What’s up, Camp Fans?!

We love all the camp tales you've shared for our 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. Our participants truly exceeded our expectations this year! These stories are great and I can't wait to showcase them to our online community. Every submission is getting featured right here on the Blog!

And now that we’ve announced our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, we’re ready to share the rest of the submissions we received. The following post is from Andy P. who decided to write about his favorite dessert treat at Independent Lake Camp in Pennsylvania. Check out what he had to say about his camp stay right now:

“My camp has the best food. There’s a canteen where we can go every night to get snacks like candy and ice cream before EVAC (that’s our evening activity) and lots of different choices every day in the dining hall. But the very best food we have at camp once is a week are the CINNAMON BUNS!! They’re so good and huge. I always eat way too many of them and don’t regret it. Everyone looks forward to cinnamon bun day. Can’t wait to have more of them next year.”

I’m with you, Andy. Who can resist the delectable call of cinnamon buns?! Thanks for your submission. I’m glad you enjoyed the food so much at Independent Lake Camp. I remember really loving the food they served at camp when I was a summer camper! These cinnamon buns at Independent Lake Camp must be some seriously next-level creations! Thanks for the word, Andy!

If anyone else wants a taste of these cinnamon buns, check out the Independent Lake Camp website to give them a closer look. You can do so by clicking right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

We greatly appreciate all the camp stories you've shared for our 'Share Your Camp Story' Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. Our participants truly impressed us this year with their wonderful tales! These stories are exceptional, and we're eagerly looking forward to presenting them to our online community. Every submission will be featured right here on the Blog!

Now that we've announced the ten fortunate winners who have earned significant prizes, we're ready to share the rest of the submissions we received. The next post is from Margaret S., who has chosen to recount her experiences at Camp Ozark in Arkansas. Dive into her reflections of her camp adventure right here:

“When I first went to camp, I was super nervous! I did not know if I would like my cabin mates or counselors. When I got to camp (Camp Ozark) I was very impressed by how big it was! Every turn there was anything you could imagine. Sports, crafts, cooking. It was very competitive when we had team competition, where the camp is divided by two ‘tribes’: Osage and Caddo. My cabin was so fun and wherever you will go, everyone is friendly and supportive. All my cabin mates were from different places. It was so cool talking about our different experiences. When you go to camp make sure to ask for your friends’ addresses and have lots of fun! We had lake day at camp which was cool. We got to wakeboard and swim. During meals, we would say chants and have a nice time. At first, camp is complicated and confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it’s the highlight of your summer! You won’t regret going to camp!”

Glad to hear how much you liked your camp stay, Margaret. Thanks for sending us your submission!  Camp Ozark sounds like a super-fun place to spend some summer weeks! I’m glad you enjoyed talking with your fellow cabin mates so much and getting a glimpse of life from their perspectives! I’m glad summer camp showed you some fun activities and became the highlight of your summer.

If you have any interest in checking out Camp Ozark for your camper, take a closer look when you click right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We were excited to see so many great entries about the camp experiences of over 50 campers for the ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest that we held here at Everything Summer Camp. Now we’re excited to post each of your entries right here on the Blog! To follow our ten lucky winners of larger prizes, all other entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store!

Today’s post is from Josephine S. She wrote in to tell us about her fun summer at Camp Nakanawa. Here’s what she shared with us: 

“Camp is one of the best things in my life. I attend an all-girls camp in Tennessee. This was my third year, and I cannot wait for next year. The reason I love camp is because there is no pretending there. I can be completely myself, and I am accepted for who I am, for who God made me to be. I learn more about myself every summer. I grow more, I extend myself more, I try more new things, I make new friends. At our camp, the heart of camp is a bunch of girls from all different walks of life, states, and even countries, coming together in the bonds of friendship and sisterhood, learning to appreciate each other for each others' individual gifts, unique abilities and talents, and just loving each other right where you are. I like that I can be myself, I like that I can get to know other girls without the competition to be better than or to be somebody other than who you are. I'm so grateful for all Camp has poured into my life. I have one more year as a camper, and then I can't wait to come back as a counselor! Hopefully I can give back one day to other girls and help them to grow into the young women they were intended and created to be.”

