Hey, Camp Folks!

It's time for another story from our July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submissions. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on everyone—camp included. And, though many kids were unable to attend, we still wanted your stories. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

Our next submission for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest comes from Emma W. who wrote in to tell us about her trip to Camp Oneka. Here’s her submission:

“Hi. My name is Emma and I am 10 years old. I was excited to meet new camp friends and play some kickball for the red and white games this summer. Since I couldn’t go to camp I played with my brother a lot. I loved playing outside this summer and exploring in nature. Next year I am excited to spend my Friday nights at the campfire overlooking the lake and swimming all day!!!”

Hi, Emma. Thanks for writing in. What a bummer that you couldn’t attend Camp Oneka and play kickball for the red and white competitions like you had hoped. Good thing you and your brother had each other to play around with in the outdoors and to go exploring together. It’s not the same as summer camp, but it sounds like the two of you kept in the spirit of the season! Cool turtle!

Keep your eyes on the prize of next summer when you can actually go to camp with campfires and the swimming and all the new camp friends you’ll make! It’s sure to be a blast! To everyone else, you can check out Camp Oneka for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

It's time for another story from our July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submissions, though many kids were unable to attend. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on everyone—camp included, however, some camps were fortunate enough to be able to keep their doors open this summer season. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

Our next submission for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest comes from Tyler L. who wrote in to tell us about her trip to New Life Ranch summer camp. Here’s her submission:

“This was my first real overnight camp. One of my friends called me the night before and said I don't know if your parents will let you go but can you ask? So I went and asked. Since I had been stuck in the house for so long with isolation restrictions my parents were like, “Are you sure you want to go? You’ve never been gone that long from home.” I had to go. I had to get out. I was going to find a way to go even if I had to sneak in her trunk. After they looked at all the forms and filled out 30 pages of forms and doctor sheets they said I could go.

This camp was amazing there were slides and horses, go-carts, and it looked like you lived in an old western town. The only thing I would change is getting up at 6:30 in the morning. But I want to go back. I can't wait to go back. I feel like the luckiest girl ever being able to go! Kids are not meant to be locked up inside away from all other kids! They need to be outside having fun, getting dirty, and getting a little closer to God!”

That’s awesome that you got to go to New Life Ranch camp with your friend and that you loved it there so much! I’m sure you really needed to get out this summer. I agree 100%—kids AREN’T meant to be locked up inside...nobody is. It’s good you got to get out WITH YOUR PARENTS’ PERMISSION. While our trunks are equipped to hold a large variety of gear and other important items, we do not recommend them for people! Thanks for your submission, Tyler! To everyone else, check out New Life Ranch for yourself. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We’re happy to hear from our participants for the July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submissions, though many kids were unable to attend. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on everyone—summer camps included, however, some camps were fortunate enough to be able to keep their doors open this summer season. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

Our next submission for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest comes from Zach F. who wrote in to tell us about his time at Camp Woodward. Here’s his submission:

“This is my 1st summer attending Camp Woodward. I have attended other camps in the last 5-6 years. It was one of the best experiences of camp I have ever had. I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite you tubers Raymond Warner. I even got a picture with him. I went with a good friend and it made the experience even more fun. I liked that camp allowed us to do what we wanted in our down time and the amount of ramps and parks they have on their facility was amazing. The counselors were very good at their level of skills and really made the experience fun. Camp was only a week but I wish it was longer. I got the experience of learning new skills and learned how to land a flip on my scooter. The best part of camp was developing the courage to try new tricks and perfect my skills. I begged for my parents to send me again but they said I have to wait for next summer. Woodward rocks and I look forward to many more summers spent there.”

I’m glad to hear that you were able to attend summer camp this year at Camp Woodward and that you loved it there so much! May the future bring you many more summer stays at this beautiful camp. Thanks for writing in to us, Zach! And to everyone else, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We’re happy to hear from our participants for the July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submissions, though the subject matter of these submissions may not be too happy. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on everyone—camp included. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

Our second place prize winner of this randomized contest will receive a $25 gift card to Everything Summer Camp. Congratulations to Claudia B.! She wrote in to tell us what she misses most about The Pines Catholic Camp where she would have stayed in the summer under different circumstances. Here’s her submission:


My Summer Essay
“Last year, I attended The Pines Catholic Camp. I was going to go this year, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. One thing I will miss are my friends. I will miss playing with them and talking to them. I will also miss going to the bonfire with them. The bonfire is where all the camp gathers around a huge fire and sings songs and tells stories. The second thing I will miss is hands free spaghetti night. It was the one night of the week where everyone ate with no hands and just ate spaghetti like a dog. Most of the girls got sauce in their hair. For dessert, we had chocolate cake. The girls also had chocolate icing in their hair. It was so funny. Another thing I will miss are camp games. They are officially called night games because they are played at night after dinner. We would play them three nights of the week. We would usually play team games like Capture-the-Flag. It taught me to cooperate with my team.

