Hey, Camp Fans!

We were delighted to see such a great response to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and now we’re eager to publish each one right here on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! Today’s post is from Brianna B., who wrote in to tell us about her time away at Pinecove Camp and the fun summer stay she had…

MY CAMP STORY!!

“Hi. My name is Brianna B. and I have been going to Pinecove camp in Palestine, TX for two years now! I love Pinecove because it allows me to learn about GOD and how he made each one of us different. I think Pinecove is the best because there is a week of fun activities, but they are all related back to GOD and that is what Pinecove is all about! I was so organized at camp all thanks to my trunk from EVERYTHING SUMMER CAMP, I also a had an awesome organizer (FROM EVERYTHING SUMMER CAMP) at the top of my trunk in which I could have my Bible in, my note pad and pens, and much more, and all my bunk mates said next year they wanted one too! I learned at camp that we should be focused on GOD more than anything else, and that GOD made you the way he wanted you to be. One of my favorite activities was the ZIPLINE, at first, I was really scared to do it because it was super high, but all my bunk mates cheered me on and I had the courage to do it. The thrill of the zipline was amazing, you could feel the wind in your hair and the scenery was beautiful! It felt like a once in a lifetime experience, and was a remarkable adventure in the sky! In the morning, we would always have 20-30 minutes where the whole camp had to be quiet and everyone would take out their bible and focus on GOD only (FUN FACT-THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME THE CAMP WAS EVER QUIET, THE REST OF THE DAY SOUNDED LIKE CHAOS!!) At the end of every day we would go to Worship at the “C.L.U.B”, where we would sing for 30 minutes and then pray after. Then we would do our Bible study and talk about what our pastor was saying that night. Then we would go outside get a bedtime snack and head back to our cabins for a shower and then bed. My favorite thing at camp was the camp store, there was so much stuff. I bought 4 shirts, a wrist band, and many more things!! I think the overall thing I enjoyed most was meeting new friends and knowing GOD wanted me to meet them!!”

Thanks for the shout-out, Brianna! Glad we could make you so happy with your C&N Camp Trunk and other camp accessories. And, more importantly, we’re glad to hear that you got so much out of your camp experience! It feels great to expand your network of friendships as well as your own spirituality! If you’re interested in this kind of a camping experience, check out Pinecove Camp for yourself by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We were elated with all the great submissions we got about the experience our camp families underwent this last summer! We saw more than 30 submissions for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest that we had at Everything Summer Camp and we’re still posting each of your entries on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners who got larger prizes, all other entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! And today’s post is from Andrea C., who wrote in to tell us about her son’s rookie year at Falling Creek Camp.

“My son went to camp for the first time this summer. As a new nine-year-old (his birthday was the first day of camp), he was ready for his new adventure. He had a few friends from home at camp with him but was really looking forward to meeting new friends.

On Day One, he literally threw his bag onto his bunk, shouted “Bye Mom!” and was running off with boys to play games. There were no tearful goodbyes, no send off with positive words, no reminding him of the videos and shows he had watched about camp, and no goodbye kiss to Mom (I did make him come back and accomplish that!). He seemed ready. His father and I looked at each other and shrugged. We proceeded to walk back to the car to head out. First impressions? Camp was going to be a good fit.

As the week went on, I anxiously read the daily blog and looked for him in the photos. I missed him, of course, but knew that he was having fun. Before I knew it, it was time to pick him up. Had he been homesick? Will he want to go back? Was I more excited about his camp experience than he was?

There was no need for me to worry. Pickup day was pouring down rain. I had planned to have him show me around, take some photos, and hear all about his week. Instead, we waded through mud and water and loaded the van with a trunk full of wet, stinky, gear. He didn’t even notice the rain or the mud. I had an umbrella but he was just walking in the rain, not noticing it. It seemed that after spending a week in the rain, playing, camping, and having a good time, he realized that it is just part of nature. He seemed to have a sense of confidence that it was just a little water. He talked non-stop about his week, his friends, who was homesick, and who was the best at whatever activity. Whew…..