That’s wonderful, Josephine! I’m glad you get so much out of your time away at camp. It really is a place where you are free to be your authentic self. You may even discover things about yourself you never realized before! I love how wholeheartedly you have embraced your summer camp stays throughout the years and plan to keep going back as a counselor. I’m sure you’ll make a great one when the day comes! Thanks for submitting, Josephine!

If anybody else would like to take a look at Camp Nakanawa for themselves, check out their website when you click right here and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

Happy to see so many great entries about kids’ camp experience for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest that we held here at Everything Summer Camp. So, we’re posting each of your entries here on the Blog! Following our ten lucky winners who got larger prizes, the rest of our entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store!

Today’s post is from Mira S., whose trip wasn’t quite what she dreamed it would be. Here’s what she had to say: 

“Camp isn’t all about fun and happy times. It’s about the lessons you learn along the way. Before I came to camp, I watched a video of many people making friends and trying new activities. I was dazed afterwards and I wanted summer to take me away to camp. Before I knew it, summer was here and I was at camp! But, I was two weeks in and desperate to make some friends. It was hard. I had people I loved back home and the people in my cabin weren’t so nice to me. I had emotional times, and I mean a lot of them. A couple of my bunkmates were negatively commenting on my outfits, my stuff and the things I said. From that point forward, I realized that camp isn’t always what you dreamed it’s going to be, it’s going to require some work. Just like life, there are challenges along the way and I had to decide what paths to take. While camp wasn’t the experience I was hoping for, I did make friends (of course!), and I was homesick at the same time because of how people treated me. I’m not a person who really likes to speak up for my own needs. At one point in time, I felt like I needed to tell the counselors about what was happening in my cabin but I never did. Maybe I should’ve. But I realized, I cannot let a couple of kids mess up my whole day or my whole experience, no one can have that much power over me. So instead, I immersed myself into the activities and focused on the new friends I did make.

Next summer, I’ve decided to go back to camp (despite my experiences the first year). Why? Because I’m hopefully of the opportunities to make new friends with new bunkmates and give myself a second chance to reconnect with the camp; just like in the real world where you are faced with challenges and not dream-like experiences. Towards the end of camp, I reflected at what I did at camp and realized that it was so fun and maybe I didn’t connect with all my bunkmates but I did connect with a couple good friends and most importantly, I did love how all the activities pushed me to reach my mental and physical goals. Next year I hope I can make more friends and feel confident in myself to speak up when I’m in a hard situation.”

You’re right, Mira. Having fun and being happy isn’t all there is to summer camp. I’m glad you could take the hardships from your experience this year and, not only learn and grow from them, but give camp another chance in the coming season. That shows true bravery and growth—especially with this year being your first. You have a very mature outlook on summer camp and your fellow campers as well. I hope your next stay can make up for all this year’s shortcomings. Thanks for sharing with us.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We were very happy with our turnout this year for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest that was held here at Everything Summer Camp. We’re excited to post each of your entries right here on the Blog now! To follow our ten lucky winners of larger prizes, all other entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! Today’s post is from Kristin B., who wrote in to tell us about one summer camp experience at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp some years back. Here’s her story: 

“When I was in 8th grade, I won a scholarship to attend Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan! This was quite some years ago, but it was a long ride in the car without air conditioning! We lived in Wisconsin, and when we arrived at camp, there was a nice sign at the entrance. The driveway was very long, tree-lined, and those trees were incredibly tall! I remember exactly how it looked, cabins in the woods, each named for an early explorer. The cabins were traditional, and set up like a bunk house. The buildings were all very similar, everything was brown, or made with logs. The lake, Blue Lake, was very pretty and secluded! It was at this camp that I made many friends, and it was a music camp. I was blown away at how much we learned in 12 days! Incredible music, and even better friends and the best memories! How I wish I could go back and do it all again! I have my own family now, and my kids absolutely LOVE to go to camp! I am delighted, and love to see all four my children make their own memories! I just paid 3 out of 4 deposits for next summer, and my high schooler will be attending band camp for the 3rd year! Delighted!”

Woohoo! Fantastic, Kristin! That’s so cool that summer camp has had such a lasting impression on you and you can still see the cabins in the woods. That’s great that you’re raising little campers themselves who will grow up one day to have such fond memories just like you. You may not be able to go back and relive your camp days, but sending your children off for their own camp experience is the next best thing! Thanks for writing into us, Kristin.

If anybody would like to check out the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp that Kristin attended, you can visit their website by clicking right here. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John