Hey, Summer Campers!

So many of the famous celebrities we post about who were former campers like yourself get their fame in pop music or movies. But other summer camp alumni develop their name by means of entrepreneurship, sports, and broadcasting. Combine sports, broadcasting, and a history at summer camp and you have WNBC’s lead sports anchor Bruce Beck.

As a young man, Bruce enjoyed his summer escapes to Tyler Hill Camp, squared away in  Wayne County, Pennsylvania. About three hours northwest of Bruce’s home in Livingtson, New Jersey, Tyler Hill Camp showed him a gorgeous campus of 220 acres that features two large lakes, excellent athletic facilities, a nine-hole golf course, and 12 tennis courts!

After graduating grade school and high school, Bruce went on to attend Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. His studies mainly focused on science there and in just several years, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science.

Soon after his graduation, Bruce found himself employed as a staff broadcaster for the Madison Square Garden Network, hosting the coverage for the Knicks, Rangers, and Yankees and performing as the play-by-play announcer for college football as well as basketball. A few years down the road, he’d start calling professional boxing matches too—particularly the Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II matchup from June 28, 1997.

By the time he turned 38, he started hosting ‘Sportstalk’ and ‘Sports Images’, while calling college basketball games for CBS Sports as well as play-by-play announcing for select sporting events including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Highlights of Bruce’s career include five Superbowls, three NBA Finals, six Stanley Cup Finals, six World Series, The U.S. Open Tennis Championship, The U.S. Open Golf Championship, and The NCAA Final Four. He’s also covered seven Olympics—most recently the Rio games from last year.

Bruce shot high and never looked back. Look at the heights he hit. What heights will you reach? You can check out Tyler Hill Camp for yourself if it sounds like a good fit for your family. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

It’s exciting to find so many famous folks who were once summer campers like yourselves! Over the years, I’ve posted about more than 100 celebrities. I’m keeping them coming today with another celebrity who, like so many other famous folks, attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Summer Camp—Jesse Swanson himself, Skylar Astin. 

Along with the likes of Mandy Moore, Natalie Portman, Robert Downy Jr., Zach Braff, and Bryce Dallas Howard, Skylar spent his summer days in the Catskills Borscht Belt in Loch Sheldrake, New York at Stagedoor Manor getting the experience of being on the stage, in the spotlight within a most inviting and supportive environment.

Having grown up in Rockland County in New York, Skylar graduated from Clarkstown High School North and, following that, he went on to study at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He wound up taking a leave of absence from school, however, in order to perform in ‘Spring Awakening’ on Broadway.

But it wasn’t until 2012, when Astin turned 25 and found his breakthrough role, starring as Jesse Swanson in the musical comedy film ‘Pictch Perfect’. He returned to the role again just three years later for the sequel. Musically inclined, Astin also appeared on the musical television show ‘Glee’.

Using the talent of his gifted voice in his work, he’s also taken a couple roles as a voice actor for the movies ‘Wreck it Ralph’ in which he played the character Roy, as well as the movie ‘Monkey Up’ as the voice of Monty. He’s still passionate about stage acting as well. In 2010, he played the character Mark Cohen in a production of ‘Rent’ at the Hollywood Bowl which was directed by Neil Patrick Harris.

If you’re passionate about the art of acting as well, be like Skylar, Mandy, Natalie, Robert, Zach, and Bryce—check out Stagedoor Manor for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

There are plenty of celebrities who, like you, attended summer camp in their youth. After posting about more than one hundred former summer campers turned celebrities, I come to post about yet another celebrity who attended summer camp. Ms. Bryce Dallas Howard joins our list of summer camp experienced celebrities today as she is a Stage Door Manor alum. 

Found in the Catskills Borscht Belt in Loch Sheldrake, New York, Stagedoor Manor provides awesome setting for its campers to get the experience of being on the stage and in the spotlight. Spending three weeks of her summer among Stagedoor Manor’s awesome theatre spaces like the Carousel, the Cabaret, the Forum, the Merman, and the outdoor Garden Theatre, Bryce attended the same camp as Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, and Zach Braff.

Born to a writer and an actor-turned-director (Ron Howard), Bryce was raised the oldest of her siblings with two younger twin sisters and the youngest of the family, their brother Reed. Bryce’s uncle is in the acting business too—Clint Howard. Her godfather is the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler who co-starred alongside Bryce’s father on the television show ‘Happy Days’.

