Hey, Camp Fans!

It was great to read all the camper submissions we received this year for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp. I’m happy to share them with our online community and post each submission right here on the Blog! Besides our ten lucky prize winners, all other entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store and get their story published on the Blog, one at a time!

Today’s post is from Cameron K., who wrote in to tell us about his positive camp experience at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. Check out his submission right here:

“Camp. When I hear the word ‘camp’, my entire demeanor changes. Camp is my second home. I am a theater kid, so at home, I’m not like most of the boys, especially any of the so-called ‘sports boys’. At home, I often feel as if I’m on the outs. Then camp comes around. My camp, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, is a welcoming, safe place for individuals to be whoever they want to be. I have been going to camp for 5 years now and, this year, for the first time, I went to camp for six weeks and had the best time of my life! There, I can be a singer. A dancer. A performer. And fit right into a group of guys, girls, and just be me. Camp has made me feel so much better about myself and has drastically improved my state of happiness. I don’t know what in the world I would do without this camp as a part of my life. Thank you French Woods. Thank you to camp in general! You have been my saving grace. Can’t wait to see you next year!”

Hey, Cameron! I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that being different is nothing to be ashamed of. Everybody is different; you’re just better at it than most of the folks you know. But it’s great to hear that summer camp is your sanctuary where you truly do fit in! Camp is a great place! Readers may love it too if it’s as good match for you as it is for Cameron! Look into French Woods for yourself—check out their website by clicking 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 now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission 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 post is from Carol H. who wrote in to us about her grandchildren’s time at Camp Seneca Lake. Here it is:

“My grandchildren Sam P. (age 10) and Abby P. (age 8) had a blast at Camp Seneca Lake! It was Sam's second summer there and he opted to stay both 3 1/2 week sessions. Abby did a trial two week session and opted to stay one entire 3 1/2 week session.

At camp they made new friends, tried new foods, and had no screen time, all of which made me very happy!

At Camp Seneca Lake, boys and girls in each of the four villages (divided by gender and age) and the senior camp village get to know each other. There is a big brother, big sister program where Sam and Abby were paired with an older camper for many activities. There is a hobby program with dozens of choices. Both Sam and Abby did theater and got to spend time with campers also interested in acting. A daily bunk schedule ensures that campers participate in all sorts of sports and cultural programs. There are Shabbat services every week. And, of course, there is Color War (and other signature programs) where there is competition, paired with good old-fashioned fun. I don't know how the staff comes up with such great ideas!

One day each session the villages go on a trip to area attractions. Everyone is happy to ride a yellow school bus into the real world!

I helped Sam and Abby prepare and pack for camp and ordered many things from Everything Summer Camp. I was impressed with the quality of the items and the prices. There are great sales! The Clothing Stamp and the Stick-On Waterproof Name Labels are the best! I think Sam's water bottle label will stay on till he goes to college.

I have great memories of my own summer camp experiences and I'm thrilled to share these and to re-live camp through my grandchildren.”

Summer camp is certainly a great way to relate, Carol! How cool that Sam and Abby are now getting the camp experience like you had at their age and reigniting the excitement of it all! Sounds like camp at Seneca Lake was a success all around! Summer camps truly are fun factories, aren’t they? I’m pleased to hear that the camping gear from Everything Summer Camp worked so well and hope it sees Sam and Abby through many more summers! If anybody else is interested in Camp Seneca Lake, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

I’m thrilled to say that we had our best turnout yet 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 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 the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Kelly M. who wrote in to tell us about her perspective during her daughter’s summer stay at Camp Longhorn. Check it out:

“My 8-year-old daughter went to camp for her first time this year. She went to the same camp I spent more than 15 summers at. She and I were both so full of emotions leading up to the day I put her on that bus! We talked about how sometimes we feel more than one feeling at a time. Excited and nervous. Anxious and thrilled. Here were my thoughts the day after we loaded her (Everything Summer Camp) trunk in the bottom of that bus and waved goodbye until my husband and I couldn’t see the bus anymore: I'm trying not to let all my wonderings drive me crazy. Wondering what her bunk area looks like, did she get things hung and organized just the way she likes it, where in the cabin is she, did she finally decide top or bottom, did she get her bed made ok, what was the 1st activity that her cabin got to do, how cute is she reporting in at Swim Bay, what does she think of brushing her teeth outside, which pjs is she wearing, is she being shy or silly, is she loving it and not thinking of home or loving it and kinda homesick, what's her merit pin #, what kind of environment are her counselors creating, what is her reaction to Campfire, does she recognize ‘Taps’ and the other songs that I’ve sung to her since she was a baby, is that comforting or does it make her homesick, will she lay in bed unable to fall asleep, does she love sleeping to the sound of the lake and cicadas????? In my head, I can hear all the response of all the camp directors I’ve ever known: ‘Kel. Just trust. It’s allll good. You know better than anyone what great hands she’s in. Trust camp. Trust these amazing college girls that chose to spend their summer at camp. Trust your daughter. Now go have fun with your other two kiddos still at home waiting for their turn to come, when they’ll be 8-years-old and get to board that bus with their big sister.’”

Oh man…those are a LOT of wonderings! Sounds like your head did a bit of swimming this summer too. It makes sense that having had your own experience in the same setting likely aided your mind in running wild about your daughter’s time away! I’m glad you were eventually able to cool yourself down. I don’t have to tell you, but at summer camp, it truly is allll good! It’s great to get the parents’ side of a camp stay. If anybody else is interested in Camp Longhorn, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

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

Hey, Camp Fans!

All your camp stories were so good; I had lots of fun reading through them all! Now I’m eager to share them with our online community and post each submission right here on the Blog, one at a time. I’ve announced our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes and now I’m sharing the rest of our entries.

The following post is from Ava C. who wrote in to tell us about her daughter Katherine and her camp experience at Camp Green Cove. Here’s her submission:

“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!!’”

Awesome! Sounds like you put in some excellent initial research on Camp Green Cove before sending Katherine off for her first summer camp stay! How cool that that was only the beginning of such a big part of her life! Thank you so much for this great entry, Ava! I love that you’ve enjoyed watching the influence that summer camp has had at work in your daughter’s life! If anybody else is interested in Camp Green Cove, you can give it a closer look by clicking here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John