Hey, Camp Fans!

We were happy to get the turnout that we did this year 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 and we’ve been having a blast publishing them here on the Blog to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission with their own individual post right here on the Blog!

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

“Hi, I’m Ava I’m going to tell you about my awesome, and funny Camp Ozark experience.

SUNDAY: When I got off the bus I was SO excited to finally be at one of my favorite places besides the couch, Camp Ozark! It was my second year and I was was pumped. As we were heading to our cabin a girl walked up to me and said, “Hi I’m Harper!” I answered back “Ava nice to meet you.” Harper smiled and said “It’s my fist year here and I’m a little nervous but excited.” She raised an eyebrow “What year is it for you?” she exclaimed. “Second,” I said nicely, “And don’t be nervous, it’s really fun”. We got to our cabin, my trunk hadn’t come yet and I wasn’t worried because I had just gotten off the bus.

Before I knew it, Mish Mash had started! Mish Mash is a fun supervised free time where all things in camp are open. Harper and I had been talking and we needed to take our swim tests. One of our counselors Kate had come with us to watch us. We passed our swim tests in the FREEZING cold water. We went to the slides and had a super fun time. Then I saw a slide labeled “TOILET BOWL”. I said to Kate and Harper “We HAVE to go on that slide!” They agreed and we headed over there. Though I was nervous, the slide looked SO fun and I couldn’t resist. Kate and a few other kids from our cabin had already gone down when it was my turn. I didn’t have second thoughts, and the next thing I knew I was headed down the long tube. The water from the beginning had already blinded me so I tried to wipe my eyes but a big “BUMP” had stopped me. I started heading down the whirly part of the slide. Once I FINALLY got a chance to wipe my eyes, “SPLASH” into the cold water I went. As soon as my mouth kissed the surface the girls started talking and asking me questions. I couldn’t hear yet because of the water still draining out of my ear so I just nodded and said yes.

After dinner we went to our cabins to get ready for Theme Night, I started to get bit worried because, well my outfit for theme night was in my trunk. It was later and my trunk still hadn’t come yet. “No biggie I don’t have to wear a costume” I thought. So after theme night which was SO COOL we went to our cabin and my trunk STILL HAD NOT COME IN YET. Ok, so at this point I was PANICKED I asked my counselors if they had seen it, no from them, cabin mates, nope. I WAS IN A SWIMSUIT. Well I didn’t take shower that night. I WAS VERY COLD. I was fine though, (thankfully) 😅.

WEDNESDAY: Everything had gone by so fast, and the next thing I knew it was Wednesday. It was also TEAM COMPETITION TIME. I’m OSAGE the blue team I WAS a competitive swimmer and lucky for me the competition for that day was swimming. We CRUSHED the CADDO they were almost five people behind us. IT WAS SICK (In a good way).

THEME NIGHTS: The Theme Nights Are basically Camp Ozark’s let go, fun time, unique, nights. It is one of the things that make Camp Ozark, well, Camp Ozark. They’re different outfits for different theme nights, settings, and even costumes. For me since I’m a one week camper these are my theme nights One: State fair, Two: Planet Ozark, Three: Disney, Four: Red, White, and Blue Five: Totally Ozark Six: Disco Daze. Those are the theme nights that make Camp Ozark incomparable.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Mission Impossible sounds REALLY cool; right, well IT IS. Not everyone knows this but… mission impossible is ALWAYS on Disney night. You know why, well on Disney night we do our thing, and then we have a show on the lake. After our usual theme nights end its late, but with Disney, it’s still light out. Everyone goes to their cabins and then on the speaker they say “That’s right, everybody its Mission Impossible!!! We all get dressed and start. There is challenges that you have to do and the winning cabin gets a PIZZA PARTY!!!!!!!!

Well that’s all.

Sincerely,

Ava”

Hi, Ava. Thanks for writing in to us this year! I’m glad you had so much fun during your summer camp stay. Sorry your trunk didn’t make it to camp when you needed it. I guess your swimsuit WAS your costume for Theme Night. Anyway, it sounds like you had fun regardless. Sounds like Camp Ozark is a super cool camp. For anybody interested in Camp Ozark, take a closer look by clicking right 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 it’s been exciting to share them with all our readers online! We’re publishing each submission individually on a post right here on the Blog one by one!

