Hey, History Buffs!

Ever wondered about the story behind those trusty camp trunks that tag along on all your summer adventures? Well, buckle up because we're about to take a trip through time and unravel the fascinating history of these nifty storage buddies!

Blast from the Past: Biblical Trunks

Ancient times and epic tales from The Bible call upon some seriously legendary trunks like the Ark of the Covenant and Noah's Ark. Ark is just an old word for chest. The Ark of the Covenant, described in the Old Testament, was a sacred chest believed to house the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

Then there’s Noah's Ark. You might think to yourself, but that was a giant boat, not a trunk. They called it an Ark for a reason, though. This massive vessel had to keep all its passengers—humans and animals—safe throughout a colossal flood.These legendary trunks symbolize protection, preservation, and divine guidance.

Warriors and Their Trunks: Civil War Edition

Fast forward to the American Civil War, where soldiers had a different kind of trunk on their hands – the limber chest. These bad boys were like the superheroes of storage, carrying all the essential supplies and ammo right into the heart of battle. Talk about tough trunks serving on the front lines!

 

Dowry Chests

Now, let's zoom into the cozy corners of domestic life, where hope chests, also known as dowry chests, took center stage. Imagine young brides-to-be collecting treasures like linens and dishes, dreaming of their future homes and happy lives. These magical chests were like time capsules full of hope, love, and big dreams for the future!

 

Fast forward again to modern times, where camp trunks are the unsung heroes of summer camp adventures! From storing your snazziest camp gear to keeping your favorite snacks safe, these trusty trunks have your back. They're not just containers – they're symbols of freedom, fun, and friendship at camp!

So, there you have it, folks – the incredible journey of camp trunks through history! From biblical sagas to wartime heroics and domestic dreams, these versatile trunks have seen it all. So, the next time you're packing up for camp, remember the epic tales behind your favorite summer sidekick—your camp trunk! Thanks for reading, Camp Folks! And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John

Hey there, Campers!

Popping onto the summer camp scene in 2009, our Pop Up Soft Trunk was an immediate game-changer! Unlike anything that came before it, this marvel of design was tailor-made for the specific needs of campers, with an array of pockets, an organizer in the lid, and even wheels for easy transportation. It features a wire frame within that allows our trunk to “pop up” so it can essentially function like a hard trunk that campers can actually LIVE out of during their time away from home.

Creating the C&N Pop Up Soft Trunk, however, was no walk in the park. It took the tireless efforts of the Product Development team at Everything Summer Camp to bring this dream to life. They set out to address the frustrations of traditional duffel bags, which lacked structure and organization. Campers needed something they could live out of.

Our team KNEW we had to offer an alternative to our hard trunks, but how could we bring the form and structure of a hard trunk to a duffel? After two years of intense development, countless prototypes, late nights that became early mornings, and more caffeine than they care to admit, the team finally unveiled their masterpiece to the camp world.

With its collapsible design and convenient features, the Pop Up Soft Trunk became an instant hit among summer campers. No longer were they forced to rummage through formless duffels or deal with the limited storage of plastic bins. Instead, they could enjoy the ease and convenience of a bag designed with their needs in mind AND offers collapsibility for simple storage.

Today, the Pop Up Soft Trunk remains a staple of summer camp packing, offering campers the perfect blend of functionality and style. Available in a variety of colors and patterns here at Everything Summer Camp, it's the ideal companion for any camp adventure, providing ample storage space and effortless portability.

So, the next time you pack your bags for camp, take a moment to appreciate the incredible journey that led to the creation of the Pop Up Soft Trunk. And as you wheel it around with ease, remember the dedication and ingenuity that went into making your camp experience a little bit smoother.

Until next time, happy packing and Happy Camping!

 

- John

Hey, Camp FANS!

The Deluxe Fan/Light Combo saves you from sleepless nights during the hot and sticky summer season! The white noise cancels out any annoying sounds. The moving air blows any pesky flies away. And the breeze keeps you feelin' cool, comfortable, and catching Zzz’s on a hot, midsummer night.