The last thing I will really miss about camp is the camp legends. The first legend is about the Pines Panda. It is said the panda lives in the bamboo forest surrounding our camp, which is weird because bamboo does not usually grow in Texas. He has a little hut which you can actually see down by the lake. It looks like a house. We got to go help rebuild it because it got destroyed a little bit. The counselors say that a long time ago one of the counselors brought it and it got loose in the wild.

The second legend, and probably the most well-known one, is about The Man. He is a sort of bogeyman that lives in the forest. Once, some of the counselors took us down by another hut. This time, it was a tent looking thing made out of sticks. They say it is The Man’s old sleeping place. The newer sleeping place is a gazebo across the lake covered with The Man’s initials (TM).

The last legend is about a giant fish monster who they say a camper let out in the lake.

Since camp is closed, I was going to go to Minnesota. In Minnesota, we had rented a cabin at Lake Kabetogama. There, we would pick wild blueberries and fish. After we caught the fish we would go down to a supposedly haunted hotel and they would cook the fish for us to eat. Last year, it was really good. We would also swim in the lake. In the lake, there was this really cool water trampoline. Sadly, the trip was canceled.

Since my trip and camp was canceled, I had to fill the void of summer with fun stuff. During the days my dad is off work, we go swimming at the YMCA pool because we have a membership. At the pool, I usually play with my friends who also have a membership. I also do art stuff including painting, drawing with colored pencils, marbling, and tie-dying. I also really enjoy baking and reading. I love reading Fairy Tales, Mystery, and Scary book genres. I also play online games with my friends from school and the YMCA. Also, I enjoy spending time with my family. We have family movie night, family walks, and family reading time in the evening. I also like writing stories. That is what I am doing this summer.”

I’m glad to hear that you’ve been making the most out of a summer that has denied you your camp stay and your cabin trip, Claudia. This year sure has tried its best to suck the fun out of summer, but it sounds like you’ve been able to fit in a number of good ideas and fun activities to fill the season. I’m sorry you had to miss out on the typical summer fun you had intended on having this year. Keep your spirits up and look onward to a trip to The Pines Catholic Camp next summer!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We’re happy to bring back what you guys wrote in for our July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submissions, though the subject matter of these submissions may not be very happy themselves. Coronavirus has had a huge impact on us all—camp included. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

Our first place prize winner of this randomized contest will receive a hundred dollar gift card to Everything Summer Camp. Congratulations to Sadie C. who wrote in to tell us about what should have been her fifth year at Camp Nokomis. Here’s her submission:

“Camp has always been the highlight of my year. The second I come back home, I start my countdown all over again. This would’ve been my fifth year going to Camp Nokomis on Bear Island. There is so much I will miss about camp. Whether it be sailing in the perfect clear water or singing songs around the campfire, there are so many memories that I will miss this year. It’s hard to name just one thing I will miss most. It could be my activities throughout the day where I do things like archery or ceramics, olympics when we split into teams and complete challenges fighting for our country, or the overnight where we sleep outside under the bright stars. I will miss all of these things so much, but I think the things I will miss most are the small things. Sitting in my cabin playing cards, or braiding a friend's hair at the waterfront. Eating in the dining hall and talking about crazy memories we have from previous years, or teaching someone how to make a new friendship bracelet. Those are the moments I’m going to miss. There are so many life lessons I’ve learned at camp and they happen in those moments. It’s the things you can’t learn in your daily activities. I learn things about friendships and community that I wouldn't learn at home. There is something so strange about the friendships you make at camp because you go in not knowing anyone, and you come out with some of the best friends of your life. And it’s the small moments that make that possible. Even though I’ve known for a while that camp has been cancelled, I don’t know if it’s fully hit me yet. Imagining a summer without camp is so crazy to me. I’m so sad I won’t see my camp friends and that I won’t get to make any more memories this year, but it will only make it more special when I get to go back.”

I’m so sorry to hear that you couldn’t return to Camp Nokomis this year, Sadie. The fifth year that wasn’t. This is a very touching entry that really points out how much there is to miss about camp because—you’re right—it’s not just the big stuff you didn’t get to do, it’s ALL the little things that kind of make up a major part of the camp feeling.

You do a good job pointing out what you missed out on this year. Nice work, Sadie. Hope you’ve been able to get out and still have some summer fun! Keep your head up and look onward to a trip to Nokomis next summer!

- John