We had ten lucky prize winners and now it’s time to publish the rest of your submissions. The following submission is from Taylor P. who wrote in to us about year #5 at Camp Sloane:

“My name is Taylor. I’ve been going to Camp Sloane YMCA for 5 years. How my story starts is a little unusual because I’m a 3rd generation camper at Sloane meaning that my mom and uncles went to camp as well as my grandma. My cousins(8 & 9) also fly in from California and South Carolina to attend camp with me each year, 2022 was their 2nd year and my little brother(12) who also submitted his story attends camp with me, 2022 was his 4th year. Out of us 4 I’ve been going the longest since I’m the oldest but it's become kind of a family tradition and it's really fun. This year started off a little rocky and was a year like no other, but turned out to be the greatest year I’ve ever had at camp. The day that I was supposed to go to camp I tested positive for COVID and wasn't able to go to camp, I was absolutely devastated because Camp Sloane is truly like a 2nd home to me. I never had symptoms and would have never tested if it wasn’t required by camp to start camp and all I thought was why now. I hadn't ever had COVID since the pandemic started and if it was going to happen, why did it have to happen now. One long week later I got to camp, still wearing a mask for a few more days but I was there. One of my favorite things about camp has always been the people and as soon as I got there, everyone was super friendly. I reconnected with old friends and made new ones pretty quickly. As soon as I checked in, my village director Maeve brought me up to my village, helped to get me settled in and then helped me get my schedule. I said my goodbyes to my mom and Maeve brought me to my first activity which was soccer. Later during lunch, Maeve introduced me to my tent counselors and my tentmates, it was a little awkward at first but not for long. I went out to oval (kinda like recess) after lunch and there I got to reconnect with some of my friends from previous years. The session was over a week later but I was still overall happy with how the session went and felt back at home. The next session started and unfortunately pretty quickly I started to get made fun of for the way I dressed, looked, and acted. It happened a tiny bit last session but not nearly as much. I tried not to let it get to me as it was little kids mostly not understanding that everyone doesn't need to fit into all the stereotypes but it was really hard. I lived in Student Hill(a village for 9th and 10th grade campers and staff that are female identifying or non binary) but little kids from Pios(village for 3rd and 4th grade campers) and Juniors(village for 5th and 6th grade campers) kept insisting that I lived in the Valley(villages for male identifying campers and staff). I understood why they thought that and I was okay with them asking questions but when they refused to believe I lived in my respective village because of stereotypes that really bothered me. My first week I didn’t truly connect to any staff members so I didn’t really tell anyone how I felt but as I became closer with my tent and my tent counselors I told them how I felt and they tried to help as best they could but nothing really changed. In session 3 I was part of PA camp which was a specialized camp focused on acting, singing, dancing and the camp culminated with us putting on a play for the rest of the camp. It was a lot of fun but there were still issues going on outside of this specialty experience. Kids were still making fun of me and refusing to believe that I lived in Student Hill but one night something happened that changed the rest of my experience. It was PA overnight which meant we watched a movie and did karaoke and lots of other stuff together as PA camp. At the beginning of the night I was struggling because I had just had a rough day but I talked to an amazing staff member named Spiegel and that changed the rest of my experience. Spiegel is our adventure director which means that they are in charge of all the adventure activities such as Mtn biking, climbing tower, outdoor cooking, and stuff like that. Technically they could have gone the entire session without interacting with me but they didn't. They became one of my biggest support systems for the rest of the session. I had talked to them before a few times and instantly honestly felt safe and comfortable with them but I had never really talked to them about anything super serious or regarding my mental/emotional state. That night everything changed though, they just listened to me, they listened to how I felt, acknowledged my feelings, and did everything they could to comfort me even if they wouldn't change anything. That night, they helped me out more than they'll ever know. The rest of the session I would talk to them almost every day, they would sit with me at meal times and just always be there to support me. The day we had to leave, I was hysterical. I didn't want to have to say goodbye to someone who had supported me so much and made my experience just 10x better. I literally cried all morning, dreading when I would have to say goodbye but I knew it wasn't goodbye. It was just see you later because I already signed up for 2023 and I’m just hoping that Spiegel will be there again next year with me. They helped me so much and did so much more for me than they’ll ever know and that's okay but they were a big part of my story this year. Another huge part of my story was another staff member named Genevieve. Genevieve was the Pio(3rd and 4th grade) and Junior(5th and 6th grade) Hill(female identifying and non binary campers and staff) village director however I knew her prior to 2022 as she was my tent counselor in 2018. Every single day at Oval I would talk to her and hang out with her as I was also best friends with her cousins who were younger so we would all hang out together but as I was struggling and my cousins were also struggling because they were homesick and I was trying to help them and it all just became so stressful, she was always there to talk to and help me out. These two amazing staff members were so, so hard to say see you later to and both just continued to show me why I love Camp Sloane so much, how amazing the community is and remind me why I come back year after year. There were so many other people that were there to support me always, shoutout to the PA staff, my tent counselors Eszter and Mitch(Session 3) and Lou and Mitch(Session 2), all the Student Hill counselors and honestly everyone who just said hi to me and offered to be there to talk. I wish I had the time to give everyone a full story as to how they helped me but Spiegel and Genevieve were just such a huge part of my camp story this year that I really needed to hit on them. Anyway after that night, my experience was changed, I had so much amazing support around me and I made so many friends that I just started to be able to drown out these kids that just wouldn't understand. I was surrounded by such a positive group of people that reminded me why Camp Sloane is just truly such an amazing place. My story this year definitely started out rough but the reason I share it is because I know not everyone’s camp story is magical, there may be some bumps in the road and it's not always the perfect model story but I know everyone still gets something out of their camp experience. I got amazing relationships with people that I still truly miss so much. I know many stories people read about camp are either magical or horror stories but so many of those stories aren't going to be close to yours. So if you are thinking about going to camp I encourage you to keep an open mind. Your story will be different from mine and it will be different from everyone else’s. While as you can tell at the beginning my story was rough, it got so much better and I was crying when I had to leave. I’m in for 2023 and if you are interested in joining the Camp Sloane family and writing your own story then please check it out. It is truly my home away from home and although my story this year is different than any other, as I said earlier even with the bumps in the road, this year was my favorite year ever. 297 until camp starts again and I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to go back for my 6th year at Camp Sloane. I’m in Summer ‘23 at Camp Sloane!!!”

