Hey, Camp Fans!

We’ve got 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 summer camp experience went. I’m happy to say that the turnout we received was so great that we’re still sharing them this far into 2019! Here is another installment to our contest collection!

Today’s submission comes from Rebecca C. who sent in her submission about her twin campers’ time at Camp Hilltop! Check it out:

“The hubs and I have 11-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. The last few years of our family adventures were chaotic . . . and that’s putting it mildly. We moved twice – big moves, Virginia to Texas and then back east to Carolina. The kids switched schools 3 times in 3 years – and we were so happy to finally feel settled again in June of 2018, new house – jobs were great – kids had a great school year – they were going to Middle School with all of their friends for the first time in 4 years we had consistency. Long intro to – let’s go to camp for 3 weeks!

They were all in – we were all in. I don’t know who was more nervous at drop off (likely mom). I sent the first box of things I wish I had not listened to the kids and packed anyway as soon as I got back to the grandparent’s house, scheduled for overnight delivery!

At 11pm we’d log on to see the pictures of the day that are posted by the amazing camp staff – and to our parental delight – big toothy grins as they waterskied – rock climbed – high roped – taught alpaca tricks (yep, alpaca), boating – go carts . . . on and on. We sent requests for adult or family weeks that we could join in the summer fun.

It took a few days after pick up for the stories to trickle out – the hikes to overnight campsites – the camp wide spirit day – winners and bonus movies for that cabin – the friends and the sense of adventure – and the independence that was gained in those few weeks will last a lifetime – we have already completed the paperwork for next year.

This family can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for these very happy campers!”

Thanks for your submission, Rebecca! It’s interesting to get the other end of the experience than what we’re used to hearing. The camp stay through the eyes of the parents is a very different time—all the curiosity, patience, and a little hint of jealousy! I sincerely hope you guys get your wish in the future for family weeks. Summer camp is too much fun to leave the whole experience to the kids! Haha! For anybody else interested in Camp Hilltop, check them out sometime. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Our 2018 ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest produced great results this year in which we ask campers and parents alike to write in about how the camp experience went. Ask and we sure received! 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 Aaron G. who sent in a retrospective look from adulthood at his time at summer camp! Check it out:

"I went to camp as a shy 6-year-old for one week. I cried the entire time because I was not ready for camp. So why is this a good story you may ask? Well... the staff from counselor to director comforted me through the entire episode. Anyone of these people could have given up and sent me home, ignored me, or become upset with me. Instead, each person that I encountered helped me differently. One person may have hugged me and said it was ok; the other may have given me a pat on the back and said, ‘Aaron you got this.’ Or still yet a firm ‘Aaron, you are going to be okay, let's do…(X). Each of these people helped to lift me up when I was feeling down. I did not realize the support I had received at the moment because I was a 6-year-old only child with poor social skills—now I am a 31 year old with better-ish social skills. I did return the next year and I was a different kid. It was not til too many years later that I realized how they treated me and how it made me feel even after many years. This feeling of love, connection, and support are what I have decided to live my life by. I want to help support campers that may be like me to have the positive experience I had. I have been involved in camping ever since. (Minus one year where I wanted to make real money—the worst summer of my life.) This love for camp and desire to keep the tradition alive is what caused me to pursue a full-time career in camp so I can support that mission all year round for many children to come.”

Excellent, Aaron! Summer camp folks really do such an awesome job, don’t they?! It’s very refreshing to hear that summer camp has influenced your choices as you begin this juncture of your life. It’s an understatement to say that it’s easy to let money drive you, but true it’s wise of you to not let money be your chief motivator. Enjoy surrounding yourself with true wealth each summer, Aaron and thanks for sharing your piece about your relationship with summer camp!

The camp that Aaron attended was Camp Fair Haven. To anyone else interested in this camp for your own camping experience, be sure to check them out sometime and, as always thanks for reading!

- John

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