Hey Camp Fans!

We’ve been having a blast sharing all your great responses to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest right here on the Everything Summer Camp Blog. After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! Today’s post is from Angela D. (or should I say Wisp), who wrote in to tell us about her summer as a staff member at Camp Cahinnio. Here’s her submission:

“I recently worked as a staff member at a Girl Scout camp here in Arkansas. Located in Booneville, Camp Cahinnio is a snug little camp nestled into the woods. This was my first year working as a staff member there and it was an amazing experience. We had a week or so of pre-camp training where all the employees worked together to clean up the camp for campers and learn the essentials to caring for campers needs. Pre-camp also gave us a lot of time to bond before campers came. Each staff member whether a cook or a counselor had their own camp name. My camp name was Wisp. My favorite part of training week was getting to stay in the platform tents that we call Tipi. This area had wooden platforms with an open tent set on each platform. It was the first time I had really slept out in the open like that because I have only ever camped in tents before. The best part was getting to walk a few people that I worked with who had never used a latrine to the latrines. Every time they would make me giggle because of the funny things they would comment about.
         lI was a unit counselor for our BA unit, which stands for Broken Arrow. This unit housed the youngest of the girls that attended camp. The girls were usually aged six to eight years of age and they were cute to work with. Our BA girls stayed in air conditioned cabins, but they were not allowed to let the A/C go down past 70 because that would make them sick.
         lMy largest challenge came the first week we had girls at camp. Some of our girls came to us saying their was a giant spider in their cabin. Another counselor and I walked into their cabin to find this really enormous spider crawling up their wall. I was terrified because I do NOT like spiders. I took the little child sized broom and let the big spider crawl on it and then put it outside. I think it helps me to be brave when there is someone there who needs more comforting than me.
         lOverall, I had a lot of fun. I spent about five or so weeks there and it was a really great experience. Depending on what all is going on in my life next year I might sign up to be a unit counselor again. It was a growing experience and I hope that I helped to better the futures of the young girls I camped with.”

Glad to hear your camp experience as a staff member was such a great time for you—everything except the part about the spider. If any readers out there are interested in joining the Girl Scouts in Camp Cahinnio or becoming a staff member there, check it out sometime. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks!

- John

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 Aidan G., whose mother wrote in to tell us about her son’s time away at Camp Laney and her experience with her first-time camper…

“I have been waiting for this summer since I found out I was pregnant for a boy in early 2008. This year, Aidan, was finally ready to attend his first summer at Camp Laney. And boy was I excited and ready for his summer adventure!
        lTwo weeks without being able to talk to or see my boy was tough. I stalked the mailbox for mail, checked the website hourly for news and pictures… anything for a glimpse of how my son’s summer adventure was going. Nothing. Thank God for the camp website loaded with News and Photos because that’s all I knew about how he was doing. He was smiling in every picture and I knew that smile meant he was good and happy and having a great time. I am very thankful for modern technology because the mail never came. He was too busy making memories and having a great time to write to anyone, including his friends.
        lWhen I picked him up from camp after a long two weeks, he ran to me and gave me the biggest hug. Then told me how much fun he had, that he wanted to be a ‘W’ (WCIT), and then a counselor and wanted to go to Camp Laney for the rest of his life. It made my heart so happy to know that he had all of the wonderful adventures and fun that I always dreamt he would have.
        lWhat an awesome first camp experience! I’m so happy that camp lived up to everything that I thought it would. After doing eight loads of laundry, I noticed he didn’t come home with several items of clothing – two pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks, two pairs of shorts, a pair of jeans, a striped bathing suit, and a white LSU #7 jersey. The jersey is the only item that I hope is found. He either left it at camp or put in another camper’s dirty laundry bag or trunk. My only consolation is that maybe it went home with an Alabama fan and it turned them into an LSU fan.
        lUntil next year… let’s just hope he becomes a bit more responsible with keeping his clothes together.”

Sounds like Aidan really enjoyed Camp Laney! As they say, no news is good news. It’s hard enough to be away for so long, but to be away without any contact or news is certainly a taxing trial. But it always means that your camper is simply off having an amazing time. Check out Camp Laney for yourself by clicking here if you’re interested in this camping experience and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Storytellers!