Hey, Taylor! I’m glad some really good folks could come through for you and redeem your camp stay after the rocky start. While not everybody at camp can be as understanding as others, it’s great to hear that you’re happy to be a part of the Camp Sloane family! Having fun, making friends, and all-around positivity and growth are what summer camp is all about.

Thanks for your submission, Taylor. For anybody else interested in Camp Sloane, check them out right here. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

P.S. Only 239 days, now!

Hey, Camp Fans!

Your camp stories for the Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest were all so great! I had such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to be sharing them with all our readers 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 and we’re posting each submission one by one!

The following post is from Emma M. who wrote in to tell us about her first summer stay at Camp Nokomis. Here it is:

“This was my first time going away—ever—and I had asked my mom to go for a couple of years. I was so excited when she said yes, as my best friend had been going and wanted me to go with her. Well we ended up not only being in the same cabin but we were bunk mates. I was away for two weeks and as much as I missed my family, I had the most amazing time. My mom hooked me up with all the right stuff to take to camp. I loved my trunk (had the colors of a watermelon), but I think my favorite thing was my camp chair and my floor mat. Everyone in my cabin was so jealous! In fact I’m going to get a camp chair for a friend of mine, who went to camp for the first time this year too. She loved it as much as I did. It was an incredible 2 weeks and I can’t wait for next summer!! Maybe I’ll go for 4 weeks!?”

Wow! What a great first year, Emma! I’m glad camp was such a hit for you. That’s great that you got to join your friend this year and be bunkmates at camp—how lucky! I’m glad that you didn’t let your homesick feelings prevent you from having such a good time! Of course, we’re thrilled to hear that your trunk and camp gear from our shop was the talk of your cabin. That’s really thoughtful of you to get a camp chair for your friend! Thanks for sharing with us, Emma.

For everyone else, give Camp Nokomis a closer look. Check it out for yourself by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Your camp stories were great this year! It was lots of fun to read 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 everyone else who got a $20 gift certificate as a show of our appreciation.

The following post is from Dina B. who wrote in to reminisce about her summer days at Raquette Lake and how she is thrilled to have shared her love for camp with her daughter got to love her summer stays at Camp Timber Tops! Here’s what she wrote:

“Full Circle—The love of camp Dina B. age 51

I was in 5th grade and my parents said it was time for me to go to sleepaway camp. 3 camp directors came to visit, sat in our living room, and showed us slides. I liked the guy with the nice smile and my parents liked that it was a traditional all girls camp. I got on a bus a few months later and drove 6 hours to Raquette Lake for 8 weeks. It was fun but I didn’t appreciate how much I loved it until December when I was missing the beauty of the lake, my newfound friends, and reminiscing about all the fun I had. Messy hair, no worry about boys, sports, and new incredible friends. Everyone was nice here. Our head counselor, Helene, reminded us each morning, “You don’t have to like everyone but you do have to be nice to them.”