Bryce went to Greenwich Country Day School and then graduated from Byram Hills High School in 1999. After that, she intensified her education, burning the candle at both ends! She studied at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts while simultaneously attending the Stella Adler Conservatory, The Experimental Wing, and International Theatre Wing in Amsterdam.

Acting in New York plays, Bryce appeared in a number productions at the Theatre Club. When she performed as Rosalind in Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like it’ at the Public Theater, Bryce got her break, having caught the attention of the up-and-coming director M. Night Shyamalan.

She was cast as the lead alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the horror director’s film ‘The Village’ only a couple weeks later without auditioning. She returned to another Shyamalan production, ‘Lady in the Water’ to play the role of Story, a water nymph by the name of narf. Heading onward and upward, Bryce recently starred alongside Chris Pratt in Jurassic World, the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park series.

Bryce has made a name for herself just doing what she’s always loved and had fun doing. What do you love to do? Find your own sense of fun at Stagedoor Manor! Check out this camp for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

We talk about a lot of famous celebrities here on the Everything Summer Camp Blog because so many of them went to summer camp when they were closer to your age. I’ve posted about more than 100 big names whether they were on TV, in movies, play sports, or play music. And the latter is just what one Pete Wentz does as the bassist, lyricist, and backing vocalist for the American rock band known as Fall Out Boy.

A former summer camper as well, before Pete ever wrote a song he traveled north from his hometown in Wilmette, Illinois—a wealthy Chicago suburb—to Camp Chippewa nearby Bemidji, Minnesota. There he enjoyed his summer stay, taking in the enchanting beauty of the Chippewa National Forest on Cass Lake.

Pete once recounted his first musical memory to ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine—even before his time at camp. He remembers sitting in the backseat of his father’s car, listening to ‘Build Me Up, Buttercup’ by The Foundations.

After gradeschool, he went to New Trier High School as well as North Shore Country Day School, where he made a name for himself on the soccer team. He made such a name for himself, in fact, that he considered turning soccer into a professional career for a while. He eventually decided against it as he found music to be more fulfilling for him. “Music was more of a challenge,” he’s quoted for saying. “And, in the end, felt more interesting.

Pete graduated high school in 1997. He immediately found work at a Subway restaurant in Chicago and attended DePaul University, studying political science. Though he attended school for multiple years, he dropped out when he was just one quarter away from graduation as his job at Subway had gotten increasingly demanding. He’d been promoted to the store manager with a salary increase.

He turned to the Chicago music scene during this time to give himself an outlet for his creativity and social life. And after a few years of continuing to pay his dues at Subway, he ultimately ended up quitting when the opportunity presented itself to play bass full-time for a band called Fall Out Boy.

Pete now owns his own record label called DCD2 Records, the label that’s signed such bands as Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes. Pete has since found interest in other non-musical projects, including writing, acting, and fashion. It was almost 13 years ago that he founded the clothing company, Clandestine Industries. Check out Camp Chippewa sometime for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

Former summer campers are so widespread across the country that it comes as no surprise to find out how so many celebrities and other famous folks have a history of summer camp in their childhood. I’ve written about over one hundred celebrities who once attended summer camp and today I come with yet another—the one and only, Seth Green!

Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Seth didn’t travel far at all to attend summer camp at the Union for Reform Judaism Camp Harlam, situated in the foothills of the great Pocono Mountains in rural Pennsylvania. In fact, his parents worked at a summer camp and he spent time hanging out with the drama club igniting his passion for acting. Back then, Seth ran around like all the other kids, but his childhood would quickly become anything but conventional.

At the very young age of ten years old, Seth had already debuted in his first two movies, ‘Billions for Boris’, as well as ‘The Hotel New Hampshire’. Not very much later, he played the younger brother of the lead role in ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.

He continued making appearances in films regularly throughout his childhood and adolescence and before long, he’d made a name for himself which led to bigger roles such as Duane Cody in the family comedy ‘Rat Race’ and Chris Griffin in Fox’s long-running animated series, ‘Family Guy’.

His growing popularity and lifelong experience in the business led to him creating his own stop-motion cartoon show on Adult Swim, ‘Robot Chicken’. Aspiring to reach his dreams since he was little, Seth Green kept an incredible momentum from his time at summer camp. What will you keep from your time at camp?

If URJ Camp Harlam sounds like a place that might suit you well, you can check it out with a closer look on their website right here. Enjoy your camp experience and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John