Hey, Summer Campers!

Summer camp has been around since 1861, so it goes without saying that there are a lot of former summer campers out there in the world today. Some have gone on to become famous celebrities. Former summer campers have populated the music business, professional sports leagues, television and movies, etc. Remembered forever in our hearts, today we’re talking about a movie star who the world lost earlier this year: Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Yes, in his younger days, Philip enjoyed summer stays among the 122 acres at Ontario County’s 4-H Camp Bristol Hills in New York. 4-H Camp Bristol Hills is a division of the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Ontario County. He went to camp alongside his younger siblings Gordy and Emily in the 80’s. And by 1987 he worked as a camp counselor.

Rather active as a kid, Philip had a great time playing sports at camp, especially his favorites, baseball and wrestling. When he went to see a stage production Arthur Miller’s play ‘All My Sons’, however, Philip realized his true passion was the theater. “I was changed—permanently changed—by that experience,” Philip later recounted. “It was like a miracle to me.”

He was chosen to attend the New York State Summer School of the Arts when he was 17 and it was there that he befriended people with whom he would later collaborate on important projects that shaped his acting career. One of his colleagues, a Bennet Miller, is quoted for noting, “We were attracted to the fact that he was genuinely serious about what he was doing. Even then, he was passionate.”

After receiving his drama degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1989, Philip started appearing in supporting roles all throughout the following decade. He eventually made a reputation for himself as the actor who only did supporting roles—he’s in a lot of movies! But as he stepped into leading roles, he blew audiences away with his portray of author Truman Capote in the 2005 film, ‘Capote’ which landed him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

He only continued to impress audiences as he really grew into his career. Unfortunately, his career and life were cut short due to heart failure in February earlier this year. The world is sure to miss his charming presence on the big screen.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

Today’s Blog post goes out in loving memory of the Starman whom the world said goodbye to after he lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Legendary rock star, David Bowie brought innovation and originality to his music, giving the world something that nobody had ever heard before. Launching himself into super stardom at a young age, believe it or not, he got his start at summer camp!

Indeed, his first recorded rock performance took pace at his scout camp on the Isle of Wight in August of 1958 under the same organization as a previously posted pop star who was a former camper with Corf Scout Camp: Paul McCartney. A fellow camper and longterm friend to David, George Underwood has an excellent recall of the performance back when they were just 11.

They played old classics like ‘Gamblin’ Man’, ‘Putting on the Style’, ‘16 Tons’, ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’, and more—George playing bass and David on ukulele . “We put a washboard bass in the back of the van, and David’s ukulele, and between us we managed to conjure up a couple of songs around the campfire,” George is quoted in the 2011 book ‘David Bowie: Starman’.

“And that was our first public performance,” George goes on to say. “Neither of us had any claim to virtuosity–but we wanted to sing.” Following his dreams, David paved his own career path to pop stardom from his passion. Quite an influential singer, his voice is appreciated for its versatility and distinctive ability to soar wildly high and yet drop to a crooner’s rich quality in his lowest register.

Along with the guitar, the extremely talented David Bowie also played the keyboard, harmonica, saxophone, stylophone, viola, cello, koto, thumb piano, and drums. Forever remembered in the hearts of his fans the world over, David Bowie began his musical performances at summer camp. What will you begin? As always, thanks for reading, Campers!

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

Summer camp’s extreme popularity among the youth has been growing since summer camp got its start in 1861. Nowadays over 12 million kids attend camp every year! With numbers like that, it’s not too surprising to discover that a lot of former summer campers are now famous celebrities! In fact, it’s likely that summer camp helped them find the path that led to their fame!

Ed Helms—best known for his role as Andy Bernard (a.k.a. The Nard-Dog) on the hit television program, ‘The Office’—was a summer camper himself back when he was a youngin’. Attending Camp Carolina, Ed spent his camp days exploring 220 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as 450,000 acres of the bordering Pisgah National Forest.

The youngest in his family with two older siblings, Ed had a fun childhood outside of summer camp as well. He had to grow up quickly, however, when he had open-heart surgery at just 14 years old! The procedure fortunately corrected a severe heart murmur that threatened young Ed’s life!

He attended The Westminster Schools alongside his buddy Brian Baumgartner. The two didn’t know it at the time but they would end up working together on ‘The Office’. Brian plays Kevin in the show!

When he went to Oberlin College, he started as a geology major but switched over to film theory and technology before long. And he graduated in 1996 and immediately began to establish a career in comedy and acting. He wrote with sketch comedy bands in New York City and studied improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade—a well known improvisational troupe.

He also found work as a trainee film editor at a post-production facility in New York City. There, he recorded some rough voice-overs that eventually brought him paid voice-over work. And this led to Ed finding his talent agent.

