Hey, Camp Kids!

We were thrilled with your response to our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp! Your stories were great and it was 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 is from Alijah J. who wrote in to tell us about a first year at Camp Longhorn. Put it in front of your eyes and read his summer camp submission right now:

“Hi my name is Alijah J. This year was my first year at Camp Longhorn. I had the greatest experience. I learned how to properly shoot a gun and bow and arrow. There were lots of dances/carnivals which also made my camp experience great. Being away from my phone and not to have to worry about the things at home was the greatest feeling. I got to spend good quality time with my friends and also met new friends who I hope I can keep for a life time. Whenever I’m too old to attend Camp Longhorn I will hope to return as a counselor. I love everything about Camp Longhorn. There are no dislikes about it. I can’t wait to return to Camp Longhorn next year!”

Glad you got such an immersive summer camp experience away from your home and away from your phone. It’s great to hear that being away from these everyday items was a positive experience for you. Sounds like you truly embraced being surrounded by fun and friends in the great outdoors!

I’m confident that Camp Longhorn will only get better each year straight through your days of being a camp counselor, Alijah! To anybody else interested in Camp Longhorn, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

We asked you how camp went this last summer and we were thrilled with the response you gave back. We had our best turnout yet this year for our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp! Your camp stories were great! It’s such fun reading through them all and it’s been great sharing them here on the Blog!

After announcing our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, I’ve moved on to the rest our participants. The following post is from Trinity F. who wrote in to tell us about her four weeks at Incarnation Camp. Read all about right here:

“My name is Trinity F. This year, I went to Incarnation Camp in Ivoryton, CT for 4 weeks between July 22nd and August 18. This year was my first year in Winds and 4th year attending this camp. My father and brother went to this camp when they were my age. "Winds", which is the unit for 12 & 13 year old girls was the unit I was in. When I got there, unpacking everything was a breeze because of my new trunk, with the Glide N' Go tray. I really needed that extra storage for the items I made at camp. Anyway this summer I got to walk in the dam twice. There was algae at the bottom and it was really fun to walk (and maybe fall) on! I also got to do the water trampoline, go fishing, the Iceberg, and the water mat. That's not even all the water activities! I also got to canoe and row. We also got to do archery, soccer, capture the flag, gardening, roller skating, hockey, and lacrosse. We also did a hockey/lacrosse mixed match (some people used hockey sticks and some people used hockey sticks), it was a lot of fun. We got to pick some tomatoes, onions and parsley. When we went fishing we tried to find worms but we couldn't find any so we used fake bait. I kept looking for worms and found one, but when I went fishing a fish bit it off and I didn't catch it. One girl actually caught a fish though! This summer I only got to do the Iceberg once, but it was a lot of fun. I'm hoping to do it next year.

I'm also hoping my two friends that I invited to camp come next year. They said they loved it and it was a lot of fun watching someone experience camp for the first time. In ceramics I made 2 small little islands, one had a palm tree but it broke off. One of my favorite things was playing tug-o-war on Pequot Field. We did boys versus girls with our same age unit just the opposite gender. We won 3 times in a row! Sometimes I went to play during my free time, but I mostly spent my free time in the art barn because I like to draw, and do arts n' crafts. I made a bunch of cool lanyards. It’s my favorite thing to do there. I didn't have time to draw, because our days were always jam packed and it was so much fun. Even at night, I had 5 other girls in my tent and 2 counselors and it was a huge sleepover every night. I would like to tell my ENTIRE summer, but I would have you sitting here for decades! There's sooooo many things to do at camp!”

Haha! Well, if it’s going to be decades, I guess it’s good to call it there, but thank you so much for sharing all that you did, Trinity! Sounds like a very well-rounded time you had this summer. Glad to hear how nice your Glide n’ Go worked out for you! And how cool that you got a couple friends to join in your camp fun this year! Spreading the joy of summer camp is always a good move! Also—high-five! I like to draw too! Keep at it, Trinity and enjoy your camp stays in years to come!

To anybody else interested in Incarnation Camp, you can give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

We asked how camp went and we were thrilled with the response. We had our best turnout yet this year for our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp! Your camp stories were great! I had such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission right here on the Blog!

