Hey, Camp Fans!
Having brought in nearly 30 entries The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp has once again seen a great response 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 feature an entry from Mikesha M., who wrote in to tell us about her son’s time at camp.
“My son went to Woodruff Boy Scout Camp for a week. I was very nervous about what to pack and how to pack to make sure he had everything he needed. I love the trunk he got from Everything Summer Camp. It really helped him stay organized. He said it was cool to have a trunk that was different from everyone else’s so he could find it easily. Then he said, “Mom, when I took out the wheels and popped them on..everyone was talking about it and that they wished they had wheels on their bin/trunk”. When my son came back from summer camp I could tell he was more confident and willing to try new things. One of the things he talked about was all of the new friends he met and how there were scouts from far away states. He thought that was so cool and he even exchanged info with a couple of scouts so he could keep in touch. He also said how we like the fireworks even though they got rained out but he kept dry in his rain gear. I never got a chance to go to sleep away camp, but I am glad he is able to go and make memories that will last a life time.”
Sounds like your son was the lucky duck at camp with his ‘fancy’ rolling trunk and effective rain gear! We’re happy to hear that camp was such a great experience for him. It’s also great to hear how much you liked our trunks—thanks for letting us know! Check out Woodruff Boy Scout Camp if you’re interested in it for your own camping experience and, as always, thanks for reading!
- John
if I could try another step. So I did, taking slow, calm, breaths, one foot after the other. And miraculously, before I knew it, I made it across the obstacle course, thanks to the encouraging cheers of the people down on the ground. I couldn’t thank them enough. From then on, leaving the ground and pursuing the sky wasn’t so hard anymore. I started taking on new challenges on my own, such as taking more difficult routes up the rock walls than I may have been accustomed to. Chimney Corners taught me that safe steps out of my comfort zone may actually allow me to grow. For any person with acrophobia (and especially the people with acrophobia who like to climb), CCC would be a great place to learn how to overcome that fear and start taking safe risks, like I did. Maybe next year at Chimney Corners, I’ll get over my cynophobia (fear of dogs) and malushygroviscosiphobia (fear of applesauce). Don’t ask.”
ctivities board for the day, I felt my stomach drop in anticipation. My cabin was scheduled for canyoneering, the activity in which one rappelled down a waterfall. I was terrified of heights, and was dreading this activity. After packing lunches for the day, we hiked around 2 miles to the great waterfall. My butterflies returned after seeing the colossal waterfall for the first time! After strapping on our harnesses and helmets, my cabin climbed boulder after boulder to reach the summit of the waterfall. A few of my friends rappelled down the waterfall all too quickly, and I realized with dread that it was my turn. I felt feverish, and realized that I was slightly shaking. I peered down over the cliff, and noticed how far up I was. Should I take this risk to conquer my fear? After much deliberation I decided that I would. With all of my friends cheering me on, I slowly walked to the edge of the cliff dragging my feet in the dust behind me. I then closed my eyes, and jumped. When I finally managed to open my eyes during the descent, I realized how incredibly beautiful the waterfall was. I let the spray of the water brush my fingertips, and felt completely, utterly happy. Now, looking back on this experience, I was so glad that I had my friends and counselors to help support me because without them, I might never had conquered my fear. I felt so immensely proud of myself for not letting my fears control my experience at camp, and now am so excited to return to camp next year so that I can try this activity again!”
“My daughter’s first experience with overnight camp was when we picked up her big brother from camp when she was 8. She immediately decided that camp was not for her after seeing the cabins—especially the showers! Unfortunately, camp wasn’t all that amazing for my son either as during his second year, there was a tragic accident and when he then switched to a new camp for his third year they were quarantined with whooping cough! That was understandably the end of camp for him and my daughter was now fully convinced that camp was no good. But, some friends talked to her about how much they loved their camps so she said she would possibly be interested in Chippewa Ranch Camp. Cliff and Sari came to talk to her about it and, although still unsure, agreed to give it a try. Her first summer was excellent and she couldn’t wait to go back the next summer. By her third summer, she wanted to go 8 weeks. That’s when I regretted my decision to send her to Chippewa. Did camp have to be that amazing that she wanted to be away from us for 8 long weeks? We grudgingly let her go, and came to visit Chippewa for the first time over parents weekend. Then it all became clear. I certainly would also want to stay as long as possible at this summer paradise—friendship, fun, independence, learning new skills and the freedom to just be a kid. I was a camper and I liked it fine, but as a parent I have definitely drank the Chippy Kool-Aid! It’s a magical place!”