Work started coming in for Ed then and it wasn’t very long before he was brought on board as Andy Bernard in the mockumentary style show, ‘The Office’. The writers of the show created Andy—someone who Ed had a lot in common with. Like Andy, he is obsessed with a capella music, despite his proficiency with musical instruments such as guitar, banjo, piano, and even sitar.

Very into music, it’s no surprise to learn that Ed formed a band during his time at Oberlin College with his friends Ian Riggs and Jacob Tilove. The band still plays shows about once a year and put out their first album a few years ago.

Celebrated for his work, Ed was asked to deliver the convocation speech for Cornell University, Andrew Bernard’s alma mater! Summer camp got Ed going on the right path. What kind of path will camp put ahead of you? As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

The world is chock-full of former summer campers! They’re all over. And some are even famous celebrities now. They’re in the music business, professional sports leagues, movies, and television shows. Speaking of former summer campers/television stars, did you know that Farrah Fawcett was once a summer camper like yourselves? She went to Camp Arrowhead in Cleburne, Texas.

Situated alongside the Brazos River which runs between Glen Rose and Cleburne, Camp Arrowhead provided Farrah with 650 gorgeous acres among the rugged hills of Texas. Founded in 1934, Arrowhead is proud to have been the camp for a famous celebrity like Farrah, but camp director Sandra Schmitt has also noted, “They’re all famous to us,” in an article for D Magazine.

Born and raised in Corpus Christi Texas, Farrah had the usual family life with her parents and her one sister who was nine years older than her. Her beauty, however, was anything but usual. Attending high school at W.B. Ray High School, Farrah was voted ‘most beautiful’ by her classmates in all four years.

After high school she went on to study art at the University of Texas in Austin. In her freshman year, she was named one of ‘the ten most beautiful coeds on campus’—the first that a freshman had ever made the list. Photos of these ten, most beautiful coeds were sent to a number of Hollywood agencies where Farrah was shown great interest.

She turned down nearly immediate offers from a Hollywood agent named David Mirisch. Undeterred by her hesitation, though, David continued to call her for the following two years. After Farrah’s junior year, she finally thought she’d give Hollywood a chance.

She found work straight away in commercials and didn’t take long to start making appearances in television shows like ‘I Dream of Jeannie’, ‘The Partridge Family’, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, ‘The Dating Game’, and more. Possibly her biggest claim to fame came when she took the part of Jill Munroe in the television series, ‘Charlie’s Angels’.

Battling cancer for the last three years of her life, the world was saddened to see her life end at 62. But despite her hardships, “Farrah showed immense courage and grace throughout her illness and was an inspiration to those around her,” said Kate Jackson—good friend of Farrah’s and co-star on ‘Charlie’s Angels’.

Summer camp set Farrah on a journey that took her to the peak of popularity back in the 70’s. What track will you discover at summer camp? You can check out Camp Arrowhead for yourself right here and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

Just as you all will be some day, lots of famous celebrities are former summer campers themselves. From movie stars to pop musicians, athletes and a slew of other folks who achieved fame in a number of different ways, today I’m talking about someone remains behind the scenes, but we all know him for his success as a billionaire in the entertainment industry, Michael Eisner. 

Though he’s now retired from the Mouse House as Disney’s CEO, Michael expanded upon the company’s enormous success for 21 years. But before he ever graced the Disney castle, he went to summer camp! He didn’t just go once or twice either. He went off time and time again. And once he was too old to be a camper, he continued going as a counselor, he loved it so!

He attended Camp Keewaydin in Salisbury, Vermont—a dedicated camp, committed to helping the youth achieve personal growth and independence by placing them in a rustic, natural environment. Michael’s summers at Keewaydin had an obviously great affect on his character as well as success as he attributes his success to his camp days in his biographical novel, ‘camp’.

Concentrated around his own journey  of growing up, Michael shares his stories from Keewaydin as well as stories from his life that wonderfully connect the influence of summer camp and how it touches so much of his life. Learn about how camp helped shape his character and read his indubitable endorsement for the institution of summer camp.

Michael did well in school, attending the Allen-Stevenson grade school in his hometown of Manhattan and then The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. He completed his education at Denison University with a Bachelors in English.

After school, Michael got his foot in the door as an assistant at the television network NBC thanks to his father’s close friendship with the network CEO. He worked his way up the ladder at NBC and eventually moved to CBS and after, he was recruited to work at ABC. There, he climbed the ladder fast, ending his time there as the senior Vice President.

The same guy, Barry Diller, who brought Michael to ABC ended up taking him away too as he had left to become the chairman of Paramount Pictures and wanted Michael as president and CEO. When Barry left Paramount, Michael had every right to expect to take over Barry’s position as studio chief. The company passed on him, however, and he went off to look for work somewhere else.

That’s when he started lobbying for the position of The Walt Disney Company’s CEO. With all the experience he had under his belt, Disney was thrilled to bring him onboard. Bringing what they hailed as ‘The Disney Decade’, Michael oversaw such classic films as ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’. Check out his book right here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John