Fast forward 8 years. My parents told me to enjoy my last summer as a counselor because it was time to get a real job. I cried for weeks over this loss. I kept my friendships alive and studied abroad with my camp bestie. To this day—my closest friend is one I met at RLGC.

Almost 25 years later I took my daughter to visit Raquette Lake and learned that the 8 week summer was now 7 and she said no way—I am not going away for the whole summer. I knew I needed to find an all-girls session camp that shared the spirit and values of RLGC.

Thankfully we found Camp Timber Tops. After visiting 6 camps as we left that one she said, “I think that's my camp mom” and I told her I felt it too. For 24 days for the next 5 summers I lived vicariously through her, searching through pictures daily, writing letters, and loving every story she shared. Covid hit and heartbreak of not being able to return. She cried for weeks and I consoled her by reminding her that this was only a hiatus and she could be a counselor the following summer and what a summer she had! She loved her girls just as I had so many years before. Now she is in college for the summer and was not able to return to camp—not by choice. She cried similar tears when she heard this was the only way she could attend the college she wanted. Lisa, our assistant director, would always say that Raquette will always be in our blood. She was right and Timber Tops will always be in my daughter’s. There is nothing like camp and I feel so lucky that we were able to give her the incredible gift that my parents gave to me.”

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing this piece, Dina. I love that you could find a summer camp that was the best fit for your daughter. How nice that you can both share such a connection with your time away at summer camp. Unfortunately, as you have both learned now, summer camp has to come to an end someday. But those days will live on forever when you and your daughter trade camp stories with each other!

Take a closer look at Raquette Lake Girls Camp to visit the same camp as Dina or Camp Timber Tops where her daughter attended. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Your camp stories for the Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest were all so great! I had such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to be sharing them with all our readers 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 and we’re posting each submission one by one!

The following post is from Lulu S. who submitted our first video entry to tell us about her summer stay at Camp Arbutus Hayo-Went-Ha. Watch her video right here:

“Hi. I’m Lulu Stewart and I went to Camp Arbutus Hayo-Went-Ha. Here is my camp sweatshirt, yeah? So I had a pretty fun experience with my Everything Summer Camp trunk and Bunk Organizer that I won from the Easter event along with like the 70 other things I won from reposting it, but Arbutus Hayo-Went-ha is a really fun experience that I would recommend to like any girl who’s from third grade to a senior in high school and there are kids from all across the world. The girl who came from the farthest was from Singapore.

You can go for either two or four weeks or you can go to the day camp which is in Torch Lake so it’s not at the girls camp but it’s at the boys camp and you might see my brother there. He’s going to submit something later.

My girls camp is like 15-20 minutes away from my brother’s camp. It’s only 15 minutes away from the nearest hospital so if anyone got injured it would be pretty fast before we could get you to the hospital in Traverse City. It is around the Traverse City area and near Bel-air. The meals are very good. There are options for everybody like vegetarian options or salad bars or vegan options and they put out pbj options if you don’t like any of the food.

What else? A cabin can have up to twelve people. There are four divisions which are Happy Hollow, the Hollow, The Thicket, and Niji Hill. Happy Hollow’s for the youngest kids. There are three age groups here. Well, all of them have three age groups. The people there are very nice and not afraid to get you in trouble if you do something bad.

What else? There’s something for everyone. During G-Swim you can go to the waterfront, you can go to Arts & Crafts, you can go to the Climbing Tower, you can go to the Ropes Course. G-Swim is basically your time to roam alone, as long as you have a buddy, of course. I made friends with most of the people in Happy Hollow. There are trips for every age group and different trips for if you go for two or four weeks.

I was a Pathfinder this year so I was in Happy Hollow and we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes and hiked up 29 dunes. I know. It’s a lot. But it’s an experience that you’ll never forget for the rest of your life and if you keep going year after year…well, then…you’re all set.”

Great! Thanks for this video submission, Lulu! It’s great to hear how much you like Hayo-Went-Ha. Sounds like you took great advantage of all the fun opportunities at camp and made lots of friends! Nice work out in the Sleeping Bear Dunes. 29?!! My goodness! I bet you slept good that night. Enjoy plenty summers to come, Lulu.

For everyone else, you can give Camp Arbutus Hayo-Went-Ha a closer look. Check it out for yourself by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John