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

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