Hey, Camp Fans!

With extreme excitement to share the submissions we received for our 2018 ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest in which we ask campers and parents alike to write in about how the camp experience went. We got such a great turnout that we’re still sharing them this far into 2019! Here is another installment to our contest collection!

Today’s submission comes from Kelsey T. who spent her summer at Chris Dudley Basketball Camp! Check it out:

“When I was 7 years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease, a chronic illness where the body does not produce insulin, a hormone that breaks down carbohydrates into energy. In order to stay healthy, I will need to give myself insulin (via syringes or an insulin pump) every day, multiple times a day, for the rest of my life and monitor my blood sugar to make sure I am healthy. Being diagnosed with T1D at a young age was isolating, scary, and had me questioning what my future held.

When I was 10 years old, I started going to the Chris Dudley Basketball Camp, a basketball camp started by Chris Dudley who was the first NBA player with T1D. Every camper had T1D and played basketball, which I loved. I was nervous, scared, and hesitant to spend a week away from my parents in a new place. But after one week at CDBC, I knew I had found a home away from home and a new camp family. I was immediately welcomed into the camp family, as I have seen so many new campers be welcomed throughout the years. The magic of camp is truly indescribable. For me, it was a safe place. A place where everyone understood the daily challenges of T1D; a place where for once in my life, I wasn't the outsider with a chronic illness. All of a sudden, the questioning of my future that I felt was answered. All of the ‘why me?’s had a reason. Camp. Camp was my why, camp was my future. At camp, I learned that despite T1D, I could do whatever I dreamed of. When I was 16 years old, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that camp was what I was meant to do with my life. I went to college to get a degree in Psychology and Camp Administration. I have now been on full time staff for 2 years at CDBC and I have been coming to camp for 17 years. Not a year goes by that I don't find a passion for the campers that I get to meet every year at camp. They are truly my family. They are my ‘why’. Camp has forever changed me, saved me, and inspired me.”

What a personal submission, Kelsey! We appreciate so much your openness and honesty in sharing your medical matters. How cool to get this somewhat retrospective look at what summer camp has done for you (it’s always great to hear a success story)! I’m so very happy you discovered your ‘why’ and it’s amazing to hear how essential Chris Dudley Basketball Camp has become in your life! I hope you squeeze the fun out of every summer! If anybody else would like to check out CDBC, give them a closer look sometime and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We been so thrilled with the large response we got to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp! It started after the close of the summer season back in 2018 and I’m still publishing your submissions one by one in the springtime right here on the Blog. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Enjoy another one right now!

Today’s post comes from Deb K. who wrote in to tell us about her many connections to Camp Birchwood: “Camp Birchwood has been part of our summers for 30 Years! My oldest started going at age 8, she continued till senior high school and even returned as a counselor for a couple years. Two other daughters went to Camp Birchwood too! One of our sons went to Camp Birchwood for Boys and loved every minute of being in nature!

7 years ago our grandson started going, 3 years later another grandson joined his cousin, both loving it! 2 years ago our granddaughter started going to Camp Birchwood for girls...

Today we picked up the two grandsons from the pickup point. Love hearing all the adventures and about old camper friends! They bring up camp all year long...sure a wonderful experience for all of them!! ”

How cool that Camp Birchwood has been in your life for 30 years! It’s been a part of your life for generations! It must be a really fantastic and well-rounded camping experience! I hope Birchwood continues to stay in your life for summers to come! I’m sure it will with the lasting memories it creates! If anyone else is interested in Camp Birchwood for their next summer adventure, be sure to check out this camp some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

With  response as large as we got to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp, we’re still publishing each submission here on the Blog! Your stories are fantastic and it’s been such a fun time reading through them! Here’s another one to enjoy right now!

Today’s post comes from Braelyn W. who wrote in to tell us about his really fun camp stay at Pine Cove Towers Camp. Get a look at today’s submission from Braelyn himself:

“For camp this summer, I went to Pine Cove Towers for a whole week! It is in Tyler, Texas. It took us about two hours to get there. The reason Pine Cove is the best camp ever is because the counselors get to teach you about God and Jesus our Savior. It is cool, awesome, and exciting; because you get to do all different activities and have different theme nights (One of our theme nights was Pitch Black Attack)! You also get quiet time – called FOB (Flat On Back) and mail from your parents.

Monday was my favorite day and it was a really fun! My friends and I jumped on the blob and flew up and down! (The blob is a giant inner tube that you jump on in the water.) Sometimes if three people made it on the Blob without flying off, we would have a blob war! A blob war is when you try to push your friends into the water – but the funny thing is – if you push someone, you fall in too! After the blob, we got to do fishing and I caught 4 fish! My sister, Jewel, caught a fish first! When a fish tugged and tugged on my pole, I felt proud when I saw it come out of the water! After fishing, we did B-B guns. Then we did Tea Time at the Rock. The Rock is where we eat and we also do theme nights there. At Tea time we danced and had a talent show, and we were able to make bracelets and drink juice and had cookies, it was really fun! Finally we went to the Hydroplane. The Hydroplane is a giant waterslide that goes into the pool. It is really fast! You go so fast you feel like you are going to hit the blob!

