Hey, Story Lovers!

Our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest is in full swing this year, and we’ve been revealing our lucky winners and their incredible stories here on the Blog all September long. Today, I’m excited to announce our final $50 gift certificate winner! And that winner is…

Samantha K.! Dive into her story about her unforgettable time at Camp Chen a Wanda right now… 

“Being a first time camper, the thought of going away for 7 weeks seemed scary. Everyone around me was so excited, so I smiled and powered through any negative thoughts. I was excited for my new summer home, although I didn’t know anyone. I met some people at meet ups, but I had never lived with anyone except my sister. I got to the bus and got on, never looked back. The bus ride was so fun, singing and learning so much about my soon to be home. Within moments, I was hooked. I met my new bunk mates and we all created such fun memories together within days of meeting. I am having the summer of my life, trying so many new things. It isn’t over yet, and I have so many more memories to come, but I already learned the most important thing.. always try new things, no matter how scary it seems, because it can bring so much joy!

Thanks mom and dad for sending me off for the best summer!”

 

What an amazing first-time camp experience you had! I’m glad you could overcome your initial nerves and embrace the adventure from the moment you got on the bus. The fun memories you made with your bunk mates and all the new things you’re trying sound like the perfect way to spend a summer! It’s clear that you’re making the most of every moment and learning valuable lessons about stepping out of your comfort zone. Great work, Samantha!

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey with us—we're thrilled that this has become the best summer of your life! If anybody else is interested in checking out Camp Chen a Wanda, visit their website by clicking here. Come back each day this week as we continue unveiling our contest winners and, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We’re announcing the winners to our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest right here on the Blog. Come back each weekday to see who else won; it might just be you! Now, without any further ado, let’s get right into announcing our fourth $50 winner—congratulations to….

Mahira A.!

 

“As much as I hate to admit it, I'm usually the type of person to be glued to their phone. However, today was different. I was taken on a camping trip to Tammany Park and Campground. I usually spent the day just mindlessly scrolling, but since I knew I would be staying there for a night and two days, I chose to use it to communicate with my family in case we got separated. Since I usually prefer staying indoors, I didn't expect to enjoy it that much. Boy, was I wrong. While my dad and younger sister went fishing, my mom, older sister, and I walked the trail. It was beautiful. I saw a wide variety of plant and animal life, a far cry from the mundanity of the area surrounding my house. I wanted to pick some of the plants so that I could press them, but my older sister advised me not to disturb the habitat. Pictures would do! When we came back, it was dark out, and my dad and younger sister caught a bunch of fish! They managed to catch fish that we could never dream to find in our usual fishing spot. When we gathered around our campfire to have grilled fish and s'mores, I realized that we may never have a moment like this again. It sounds cliche, but we were all in the moment, without a distraction in sight. We were engrossed in conversation, cracking jokes, and leaving all of our worldly worries behind. Fireflies circled us, and the occasional star illuminated the dark sky. We may go on to form more memories, ones that are more memorable than this, but for now, I wouldn't trade this memory for the world.”

 

What a wonderful submission, Mahira! It’s so refreshing to hear how stepping away from your phone and into nature surprised you with such joy! The hike with your mom and older sister must have been incredible, seeing all that amazing plant and animal life. And, while your sister may have been right, I think you had a really cool idea to press some of the pants you saw—a definite project for another time. I’m glad you and your family got the chance to enjoy such a special moment with grilled fish, s’mores, and lots of laughs!

Thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure with us, Mahira! If you're inspired by Mahira's camping adventure, encourage your family to find a nearby park or campground and set out on your own special journey for a fun and memorable bonding experience! Stay tuned as we continue to share our winners’ stories and, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

As summer winds down, it’s always a little bittersweet, but here at Everything Summer Camp, we’re thrilled to continue our beloved ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest! This year, your incredible submissions brought us great stories, big laughs, and sweet moments. Today, we’re excited to announce our third $50 winner…

Harper L.! Dive into her story about her first adventure at Camp Seafarer right now! 

Click here for an enlarged view of Harper's Letter.

“On the first day of camp , I was really nervous whether I was going to make friends or not because it was my first. When I said goodbye to my parents, the girls invited me to go sit with them. Later that day, I made so many new friends. I was focused on my goal to get my alpha the next morning. I got my first three ranks that day and part of my outboard operator. For my first day at camp I was glad that I had so many new friend to spend time with. The highlights of the twelve days at camp were so much more than highlights. My CILT (Camper In Leadership Training) Katie Worth was the best! She was so nice every day for the whole 2 weeks. Throughout the days my cabin was nothing but nice.

One day when I got sick and was at the nurse’s for a few hours, I saw my cabin mates right outside and, as soon as they saw me they asked if I was okay. It was also the 3^rd of July. This was one of the best nights in our cabin. We all got dressed in our 4^th of July clothes and we all sung while we painted our faces with American Flags. Our midnight party was also amazing! All of our amazing counselors and CILT acted like they didn’t know what it was. But then they acted even more weird about it than the other day and that’s when we knew. When they woke us up it was the best! There was Oreos, icing, pretzels, goldfish, and cookies!