Camp was great for my son. He is looking forward to going to a longer session next summer. He is already starting to think about activities and trips he wants to do. The confidence and independence he gained in such a short period was notable. Boys get very few opportunities in today’s society to be independent and make their own decisions. Camp is such a place. I cannot wait to see how he comes home next summer. I guess I am now a CAMP MOM!”

Congratulations, Andrea (a.k.a. Camp Mom)! We’re so happy that your son’s first year was so easy yet influential! Summer camp certainly is a powerful experience for those who attend it. We hope to hear back from you on how Year Number Two goes! For the rest of you, check out Falling Creek Camp for Boys to see if it might be a good match for your son. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We were elated to receive over 30 entries for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp. We’re super eager to share with all our readers by publishing each one of the submissions right here on the Blog! There were seven lucky winners to our contest and everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our website! Today’s post is from Ailey W., who wrote in to tell us about her first two-week camp stay at Camp Mystic.

“This Summer I went to camp at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. It was my first time to go to a two week long camp. For my birthday I got a beautiful, new trunk from Everything Summer Camp Store. When I got to camp there was no air conditioning. The camp had two tribes called Tonkawas & Kiowas. I drew out of a hat to pick my tribe and I got Tonkawa. I got to pick five activities and I chose Camp Craft, Archery, Fishing, Swimming & Horseback Riding. My favorite was Fishing. On the first day I caught a Bass and on the second day I caught a small fish. One day I even caught a seven pound catfish, but it broke the line. Another thing I enjoyed was watching a movie one rainy night. We watched Shark Boy & Lava Girl. It was so good but I didn’t get to see all of the movie so I was disappointed but I am fine with it now. Thank you Everything Summer Camp store for getting me ready for camp!”

Glad to hear you had so much fun at Camp Mystic Ailey! Sounds like you’re pretty good at fishing. I’m sure you’ll be telling the tale of the catfish who got away for years from now. Camp certainly is a great time! Check out Camp Mystic to see if it might be a good match for you. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We got more than 30 submissions for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and we’re itching with anticipation to publish each one of them right here on the Blog to share with all our readers! There were seven lucky winners to our contest and everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our website! Today’s post is from Emily N., who wrote in to tell us about her second year at Gold Arrow Camp.

“LETTER OF GRATITUDE SENT TO CAMP LOUISE DIRECTOR

Dear Alicia,
lAs I wake up my first morning at home I am still thinking about the Middah of the week, “Gratitude”, and feel the need to express how thankful I am to be a part of the camp family for the past 3 summers.
         lIt has been an overwhelming experience to be re-included in the world of Camp Louise which I have loved since I was 10 years old. Each year I look forward to returning with trepidation as well as excitement just like any camper, but leave feeling full of love, acceptance, and longing for the next year.
lI am beyond grateful for what Camp Louise has given not only to me, but also my daughter. I loved this place as a child and never thought twice about signing her up for Rookie Camp the day she turned 7 years old. Her first few summers I enjoyed watching Annie grow and shine from afar – waiting every morning for the photos to be released and scouring the Unit Leader emails for every morsel of camp life.
lA few years ago, I learned about the possibility of returning to camp as Staff and am so grateful you found a place for me. These past 3 summers have been the most amazing of all my time at camp. Some might think that being a camper is best time of your life but I’d argue that being here and watching your child relish in all that this magical place has to offer is truly one of life’s greatest joys.
lI want to say thanks to everyone who makes this experience possible; from her bunk counselors, to her Unit Leader, the UCs and A Team, to Dining Hall Staff and Housekeeping Crew – I see how all are pieces of the puzzle that make it possible for Annie to return home each summer with her soul full of enough passion, confidence, and laughter to last her the next 11 months.
lI hope you are able to share this at Tuesday’s Staff Meeting as there wasn’t enough time to thank each person individually. Keep up the amazing work for the next 5 weeks, no matter how tired you get, knowing you are truly touching the lives of the 411 campers sleeping soundly in their bunks tonight as well as their parents and the generations yet to come.

