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

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 Sophia B., who wrote in to tell us about her first year at Camp Ton-a-Wandah. Here’s her submission:

“This summer I was lucky to have been a first year at TAW! Preparing to go to camp was exciting and fun. My mother and I ordered my colorful and cool trunk, it has wheels so I can pull it. We drove to North Carolina from Florida and I was dropped off for what I think is the best camp ever. I learned to wood burn and made my family something special I mailed them. I also made some new friends that I can’t wait to spend next summer with. TAW is so much fun, all day I have activities I choose and meals with all my friends. My favorite memory from my first summer is the tribe initiation. We were sorted into three tribes and I am a Mohawk! They painted my face and I learned our songs. This night was awesome!”

It’s great to hear that you had such a great time at summer camp, Sophia. Summer camp is typically a hit with kids! Congratulations on your tribe initiation. She obviously loved Camp Ton-a-Wandah and we’re happy to hear she loved her camping gear from Everything Summer Camp as well! You may love it yourself if it’s a good match for you. Check out further details on their website by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Aficionados!

It was great to read all the camper submissions we received this year for our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything summer Camp. 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 Gwendolyn M., who wrote in to tell us about her first year at Camp Cayuga. Here’s her submission:

“This year was my first year at sleep away camp which is called Camp Cayuga, however, I have attended numerous day camps within the past 8 years. Camp was so much fun because I became really close with everyone including my counselors within only a few days.
          lI loved camp because you got to sign up for what activity you wanted to do such as trapeze, horseback riding, lake, archery, and many other fun activities. At camp it was my first time doing archery, however, the counselors that were also instructors made it easy and fun to learn and by the second or third time I did it I was able to shoot a bulls-eye.
          lEven though it rained a lot while we were at camp, no matter what the weather was, we always had fun. Before I left for two weeks at camp I was nervous that I was going to become homesick, however, camp was so much fun that I would go back for 6 weeks next year because there was so much to do and we had so much fun that I didn’t miss not being at home since I had so many friends that comforted me.
          lThe counselors were also really nice and it was interesting because two of the counselors were from the U.K., 3 of my bunk mates were from Italy, and one was from France. There were also many other people from different places around the world at camp. It was nice to meet people from places outside of the United States because you get to see how people of different cultures live.
          lNobody was allowed to bring their phones and it was probably a good thing because if we had our phones we would have been glued to the but instead we played cards, made friendship bracelets, and talked to each other face-to-face instead of through the phone. There was also plenty to do at camp so not having phones was not an issue. Overall Camp Cayuga was so much fun and I would definitely go back for long than 2 weeks next time!”

Congratulations on your first year at sleep-away camp, Gwendolyn. You clearly had a blast making friends and enjoying the fun at camp. Gwendolyn obviously loved Camp Cayuga. You may love it yourself if it’s a good match for you. Look into Camp Cayuga on their website by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We saw an excellent 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 Victoria F., who wrote in to tell us about her exciting acrobatics at Camp Louise. Here’s her submission:

“‘Finally!’ I said quietly. Even though it was only the third day of summer camp our bunk schedule finally said ‘Ropes Course.’ We found out yesterday, but we had been counting hours until our second activity of the day arrived. As our counselors led us downhill to the tool shed I could not help but wonder what we would be doing. One of the Outdoors staff approached us and led us to the Leap Of Faith. After she explained what to do I decided not to go first. Instead, I watched my friends climb up the twenty foot pole using the staples, hoist themselves on top of the pole, and scoot off. Nobody actually grabbed the trapeze like they were trying to. Then, it was my turn. When I made it to the top the pole shook in rhythm with the rest of my body. I triple-checked my harness and my helmet and counted in a whisper one, two, three. I couldn’t move. At least I was the first one that stood up on the pole. Without counting I bent my knees and flew off of the pole. As I extended my arms I felt the trapeze and quickly grasped the black pole. I did it! I was the first one. When I got down on the ground I heard my bunk cheering for me. I could not believe it. I look forward to activities like this all year long. Now I was positive this would be an amazing summer!”

Victoria clearly had a blast during her summer camp stay. Congrats for being the first to succeed at The Leap of Faith at Camp Louise. Check this camp out at home to see if it’s a good match for you. You can visit their site by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

l
- John