Since I’ve finished announcing our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, I’ve moved on to the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Louie B. who wrote in to tell us about his fourth year at Camp Beber. Read all about now:

“Camp was awesome! I loved it! This was my 4th year at camp and I am waiting for summer 2019! Part of what makes Beber so great is that we get to have so many choices. I am able to choose the hobbies I like. My favorite hobbies are on the waterfront, aqua park and waterskiing. The aqua park was even bigger this year. It was so much fun running around the inflatable obstacle course in Lake Beulah. In Kesher, you get to go on a 3 day camping trip. This year I chose the biking trip. It was out of this world! I got to go through tunnels and go on bike paths over 45 miles! We learned about railroad history in central Wisconsin. It was really cool biking on a railroad path. I highly recommend it! Another thing that makes camp great is the Israeli Dancing. It is so much fun and I love to do it. You get to sing and dance and do all other fun stuff!”

Glad to hear that camp continues to be a success for you, Louie! Real happy to see that the ‘Share Your Camp Story’ is becoming a summer tradition for you as well! Can’t wait to hear what kind of fun next year is for you! Next summer will come, but not nearly quick enough. In the meantime, to anybody else interested in Camp Beber, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

I’m thrilled to say that we had our best turnout yet for our annual Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest! Your camp stories were great! I had such a fun time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online! We’re posting each submission right here on the Blog!

Since I’ve finished announcing our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes, I’ve moved on to the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Anna S. who wrote in to tell us about her summer days at Camp Winnataska. Here it is:

I am seven years old. My name is Anna. I went to Camp Winnataska in Pell City, Alabama. My cabin name was Adobe. I had six other girls in my cabin and two counselors. Three of the girls in my cabin went to my school!

I liked the ropes course the best. The ropes course has a fake spider’s web that we have to climb through. It also has swings in the air. I did the ropes course five times. Some of my other favorite activities were outdoors where we had scavenger hunts and built a boat out of bark, flowers, sticks, and leaves and also horseback riding. For swimming, I got to jump off of a diving board into a pool. I even got to jump off a cliff into the river! It was so much fun!

In the evenings, we played fun games. My favorite game was called Ships and Sailors. It is very similar to Simon Says. Our counselors would sometimes do fun skits like pretending to sweep or mop the camp. It was really funny! Every night, the counselors would sing songs.

My favorite meal was cinnamon rolls, bacon and cereal that they would have in the morning. I also loved canteen time. I would always get Nerds Rope. My favorite dessert was when they had strawberries and yogurt.

I was really sad when I left camp but was happy to come home and see my family. Next year, I want to go to camp for a longer amount of time.

Sounds like you had a very well-rounded experience for your summer camp stay, Anna! Love to hear that camp was full of so much fun and lots of favorites! If anybody else is interested in Camp Winnataska, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Thanks for giving us our best turnout for the Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest yet! Your camp stories were great! I had a great time reading through them all and now I’m excited to share them with all our readers online and post each submission right here on the Blog!

I’ve finished announcing our ten lucky winners who took larger prizes and moved on now to the rest of your submissions. The following post is from Alanna G. who wrote in to tell us about her camp experience. This is her submission:

'From the outside looking in, you can't understand. But from the inside looking out, you can't explain"

There is no better quote to describe camp then the one above. For the past eight summers, I turn onto Highway J, see The Elegant Farmer and proceed down the hill and as I'm greeted with smiles in every direction I turn. I spend the next month or two, arms distance from my best friends, making memories, living every day to the fullest. Fast forward to the end of camp, the last night, singing camp songs and reminiscing on the amazing summer, a line strikes me, "Take it home, and share it with a friend." The next morning I wake up with tears streaming from my eyes as I squeeze my friends one last time. Arriving home soon becomes the worst feeling of all; it sinks in that camp is actually over. Post camp depression is something that always hurts. This year, I arrived home, actually excited to see my friends, I was excited to talk about my summer. I could spend days talking about how impactful my summer was, the kids I met and the activities I tried. Camp has provided me with countless life lessons and to imagine never going to camp makes me wonder where I would actually be today since camp has changed me for the better!

Camp is certainly a tough goodbye, Alanna! Glad you have had such a great experience from all your time there! Love the quote! If anybody else is interested in Beber Camp, you can give it a closer look by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John