Everyone should go to Towers! It is for first through fifth grade, and it is Amazing!!!”

Braelyn, your time at camp sounds like it was an absolute blast! The blob must have been a really fun time along with a number of other water activities. Congratulations to Jewel on her first fish! I’m guessing water activities are your number one favorite thing to do at camp since Monday was the best day for you! Pine Cove Towers sounds like a really great place—thanks for sharing, Braelyn. If anyone else is interested in Pine Cove Camp for their next summer adventure, be sure to check them out some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hello, Camp Fans!

We got a response to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest that was so large I’m still publishing our submissions here on the Everything Summer Camp Blog! Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Enjoy another one right now!

Today’s post comes from Jalina K. who wrote in to tell us about her really fun camp stay at Camp Interlaken. Get a look at today’s submission about her stay: “My name is Jalina K. I attended Camp Interlaken for their first session of four weeks. This was my first time going to Camp Interlaken.

I have experienced the time of my life and cherish a place I will never forget. I have learned so much more about my Jewish heritage for the month I attended Camp Interlaken. I had time to memorize the prayers we say before and after each meal called the Hamotzie and Birkat along with being kosher for a month. I also learned many Israeli dances, Shabbat songs, traditions, and prayers.

I not only made many new friends but I created a new family. I saw all my Cabin mates as sisters and my counselors as mothers since they’ve guided me and taught me so much. Camp Interlaken also taught me so much about gratitude and turning negative situations into positive situations.

At Camp Interlaken I got to experience many activities such as archery, friendship bracelet-making, tushball, volleyball, soccer, bubble soccer, tennis, basketball, 9 square, skiing, wind surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, hydro biking, tubing, zip-lining, rock climbing, disc golfing, free dip in Lake Finley and in the pool, and many more fun activities that I’m so glad I got the chance to participate in.

My personal favorite was waterskiing because I was able to drop a ski and get half way around Lake Finley. My personal favorite time of the day when I was at Camp Interlaken is when the sun sets and we all would gather around each other holding hands and unity for friendship circle and sing together as a family. It was such an amazing feeling on Shabbat evening to walk around the entire camp holding hands and saying ‘Shabbat Shalom!!’ along with a hug and a kiss on the cheek to our camp family.

Even waking up in the morning and walking over the bridge seeing all of the glorious, sparkling view of Lake Finley is a site that I will never forget and every time I think of going back to Camp Interlaken a smile appears on my face from thinking about the funny, cherishable, unforgettable, great times I had at camp. All of these everlasting qualities, moments, and traits of my experience at Camp Interlaken proves why I think my camp is the best.

The feeling of love in the air (along with the smell of sunscreen and bug spray) at Camp Interlaken is more than just the feeling of love for the summer, but will remain in our hearts and at Camp Interlaken for all of us to remember that camp is our home and always will be. I encourage campers in considering coming to Camp Interlaken so you can experience the time of your life just like I did.”

Awesome, Jalina! Sounds like a wonderful summer experience that will stay with you forever! You make Camp Interlaken sound like such a special place—especially Lake Finley! How cool that you got to explore new friendships, new understandings, and a new place like Camp Interlaken! Thanks for sharing, Jalina! If anyone else is interested in Camp Interlaken for their next summer adventure, be sure to check them out some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We loved the large response we got to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp! It started back in 2018 and I’m still publishing your submissions one by one right here on the Blog. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Enjoy another one right now!

Today’s post comes from Emma T. who wrote in to tell us about her really fun camp stay at Birch Trail Camp for Girls. Get a look at today’s submission about her stay:

“This was my first year at Birch Trail. My favorite part of the summer was going on a climbing trip on Lake Superior. We got to climb indoors (because it rained) and outdoors above the lake. I made a lot of new friends on my trip, and the scenery was really beautiful. Another thing I really liked was the color war (aka TIAD). It made me grow out of my comfort zone and try new things like cheering loudly and getting messy. I was on the red Brules. Each team is named after a river in Wisconsin. We got to wear red costumes. Birch Trail is the best because of all of our traditions that go back to 1959. My mom and my aunt went to the camp, and it is fun being a second generation camper. I like that they let us be independent and they don't make us do things we don't want to do. The counselors and staff are very friendly and nurturing. The director is fun and funny. I could be myself and be casual. ‘No mean girls’ is a big theme, so there is always a safe place to go at camp. It is easy to make new friends since everyone is so kind and friendly. I loved my camp big sister. She always was there for me and helped me with the climbing wall. Everyone should go to BT. It's the most awesome camp!”

Awesome, Emma! Sounds like a really fantastic and well-rounded camping experience! The trip to Lake Superior sounds pretty wonderful. And it’s great to hear that you enjoyed the push that the Color War gave you outside your comfort zone. I too am not used to being loud or making a mess of myself, but it’s fun to live a different lifestyle for a little while—just to test it out. Sounds like Birch Trail was the perfect summer escape for you! Thanks for sharing, Emma!

If anyone else is interested in Birch Trail Camp for Girls for their next summer adventure, be sure to check them out some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John