We had so much fun that night and even after we had it the counselors still acted weird! Another fun part of camp is when I went to go play Pickleball with my friends Emma and Tempie. It was so funny because we kept missing the shots! Cabin nights, camp nights, and movie nights were also really fun. It was so much fun watching the diver and water ballet. Everything in camp was just so much fun and I can’t wait to go back!”

 

What an incredible first camp experience you had, Harper! It's great to hear how quickly you made friends and jumped right into all the fun activities, like earning your first three ranks and working on your outboard operator skills. Your CILT, Katie Worth, sounds amazing, along with all your cabin mates! That’s sweet that they were concerned when you weren’t feeling well. The 4th of July celebrations and your secret midnight party sound like awesome times!

 

Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic camp story with us, and we’re thrilled you’re already excited to go back next year! If you’re interested in attending Camp Seafarer, check it out by clicking right here. Come on back tomorrow for another winning summer camp story we’ll be sharing right here on the Blog. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

 

- John

Hey, Beautiful Camp People!

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here—we’re revealing the winners of our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest right here on the blog! Check back every weekday to see if you’re one of the lucky ones. This year’s entries brought us more stories, more giggles, and endless fun! And now, let’s cheer for our second $50 prize winner—congrats to…

Amy G.! Read her submission right now…

“I have seen movies like ‘The Parent Trap’ and ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Camp Nowhere’ (I am clearly a 90's kid)....always envisioning what a sleep away camp looked like through the eyes of film. I saw friendships being made, silly games played, food fights, and swimming races as main parts of a summer away. Fast forward 20 plus years later and I am now signing my daughter up for her fourth summer away in Northern Wisconsin. I did not experience the joys of overnight camp the way my children will.....it was not a ‘thing’ where I am from, but boy do I wish I was part of that tribe. There is something to be said about sending a child away for 4 or 8 weeks, with little communication and all the trust in the world that they will be okay without their family to care for them. Only to wait and get the letters that ramble on about the new things tried, or the photos of smiles upon smiles and new things accomplished, or reading the emails about the traditions that take place year after year. My daughter leaves for camp excited to go and comes home wishing she had more time....she is a camper, an explorer, an adventurer, a sailor and a girl who loves Birch Trail more than anything. And I am a mom who wishes she could turn back time and be a kid again so I can ask my parents if I can go to overnight camp in the North Woods.”

 

Awesome, Amy! Your letter definitely captures the magic of summer camp! Your excitement for your daughter’s adventures at Birch Trail is palpable! How great that she loved her experience at camp. I love the picture you painted of receiving those letters filled with her stories of adventure and seeing all the smiles in the photos. It’s clear she’s found her tribe and it’s heartwarming to see how much joy it brings you as a parent.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful reflection on camp life—it truly sounds like a special experience for the both of you!

If you're curious to learn more about Birch Trail Camp, just click right here to explore! Don’t forget to check back tomorrow as we reveal the third $50 winner of our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest. Could it be you? If your story is chosen, keep an eye on your inbox—you’ll get an email with your gift certificate code after we announce all the winners. Thanks for tuning in, and good luck!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Story Lovers!

As summer fades into fall, we love looking back at all the amazing memories you’ve made. That’s why we’re thrilled to continue our tradition of the ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest here at Everything Summer Camp! This year, we're giving away ten prizes worth $50, $100, $200, and the grand prize of $300! Today, we're excited to announce our first $50 winner.

Congratulations to Eli S.! Eli had an unforgettable summer at Camp Tevya and he’s kicking off our winner announcements with a $50 prize! Dive into his fun-filled camp story right now...

“My name is Eli and I am eight and a half years old. I go to the best camp ever, Camp Tevya. This was my first year going. Camp Tevya is so special because my dad and a lot of my family went there in the past, and now my cousins and I go there.

Camp Tevya is in the woods of Brookline, N.H. and it is really pretty. My favorite part of camp was Lake Potanipo. I love sailing on the lake. There are so many activities every day, including fishing and athletics. I also learned how to play newcomb. I made so many new friends inside and outside of my bunk and we did A LOT of silly things. My counselors were also so nice.

I was sad to leave at the end of camp even though I was also happy to come home. I cannot wait to come back next summer and see all my friends and do more fun activities. Camp Tevya is the best camp in the world.”

 

Hi Eli! It sounds like you had an amazing first summer at Camp Tevya! It’s really cool that you’re continuing a family tradition by going to the same camp as your dad and cousins—what a great way to make even more memories together! Lake Potanipo must have been a blast, especially learning to sail and trying out new activities like fishing and newcomb.

We love hearing how much fun you had with your friends and all the silly things you did together. Sounds like, for you, Camp Tevya really is the best camp ever. Thanks for sharing your fantastic camp experience with us, Eli! Enjoy the anticipation until next camp season rolls around!

For anybody else who wants the kind of experience Eli had, check out Camp Tevya for your next summer adventure. In the meantime, come on back tomorrow when we announce our next winner! Once our winners have been announced they’ll receive an email with your gift certificate code. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks!

 

- John