Hey, Camp Fans!
The camp stories we received for our ‘Share your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp were so great! It was a wonderful time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our followers on the Blog and post each submission right here on its own day!
After our ten lucky prize winners, I’ve moved on to the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Gavin B. who wrote in to tell us about his camp experience. Here’s his submission:
“I have been going to Sky Ranch for 4 years now. But one thing I am known for is what is called ‘The Escape.’ It was the first day of my first year at camp and I was enjoying it! Making new friends and running around like a normal 2nd grader. But back then I was sugar crazy. At Sky Ranch, we have different stations that we go to throughout the day and one of those stations is called the Cracker Barrel. This station involves little 8 year olds and MONEY! Not a good combo. So… I spent $13 on pure sugar and ate it ALL! I felt fine for the next 3 hours, but when we went to our Night Event, I started to feel sick. So I asked if a counselor and I could go to the restroom. When we got there, I just started throwing up all over the place. When I finished, they took me to the health center and told me I would be spending the night there and not at my cabin. I went to bed there and woke up around midnight. I left my quarters and went to ask someone what time it was. Once I got out, I discovered that no one is with me (or at least that I could see). At this age, I was not comfortable sleeping alone in the dark. So I unlocked the door, and ran all the way back to my cabin! In socks! In pitch black! I quietly entered and knocked on my counselor’s door… No one answered! Knocked again - NO ONE! But on the 3rd knock, one big, sleepy man answered the door. I said ‘Hey, I hope you are not mad at me, but this is Gavin. No one was in the health center, so I came here.’ The counselor reacted to this quite nicely, all he said was ‘It’s all right Gavin, just give me a sec.’ He grabs his radio and tells the health center I am not there anymore, and tells the NIGHT PATROL that they missed me! I think to myself ‘There is a NIGHT PATROL! I had no idea I moved that fast!’ But then I realized that I am perfectly safe and have nothing to worry about. From then on, the event that happened that night was called ‘The Escape.’ Because of me, they have had to upgrade their locks and put alarms on every door so they know if anyone enters or exits ANYWHERE!”
Hahaha! What a stealthy, ninja you are! Night Patrol’s got nothing on you! It’s too bad sugar made you physically ill, but at least it gave you a good story and created a reputation for yourself as a skilled escape artist! Hopefully Sky Ranch offers you plenty more fun and great stories for years to come! Thanks for sharing your story with us, Gavin! If anybody else is interested in Sky Ranch, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!
- John
“When my daughter Katherine was 11 years old, I casually remarked to her ‘ Sometime before you go away to college, I would like you to go to sleep away camp. We found an advertisement in one of her horse magazines, went online, and watched Camp Green Cove’s online video. Katherine was sold! She said, ‘I want to go here, to this 3 week sleep away session’ And I said, ‘Wait, you mean this summer?’ & she nodded her head yes. Since we didn’t know anyone who had gone to this camp, I asked for references. Through phone calls and emails I spoke with mothers who were sending their daughters because they themselves had gone to Camp GC. Katherine went to Camp GC for 6 summers; at first to the 3 week sessions, then soon onto the 5 week sessions. She has just returned home from her 2nd year as a counselor. She never wants to leave; Camp GC is her ‘happy place’. She has told me many times, that her camp experiences and the dear friends she has made there have been the most formative and important experiences of her life (and she has lived in South America & traveled to China). From a mother’s perspective, it has been so terrific to watch her growth after each summer. She has learned to try activities outside her comfort zone, she has mastered many new skills, and has made lifelong friends. And the frosting on the cake was when she said ‘Thanks so much for sending me to camp, Mom!!’”
summer camp! Getting there is always a challenge, but not this year because I got a soft trunk from Everything Summer Camp! It fit everything I needed for two weeks of camp and it even helped me stay organized! The best part about it was how easy it was to travel with! I had to get on and off two trains and get a car service and, this year, it was a breeze! Once I got to camp, I easily unpacked and got ready to enjoy two weeks of the outdoors! After I unpacked, the first thing I had to do was to take the swim test. I was so nervous about not getting blue swimmer, and hopeful I would even maybe get green. I had so many butterflies in my stomach, I lost count. I really wanted to be a blue swimmer so I could be in the same swim class as my best friend. After I tested, they told me that I had gotten blue, I was thrilled! And the next day, I was even able to re-test, and get green, which is the highest level of swimmer! Another great memory I have of my camp, is the first time I learned how to canter, and jump on a horse! The first time I jumped, it was an amazing feeling of pride and accomplishment! Those memories were bold because of the amazing surrounding I have at camp! From best friends to counselors, I am always in an amazing, friendly, and safe environment!”
“My camp experience was amazing this summer! It was my 5th year at Camp Pontiac, and this was my favorite summer so far! What makes my camp so special is the camp traditions. They make everyone feel this special feeling. Since we do these traditions every single year everyone gets closer with everyone. Some of these traditions are Hits, Sing, the Camp Pontiac Alma Mater, Color War Sing, and so much more. My favorite tradition is probably the Camp Pontiac Alma Mater, because we have this song forever throughout our lives. It’s also really catchy! Once you keep coming back and coming back these traditions are so meaningful to you. For example—the Alma Mater. It talks about how you want to keep coming back to this special place. The Alma also talks about the friendships that you make, and that you think about this place as your second home. All of these traditions that they have at camp make the summers feel real. If I didn’t have them at my camp the summer wouldn’t be as great as it would be. All of them are way too much meaningful to me for that to happen. They all teach lessons, which I love. At Hits you make up a skit, which uses teamwork. In Sing you talk about friendship. Especially in the Sing Alma Mater. (Not the Camp Pontiac Alma Mater.) In the Camp Pontiac Alma Mater you get special feeling for the camp, and for Color War Sing, there is sadness because everyone is going to leave in 4 days. All of these special traditions do a bunch of things for Camp Pontiac.”