Hey, Camp Fans!

We were delighted to see such a great response to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and now we’re eager to publish each one right here on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $20 gift certificate to our online store!

Today’s post is from Donna J., a nurse at Riverview Camp who just purchased her THIRD Pop Up Soft Trunk from us. Check out what she has to say about her experience with Riverview Camp in Alabama!

“Oh my….I just ordered the Third soft duffel bag trunk!! My daughter began camping in 1988 and I was the camp nurse. I continue as the camp nurse as my 3 granddaughters now attend each summer. One has been using her soft trunk for two years and Loves it. I like it too as it has so many pockets and light weight. But goodness, I have 3 more grandchildren that are ready for camp next summer so needing more trunks. I’m giving 2 as birthday gifts this fall so they will be ready for camp in 2023. Can you tell I love being the camp nurse and get so excited? We go to Riverview Camp for girls in Mentone, Alabama”

Oh my, Donna! Despite never being a camper yourself, you’ve been in the camp world long enough, you may as well have been. How great to see your three granddaughters enjoy their summers at the same camp where you sent your daughter back in the day (right around the same time Everything Summer Camp was getting its start). We’re thrilled that you and your grandkids love our soft trunk as much as you do! Thanks for sharing your camp excitement with us.

For everyone else, be sure to check out Riverview Camp in Alabama for yourself by clicking here. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We received more than 40 entries for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and I’ve been happily plugging away at publishing each one of them right here on the Blog to share with all our readers!

Today's camp story submission comes from Jessica B., who wrote in to point out the differences between her daughter’s modern camp days at Camp Zeke and her own summer camp stays from the now defunct Camp Hillel.

“It's a whole new world of camping these days--
My day:
Packed huge bags of snacks and every kind of candy imaginable
Nowadays: No outside food allowed at camp
My day:
Camp mystery meat and bug juice
Nowadays: salad bar and make your own smoothies
My day: My mom spent hours and hours putting together packages of games and snacks to send to me
Nowadays: No packages allowed
My day: super important to have the 'right jeans' the right accessories etc
Nowadays: crocs with socks and pjs to night activity
My day: 8 weeks away was the only option
Nowadays: 1, 2, 3 and 6 week sessions
My day: making a friend a state away involved writing letters and attempting to stay in touch
Nowadays: Bunk WhatsApp groups immediately after camp
My day: peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
Nowadays: Totally nut free”

Summer camp certainly has changed throughout the years. Simpler times provided a more rustic, chancy, and low-tech experience than what kids are shown nowadays. Despite all the changes you can point out, though, summer camp is still summer camp—fun factories for kids where they can make plenty of friends, memories, and milestones in personal growth. Thanks for sharing, Jessica.

For anyone else, check out Zeke to see if it might be the right place for you. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We were delighted to see such a great response to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and now we’re eager to publish each one right here on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $20 gift certificate to our online store!

Today’s post is from Tricia N., who wrote in to share about her daughter’s summer experience at Camp Mohawk for the first time. Check it out right now:

“My daughter went to her first two week sleep away camp this summer! She's my independent, show-no-emotion girl so I was not worried about her going. When it was time for pickup, I fully expected to see a sour-face saying ‘why did you come so early to pick me up?’ Instead, getting out of the car, as she spotted me at a distance, she came running into my arms with tears in her eyes. I totally lost it myself. She had an amazing time at camp—she made wonderful friends and memories, and grew even more independent than she already was. But, it was so wonderful to see and hold her again at pickup and see her emotion at seeing us. She loves her family, no matter how old or independent she gets!”  :)

That’s great, Tricia! What a wonderful flood of emotion that must have been on pickup day. Lots of kids hold back and don’t show what a fun time they had or how happy they are to see you right away. Doesn’t seem like you had any trouble reading her or gauging how her summer stay went.

Check out Camp Mohawk for yourself by clicking here to see their website if you’re interested in this camping experience and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

I’m thrilled to say that we had our best turnout yet for our annual Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest! Your camp stories were great! I had such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission right here on the Blog!

Since I’ve finished announcing our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, I’ve moved on to the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Juliette P. who wrote in to tell us about her summer stay at Gold Arrow Camp. Check it out:

“I went to camp for two weeks and had a blast! My first activity was Sailing! My friend and I nearly capsized! I also went to Shaver Lake as an outpost activity and went Kneeboarding, I caught air and did a 360! I also went Waterskiing and the first two times I face planted but when I bent my knees and pulled back more with my shoulders I stood up for more than a minute! I also went backpacking for a night and it had amazing views. We got to go in this lake with a gushing waterfall (from rain the day before). It rained while we were at horses so we had to run back to the cabin which was like a mile away. It continued until about 10 am that morning. All in all it was such a great experience!”

Wow, Juliette! You did so much stuff at camp! Two jam-packed weeks of a bunch of fun and friends and fresh experiences. Sounds like a mountain of great memories you made—even parts like getting caught in the rain on while on horseback! I bet it stays with you for many years to come! Thanks for sharing, Juliette.

If anybody else is interested in Gold Arrow Camp, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

There are more stories to share from the Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest! Your camp stories were so great and were such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission right here on the Blog one by one!

We had ten lucky prize winners for this contest and since then I’ve been publishing the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Aurelia D. who wrote in to us about her time at Camp Woodland for Girls. Here it is:

“I go to camp Woodland for Girls in Eagle River Wisconsin for 6-weeks in the summer. I just completed 3rd grade and this summer was my second summer as a camper. My mom used to be a counselor at this camp when she was younger. I have so many fun memories from camp but my favorite is Camper Council. Camper council is when a cabin plans and executes an evening activity for the rest of the camp. My cabin, Tamarack, read bedtime stories to the younger cabins. We read Little Red Riding Hood. Olivia acted out the story as we were reading it. It was really funny and the campers loved it!”

Wow, Aurelia! Six weeks is a long time away from home! That’s great that you love Camp Woodland so much—and how great that you have a connection with the camp through your mom. I love your memory of Camper Council. The bedtime stories sounds like a really sweet idea. Also, I’ve always been a big Little Red Riding Hood fan.  

If anybody else is interested in Camp Woodland for Girls, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John