league was tons of fun, I bet. And that’s great that your sister is getting in on the summer camp fun along with you now too!

Camp Seneca Lake sounds a really fun place to go for summer camp. If anyone else would like to check it out closer, you can do so by clicking right here. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We greatly appreciate all the camp stories you've shared for our 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. Our participants truly impressed us this year with their wonderful tales! These stories are exceptional, and we're eagerly looking forward to presenting them to our online community. Every submission will be featured right here on the Blog!

Now that we've announced the ten fortunate winners who have earned significant prizes, we're ready to share the rest of the submissions we received. The next post is from Aurelia D., who has chosen to recount her experiences at Camp Woodland for Girls in Wisconsin. Dive into her reflections on her camp adventure right away:

“My camp does a song contest every year. That’s when you take a popular song and change the words to make it relate to camp life at Woodland. Your song, also has to have a choreography to go with it. The song is then presented in front of the whole camp and a team of judges. If your song wins first place, it will be in the Counselor in Training show at the end of camp. We spent one whole week preparing for song contest. We picked: “Ugly Heart”, changed the lyrics created a routine to match our words and practiced non-stop during quiet hour, before meals, every spare minute we had in the cabin. When the day finally arrived, we felt prepared but we all sat there nervous waiting for our turn to perform. When our turn arrived, we got out there did our best and had fun. When it was time to announce the winner, we sat there holding our breath, clutching each other’s hands. Then we heard it: “first place is…Silverbirch!” Our cabin jumped with excitement! This was the first time I had ever won a cabin event; it was the best Saturday night!”

Thanks, Aurelia—excellent submission! The Woodland Song Contest sounds like a super-fun project to span throughout the summer stay! I’m glad you and your cabin had such a fun time with this part of summer camp. Camp Woodland for Girls sounds like a really fun and creative place to attend.

Check out Camp Woodland for your camper with a closer look when you click right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

What’s up, Camp Fans?!

We love all the camp tales you've shared for our 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. Our participants truly exceeded our expectations this year! These stories are great and I can't wait to showcase them to our online community. Every submission is getting featured right here on the Blog!

And now that we’ve announced our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, we’re ready to share the rest of the submissions we received. The following post is from Caitlyn B. who decided to write about her time at Kickapoo Kamp in Texas. Check out what she had to say about her camp stay right now:

“This was my second year attending Kickapoo Kamp. At the end of my first summer, I knew I had fun and I knew I wanted to go back but I didn’t realize how much. As soon as my mom dropped me off this year I knew that Kickapoo Kamp was my home and I knew that everyone was my family. The counselors and staff immediately welcomed me back and all my anxiety about being away from home for three weeks disappeared. My days were filled with all of my favorite activities and some new ones. I played tennis for the first time and realized that I really like it, which is strange because I never really like any sports. Some of my favorite things at camp are the food and singing songs. If you have never had grape ice cream you are missing out and it is a Kickapoo Kamp tradition. My three weeks went by so fast and I was not ready to go home. The first thing I said when my mom came to pick me up was to ask if she registered me to go back next summer.”

I love it, Caitlyn! Great submission. I’m glad you had such a fun camp stay this past summer. Kamp Kickapoo sounds like a really inviting place. How wonderful you feel so comfortable and at home at kamp…I mean, camp. It’s great to hear that you discovered a love for Tennis; way to try something new! I’m glad you’re planning on heading back in the next camp season. In the meantime, I’ll have to try and track down some grape ice cream. Thanks for writing in, Caitlyn!

If anyone else would like to give Kamp Kickapoo closer, you can do so by clicking right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John