Hey, Camp Fans!

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 Alex C. who wrote in to tell us about her really fun camp stay at Camp Stewart for Boys. Get a look at today’s submission about his stay: 

“I'm Alex C., a 12-year-old boy who attended Camp Stewart for Boys for the first time this past summer. I want to write about my third day of camp, when I bravely climbed and then jumped off of Indian Head Rock, a rock next to the Guadalupe River that looks just like the profile of an American Indian. Here is my true story:

I grasped Indian Head Rock with my right hand and moved my left foot to the foothold. My position was tenacious, and my fingers clutched the handhold as confidence poured over me. I then pulled myself a little bit farther up the crag, and as I did so, my form kept consistent.

I felt resilient climbing up the rock, and did not reserve energy when I was climbing up the tor. I pulled myself higher and higher without thinking of the expanse between my feet and the ground. I felt like a flurry climbing up the crag, but by the time I was near the top most of my energy had depleted. I stumbled on the rock abruptly realizing how much of my stamina I had wasted. I was sweating, my face was red, and I felt almost feverish below the incandescent sun.

I looked down at the ground, the water glistened below me and I felt a small rise in confidence as I reminded myself I was climbing above a large placid river, and I started to climb once again my confidence waxing. I halted once again just inches before the top, there was an overhang right at the top. I put my hand over the overhang, and I could feel the top of the rock. Then suddenly my footing gave way, and the rocks my feet had been on cascaded down the cliff. This left me in the position with all of my feet and my left hand dangling in the air, and my right hand on the top of the crag. My confidence wavered drastically, but my adrenaline soared. Using every ounce of muscle in my body, I moved my left hand next to my right and pulled my body up the overhang and lie down gasping for air.

I lay down for a minute or two thinking back to everything that had just happened. Then I stood up realizing that I was lucky to have made it to the top, and that I had been foolish to forget about conserving my energy, but wise to correct my mistake, but most of all determined to achieve the goal. With that thought I looked to my left at the small brook feeding into the river, at the bluff behind me, at the expansive river to my right, and at the rest of camp in front of me where more adventures await.

Then with a bliss and merriment surging through my heart, I jumped off the rock into the Guadalupe River.”

Sounds intense, Alex! What an opportunity you took advantage of at Camp Stewart! I’m delighted to hear that you embraced this challenge so fearlessly. And you articulate your experience so clearly! Camp must have been such a blast! Thanks for sharing, Alex. For anybody else interested in checking out Camp Stewart, be sure to check them out for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

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 Liza S. who wrote in to tell us about her really fun camp stay at Camp Merrie-Woode. Get a look at today’s submission about her stay:

“I love camp, and every year I'm super excited to go and sad to leave! All of the activities are tons of fun but my favorite would have to be horseback riding as I love riding. Some of the other activities I took this year were tennis, sailing, canoeing, knitting, archery, jewelry, and land sports. In knitting, I made a pillow, and in archery, I made several bulls eyes. This was my fifth year going, and every year I challenge myself to pass levels, etc. For example, this year I passed the first level in canoeing and went on a difficult two day hike on the Appalachian Trail with two of my friends at camp. Everyone is very witty and kind at camp and you can make friends easily. Also, every year my cabins have been with awesome people and amazing counselors. In addition, every night we have a different evening program that is so exciting and a good way to end the night.

I adore the camaraderie at camp as well as the independence to explore and try new activities. It's fantastic that camp is by the lake to take advantage of water sports like sailing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming but also to have amazing horseback riding. My favorite horse is named Picard who is a thoroughbred. He's a retired off track race horse and has the smoothest canter and loves high jumps.

Our camp is also free of electronics so we all have a chance to really get to know one another, play cards and games, and write letters to family and friends. I live in Florida so to be able to go to the mountains every summer and have a blast at camp is very special. I can't wait until camp next summer to spend time with many great friends I have met, continue passing levels and challenging myself in various activities, and feeling such joy!”

Wow! This summer sounds like it was a blast at Merrie-Woode, Liza! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you have a special relationship with Picard and riding altogether! I’m glad you made such a strong bond with your fellow campers and your counselors. Isn’t camp great for reminding us what life is like without the interruption of buzzing and dinging electronics?! For anybody else interested in checking out Camp Merrie-Woode, be sure to check them out for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Lovers!

What a great response we saw to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp in 2018—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 Ryan S. who wrote in to tell us about his really fun camp stay at Kingswood Camp. Get a look at today’s submission about his stay:

“This was my first year at sleepaway camp and I loved it. I went to camp Kingswood on Lake Tarleton in New Hampshire for 4 weeks. My favorite thing to do was anything and everything on the water, like sailing, fishing, waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and swimming. One day, I went canoeing on Squam Lake, also in New Hampshire, with a couple of campers and three counselors. We paddled to an island and camped there overnight. It was so fun setting up camp and fishing on the island. The counselors made us a delicious dinner of tortillas and rice on the fire. We had rap battles and other competitions to pick our oatmeal flavors for breakfast.

Another favorite camp memory was the egg drop contest one day but is not like a normal egg drop. The counselors set up bunch of sharp objects pointing up. We had to build a contraption then conceal the egg in. Then the counselors would throw our contraption out a window on the sharp things. Then they would try to smash them with various things. That was one of my favorite times I had at camp. I met so many new people and made new friends. It was a great experience being away from home and making my own life at camp. I think that Kingswood is the best camp because of these things and many, many more things. This summer was so much fun and I had a blast.

Your Happy Camper footlocker trunk was super helpful. At camp, we basically live out of our trunks. I wish my mom would let me do that at home.”

Great submission, Ryan! Your canoe trip across Squam Lake and overnighter on the island sounds like it was a really special time. Sounds like nonstop fun between fun on the waterfront and other fun activities like the egg drop contest! Glad you had such fun and happy to hear your Happy Camper worked so out so well! For anybody else interested in Kingswood Camp, give this place a closer look 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 in the New Year. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them!

Today’s post comes from Evan V. who wrote in to tell us about an interesting camp experience he had at an NJY Camp. Get a look at today’s submission about his stay:

“At camp, there is always a counselor who stays awake throughout the night to make sure that if anything goes wrong in the bunk they can help. My bunk in particular had a special game we played. While the counselor was not looking, we would switch beds with each other. I would go to someone's bed, he would go to mine, and so on and so forth. One night the counselor said, "Okay everyone I can see you in each other's beds! Get in your own beds now!" We all returned to our own beds and all became quiet. After about five minutes there was a mysterious voice that began calling out "Hellooooooo down there..." or "I seeee youuu..." At this point my counselor is walking back and forth looking for the source of the voice. The voice keeps calling out to us and we are all freaking out and looking around. Finally my counselor turned the lights on and we all looked about. Then I noticed something out of the ordinary. Something that seemed... out of place. I looked to the rafters on the ceiling and saw a shadow... a shape in the form of a boy. One of my bunkmates was sitting on the RAFTERS! Looking down at us smiling and giggling! Everyone began laughing as I sat in shock wondering how he got up there... I knew I saw something that would live on to become a camp tradition, or a legend. The legend of... RAFTER BOY!”

Hilarious submission, Evan! Sounds like your camp counselors had their hands full with your bunkmates and…Rafter Boy! I’m glad the scare was all in good fun! Rafter Boy sounds like a hoot! Glad you had a fun time at your summer camp stay! For anybody else interested in an NJY Camp, give them 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 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