People have told stories since our languages and other means of communication were developed. Everyone wants to hear a well-told story! Stories are built into our genetic makeup. I suppose that’s why we’ve incorporated a full day into our calendar which is dedicated to the art of story telling. Today is National Tell a Story Day.

This time of year, stories tend to tilt toward the side of terror—people become obsessed with the spooky and supernatural; after all, All Hallow’s Eve is just on the other side of the weekend. These scary types of tales are traditional material for kids around the campfire as they hold a flashlight below their chin.

And speaking of telling camp stories, we’re happy to show our appreciation once more this year to everyone who participated in the Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest! They may not be very scary, but they do a great job at illustrating the camp experience. It’s great to see our customers having such positive reactions to their summer camp stays.

I’ve been posting the camp stories that were submitted to us ever since September 5th and I’ll continue posting our customer’s submissions until they’ve all been shared stretching far into the month of March. Check back on the Everything Summer Camp Blog frequently to catch the next camper submission. I typically post a ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest submission on a weekly basis, except for certain breaks throughout the holiday season.

Stories are an instinctive part of the human species. They are the way our minds make sense of the lives we live. Enjoy the rest of Tell a Story Day and share a good story with some of the folks in your life. They’re bound to appreciate you for it. Happy Tell a Story Day, Everyone!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Having received more than 30 entries for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp, we’re eager to publish each one of them right here on the Blog to share with all our readers! We had seven lucky winners and then everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our website! Today’s post is from Lauren B., who wrote in to tell us about her first year at overnight camp…

 “This was my first time going to camp and I was nervous/excited. I went with my best friend and it was her first time too. We are both 10 so we knew we were OK being together. My mom asked me what was the most surprising thing I did or felt while being away from my home for two weeks and I told her I was surprised at how much I DIDN’T miss my parents! Surprisingly, she was happy to hear that! I loved meeting new friends and having new experiences. I enjoyed the skills training although I never got the hang of archery. My friend and I can’t wait to go back next summer and we want to stay a whole month but our parents said no only two weeks! We had such an amazing time three of our friends want to come with us next summer! Thank you for letting me tell you about my awesome time at Camp Crestridge!

Love your friend,
Lauren B.- Chickasaw Cabin 8”

Glad to hear how much you loved your stay at Camp Crestridge, Lauren! It’s great that you didn’t really get homesick either (although don’t be surprised if you should encounter it in years to come). Sounds like you sparked an interest in camp among your other friends as well! Camp certainly is contagious! Check out Camp Crestridge to see if it might be a good match for you. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Aficionados!

We were delighted here at Everything Summer Camp to get such great responses to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest. It was great to read all the submissions and we’re happy to share them with our online community and post each submission right here on the Blog! Besides our seven lucky winners of larger prizes, all other entrants received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! Today’s post is from Melissa T., who wrote in to tell us about her daughters’ summer stays at Camp Fern. Here’s her submission:

“This was the second year for our oldest daughter Aubrey to attend a two week away camp at Camp Fern and our youngest daughter’s (Hailey) first year to attend. This year was a special and emotional year for us all. Last year, on July 29, Aubrey was diagnosed with Leukemia. Of course, this left turn in life took us down a road we never imagined we’d have to go.
          lThrough all of Aubrey’s treatments, we’ve had to keep her in a bubble and away from the general public due to her compromised immune system, which meant she missed her 4th grade year at school. In March, 2017, Aubrey finished the tough part of treatment and was able to go to school in April. It was a huge leap of faith to let our girl go to a sleep away camp for two weeks without contact.
          lCamp Fern was amazing and put us at ease with how accommodating they were and the wonderful nurse God put in place this year. Aubrey and Hailey had an amazing time at camp and Aubrey finally felt like a normal kid for the first time in a year. This camp experience is one we will always remember and is probably where the entire family grew.”

It’s great to hear that summer camp was such a positive experience for your daughters as well as the whole family, Melissa! We are moved to hear that not only did camp provide great fun for your daughters but that it gave Aubrey a chance to feel like a kid again. What great blessings come from great misfortunes. If you think you might love Camp Fern as much as Aubrey and Hailey, check it out for yourself to see if it might be a good match for you. Check out further details on their website by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John