Beyond Grateful,
Emily Newmark
Camper, Parent & Staff”

What a thoughtful letter, Emily! We love getting stories like this that illustrate just what a powerful connection we have to summer camp. Sounds like Camp Louise is a fantastic place and I bet you had a lot to do with that! So glad to hear how much Annie loves it there too. Check out Camp Louise by clicking here and see what strong connection you might develop with it. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We got more than 30 submissions for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp and we’re itching with anticipation to publish each one of them right here on the Blog to share with all our readers! There were seven lucky winners to our contest and everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our website! Today’s post is from Catherine D., who wrote in to tell us about her third year at Gold Arrow Camp.

“What makes camp such an amazing place? Why is it the place that I call my second home and the highlight of my summer? These questions are ones that I have been asking myself ever since I started going to Gold Arrow Camp. Three summers ago, I was absolutely terrified to go to my first ever sleepaway camp. I stepped onto the camp bus early one Sunday morning, sobbing, and certain that I was going to have a terrible time and never want to go again. After two amazing weeks, I boarded the bus for the second time, sobbing again, but for a different reason. I didn’t want to leave. So, for all of the people reading this who wonder why sleepaway camps are so amazing and question if they should send their kids to camp, I am attempting to answer these questions in three parts.
       lThe first amazing thing about my camp is the activities that I participated in. At home, a typical Saturday for me in the summer would be spent waking up very late in the morning, reading for most of the day, and maybe going swimming if I was feeling particularly adventurous. In contrast, at camp, a Saturday would be spent water-skiing in the morning, horseback riding in the afternoon, and zip-lining after dinner. We kayaked, paddle-boarded, canoed, wake-boarded, rock-climbed, did archery, riflery, arts and crafts, backpacked, and slept under the stars. I faced some of my biggest fears by doing activities such as zip-lining and the high ropes course, and discovered things about myself such as that I love sailing. Every single day brought something new to try, a new challenge, and a new adventure.
       lSecondly, I want to talk about the atmosphere at camp. Although it may sound cliché, camp is the place that I feel I can most be myself. At school, I feel pressure to dress a certain way, look a certain way, and act a certain way. However, at camp, I embrace my inner child. In the mornings, we sing fun repeat-after-me songs, dance like no one is watching, and get ready for the day (a routine that does not include applying make up, and does include wearing clothes suitable for playing in the wilderness all day). At home, I also face so much stress around homework and tests, while at camp, I get more sleep than I do during the rest of the year and simply have fun every single day. Additionally, there is no “friend drama”. Almost as if there is some unspoken agreement, every person I have met at camp is genuinely nice, friendly, and supportive.
       lThe last unbelievably wonderful thing about camp is the relationships that I make there. This year, I was in a cabin with nine other girls (whom I didn’t know) for two weeks, and I have never become closer with any other group of people in my entire life. There is something about spending every day for two weeks together that creates an immense bond between a group of people that can never be broken. Our cabin went to activities together, ate together, slept together, and backpacked together. We gave each other advice about friend issues at home, confessed our biggest fears, told each other our most embarrassing moments, shared our goals and supported each other to achieve them. In addition, all of this happened without the complication of phones or technology. When we were together, we had face to face interactions and really listened to each other, without checking our phones or texting others while we were talking. Yes, by the end of the two weeks I spent at camp I had gained nine sisters, and know that the friendship we made can never be broken.
       lBecause of these three main reasons, camp will always have a special place in my heart, and I am counting down the days until I can board the bus once again!”

Thanks for such an organized and thoughtful submission, Catherine! It’s great to know that Gold Arrow Camp has been such a positive influence in your life. Camp certainly has a way of working its magic! Check out Gold Arrow Camp to see if it might be a good match for you. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John