Hey, Camp Lovers!

We saw such a great response to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp in 2018 that we’re still going strong publishing each submission right here on the Blog in the New Year. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them!

Today’s post comes from Grady H. who wrote in to tell us about his summer stay at camp. Like his brother, Grady has been to camp before, but never to Camp Belknap before. Check out today’s submission about Grady’s stay in New Hampshire:

“My camp story had ups and downs but only one is worth telling. It was a hot summer day on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. When I woke up I had a feeling it was going to be a good day. Swimming, sailing, and playing kickball all went by quickly. The whole day flew by except for the last period of the day. I was set to go tubing for the first time since I was 6. I made the walk with two of my friends, Luke and Nathan. They showed me how to get there and then they showed me where the life jackets were. We were so early that we had to wait 3 minutes for the rest of the people to get there and then another 5 minutes for the boat. The boat arrived and I waited for my turn. When it was my turn I got in the water (which was surprisingly warm) and swam to the float, passing Luke as I did. When I got to the float I climbed on and grabbed the handles. After I gave the driver the thumbs up I started to move, suddenly the driver hit full throttle and I was submerged in water; because the water was so clear I could see fish swimming below me, finally when I got over how cool it was I leaned back to get air. As I did that the float burst out of the water and I went flying. I later learned that my amazing and cool experience was due to the fact that I hadn't been leaning backwards when the driver hit the throttle. That is the story that exceeded all the other ups and downs of the best summer of my life.”

Thanks for that submission, Grady! I love that visual you gave when you mentioned the water being so clear you could see the fish swimming beneath you. What an awesome sight to see right before you get yanked right out of the water! Sounds like Belknap was an absolute blast. For anyone else interested in Camp Belknap, check it out for yourself sometime and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Lovers!

We saw such a great response to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp in 2018 that we’re still going strong publishing each submission right here on the Blog in the New Year. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them!

Today’s post comes from Quinn H. who wrote in to tell us about his summer stay at camp. Though he’s no stranger to camp, this summer was his first time at Camp Belknap in New Hampshire. Get a look at today’s submission about his stay:

“In one of the first days of my camp experience the story of the talking trees was told to us before we ate. It was told by the camp leader, Seth. It was about how he was walking to his cabin and his flashlight ran out of battery. His world went black. There was no moon that night so when he heard a crack and whistle he was shaking in his boots. From what he heard it sounded like trees were talking to him, but because it was so dark he couldn't be sure. The next morning, Seth walked slowly back to his cabin again. He was walking down the same path as the night before and he heard the same crack and whistle and he looked up. He saw a bunch of trees with holes in them that when the wind blowed threw them it made a crack and whistle noise. After the story was over and we ate, I went back to my cabin to go to sleep and had a nightmare. In the nightmare I was Seth experiencing the same tree story he told earlier. It was a terrifying experience. After my nightmare I understood how scared Seth was in his story.”

Great submission, Quinn! The ‘Talking Trees’ story sounds pretty spooky! You relayed it very well in your submission—now I’M bound to have a nightmare tonight! Camp Belknap sounds like a fun place with fun people! For anybody else interested in Camp Belknap, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Lovers!

We saw such a great response to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp in 2018 that we’re still going strong publishing each submission right here on the Blog. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them!

Today’s post comes from Krystina A. who wrote in to tell us about her son’s time at Golden Slipper Camp, located in Pennsylvania. Get a look at today’s submission about Peyton’s summer camp experience:

“My son Peyton attends Golden Slipper Camp. I actually attended this camp when I was his age! I still can’t believe when I drop him off how many people I recognize from my encampments some 20 years ago! It all started because he was socially awkward and having trouble with working in teams at school. He also got bullied. Being a single mother made some of this difficult for me to help him with as it’s me and him against the world most days. So I thought about the camp I went to. It helped him build teamwork skills with their olympics competitions and there are so many activities that the kids get to choose for themselves as electives building individuality. I mean most kids these days sit around all summer playing video games. So for 3.5 weeks in the summer he goes off to summer camp. No electronics—all old school style!!! Yea, they have to write letters!!! The first year he was a bit lost but he made soooo many friends, learned how to do many things boys his age do (like shave, I have no clue I’m a girl!) he loved the dances and all the really creative night activities like color wars, tug of war, trivia night, and so much more. The dinner dance is a fancy night and he learned how to find a date ‘n treat them like a lady! This camp has helped him grow into a very well rounded and respectable young man. He is now 14 and just came back from his 4th year. He is hoping to be a counselor when he becomes of age and, honestly, if I could I would too!! Summers are so boring for kids and single activities are pricey like what?... $50 plus to do one sports team for 2 days a week that lasts a month maybe? This place they get all of them crammed into non-stop fun for 3.5 weeks!!! He looks forward to it every year and talks about it non-stop till the next year! He has even learned to fly on his own and navigate his way through an airport. He is such an independent young man now. Every year he comes back a new kid!”

This is awesome, Krystina! It’s so great to hear this kind of feedback about how much summer camp has truly shaped Peyton into a responsible, independent, and confident young man! Happy to hear that he hopes to counsel when that day comes! Golden Slipper Camp must be a pretty special place. How cool you two get to share the love for this place!

As for anybody else interested in Golden Slipper Camp, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Storytellers!

We love hearing your stories from camp in our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Get a look at each submission as I post them one-by-one right here on the Blog!

Today’s post comes from Josh B. who wrote in to tell us about his second year at Beber Camp, located in the home state of Everything Summer Camp, Wisconsin. Take a look at his submission about this year’s experience:

“Hi, my name is Josh. I’m 9 years old and it was my 2nd summer at Beber Camp. I loved it so much I stayed for 8 weeks! Beber Camp is the best place on earth! It is the best because of all the friendships you can make. It also has great activities. At camp, friendships won may never die! My favorite things to do at camp this summer was making all these new friends and hanging with them. My favorite waterfront activity was waterskiing. I also loved the flying squirrel. These activities are great because you can’t do them at home! This past summer I loved being in the musical - I got to work backstage. I also had a great time with my cabin. I loved the sneak outs to star gaze, s’mores in the gazebo and all the jokes we told. The saddest part of camp was having to go home. I can’t wait to go back to 3BC!”

Josh! It’s great to hear how much you love your second year at Beber. It’s great that you’ve embraced camp life so much. Sounds like Beber Camp is hard not to love! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us! As for anybody else interested in Beber Camp, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Lovers!

We love summer camp too. That’s why we love hearing your stories from camp in our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Get a look at each submission as I post them one-by-one right here on the Blog!

Today’s post comes from Catherine B. who wrote in to tell us about her second year at Camp Fern in the Piney Woods of Texas. Get a look at her submission about this last summer at camp: “I am 8 years old and this was my second year at Camp Fern! Last year I only stayed for two weeks, but this year I got to stay for a whole month and I had the best time ever in my life. I had old friends in my cabin and also new friends. My favorite activities were riding and skiing. I even got a ribbons at banquet for being the most improved in skiing and the best overall in skiing. I've never gotten awards like that before. It made me feel really good. Camp Fern is the best place in the world. They teach me so many things. They teach me about nature and how to take care of it. They teach me how to do new things. They teach me that I can do things I never thought I could. And we have lots of fun! Before I went to camp, I had never spent the night away from home. I'm so glad my mom and dad let me go to camp because now I know that I can do anything and learn anything. My counselors keep me safe and are so nice and are kind of like my mom when I get a little homesick. Camp Fern is so amazing. On the last night of camp we write our wishes down on paper and then make them into sails for little paper boats. We light candles and send our wish boats out across the lake. It is so special and beautiful when the lighted boats are out on the water. My boat made it all the way across the lake, so I know that my wishes will come true thanks to Camp Fern! When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. That way I can still come to Camp Fern as a counselor in the summer. I love Camp Fern!!!”

Hey, Catherine! I’m thrilled to hear how much you love your time at Camp Fern. It’s great that you’ve been able to learn so much from all your new experiences at camp. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us, Catherine! As for anybody else interested in Camp Fern, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John