Hey, Camp Fans!

While some families were fortunate enough to send their kids to summer camp, many of you had to hunker down and make the most of this summer. We’d love to know what you did with your summer season. Avoiding overnight accommodation, many families opt for what some have coined a stay-cation or a holi-stay. These sort of vacations give families time for leisure activities as well as day trips to local parks or hiking trails.

For the month of September ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest, let us know what you did with your family. Were you fortunate enough to spend whole days in your backyard pool or hot tub? Did you hold board game tournaments in your household? Did you enjoy sitting around a campfire or set up a tent for backyard camping? Maybe you started your own family summer reading challenge.

We want kids to write in and tell us how they spent their summer days! Entries from parents and grandparents are welcome as well.   

The Contest Everyone Wins!
For this contest we’ll be picking six random winners. Our first randomized winner will receive our top prize of a $200 gift card to use on our website! Second place prize is a $100 Everything Summer Camp gift card. Third place will receive a $50 gift card. And three more random winners will receive $25 gift cards. All other participants will get 1000 S’more Bucks.   

Tell us how this summer was for your family and we’ll share your summer story right here on the Blog! Submit your written entry of your summer fun by clicking here. There is no entry fee. If you're under the age of 18, you'll need permission from your parent or guardian to participate in this Contest. Check out the entry form for further details and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

Here is our last submission from our July ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest entries. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on everyone—camp included. And, though many kids were unable to attend camp this summer, we still wanted to hear from you. We asked to hear from kids who weren’t able to attend camp this season to record this very unusual time in our world.

This last submission for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest comes from Keely A. who was unable to attend Mountain Lakes Camp this year. Here’s her submission:


“After being afraid to go to camp for so many years, last year I went to camp for the first time! It was the greatest summer ever! I loved meeting new friends, my counselors, playing in the woods, and just having fun at camp. I was so excited to go back to camp this summer. I understand that we have to stay safe, but was really looking forward to camp. I can't wait to go next year and get back to playing with friends and having fun!”


Hey, Keely. Thanks for writing this. It sounds like you’re handling your disappointment well. You’re right that we all need to stay safe, but camp is supposed to be a really healthy influence in a kid’s life and help you grow. It’s really too bad that you had to miss out on what this year would have had to offer.

It will definitely help to look forward to next summer when you can actually go to camp and enjoy the fun and the friends that will be there with you! It’s sure to be a blast! To everyone else, you can check out Mountain Lakes Camp for yourself by clicking here. 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. 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