This handy two-in-one Fan/Light gives a cool breeze AND a night light so campers can write a letter home or catch up on reading before bed without fumbling with a flashlight. It features a built-in hanging hook so it’s your choice to use it on a flat surface or hang it from above.

So what’s the story of the Deluxe Fan/Light Combo? How did we come about such a perfect piece of camp gear.

It might be overkill to call it a miracle, but it really is amazing that we even offer the Deluxe Fan/Light. We nearly didn’t. It was one of the first products we brought in that wasn’t a trunk. Its first year, we only carried a dozen units of the Fan/Light. We also brought on a handheld fan that was much more geared to children called the Funky Flexi Fan. We feared we might not sell any of our twelve Fan/Lights with the funky one in the way. That was back in 2006.

We didn’t realize what a hot item the Deluxe Fan/Light would become. What was initially thought of as the afterthought to our original, kid-friendly fan was surprisingly more popular and very quickly claimed its place as our new Number One seller.

We’ve since sold over 10,000 Deluxe Fan/Lights! Needless to say, demand for this product has certainly lasted throughout the years. Ironically we’ve long-forgotten about the kiddie fan from long ago while the Fan/Light has become our longest-running product (after our trunks, of course).

So, there you have it! The Deluxe Fan/Light Combo is a tried and true choice that’s stood the test of time. Its progression from an overlooked newcomer to a camp essential is a testament to its utility and popularity. Pack the Deluxe Fan/Light so your camper will be equipped with this indispensable tool for a cooler, quieter, and more illuminated camp experience! Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John

 

Gather 'round, folks!

The tale of our C&N LidMate Organizer Trunk Accessory starts back in summers preceding 2008. This crafty little contraption comes securely mounted to the inside of your trunk lid with a wide strip of heavy-duty velcro, making use of an otherwise unusable space in your trunk. With the attached carabiner flashlight, campers have easy visibility for the contents within their trunk.

Additionally, it features a clear pocket to display pictures from home as well as six zippered pockets so your child can grab whatever small essentials they need. This accessory quickly became a must-have for any camper's trunk.

This product was born from a simple, yet insightful observation. During routine maintenance and repairs of customer’s camp trunks, we would see their packing lists and family photos taped to the underside of their trunk lids—a space otherwise unused and overlooked.

This got the gears turning in our heads. How can this space be better utilized?

After our Sales Director, Matt pitched the idea of a built-in lid accessory to camp staff and they loved it, we went straight into development. Our design gave campers a spot for their lip balm, playing cards, mini-flashlights, markers and the like.

One of the major challenges encountered in seeing the LidMate Organizer to fruition was determining the most effective method of installation inside the trunk. We tried this and that—adhesives to plastic turnbuckles and snaps. Ultimately, the simplicity and strength of super-strong velcro proved to be the ideal solution, offering both durability and ease of use.

The LidMate Organizer now stands as one of our most popular trunk accessories to maximize your camp trunk! Exclusive to C&N, this Trunk Accessories’ savvy use of space and knack for keeping things organized has shown us all how a simple idea can blossom into something indispensable!

It's been a bit of a trek getting from there to here, but what started as a solid notion has grown into somethin' truly special. Maximize your trunk by clicking right here! Thanks for reading. And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John

Hey, Trunk Owners!

Reminiscent of the classic nameplates found on briefcases, C&N Nameplates, are here to make your Camp Trunk POP! We have a great designing tool on our website so you can create your own custom nameplate that’s as unique as you are! With a slew of choices in background colors, icons, font styles, and nameplate sizes along with your personalized text, campers can design something that’s truly one-of-a-kind.

But that wasn’t always the case with our nameplates. Back in the day, we offered only our smallest size with just one font option that appeared in black against the silver plate. No background choices. No icons to pick. No color. They had a simple charm about them…. Very, very simple.

In the early days of this product, they were all made on a silver plate that was covered in a photosensitive layer of black gunk called anodized aluminum. Overlaying the plates with a transparency that we would use as a negative with the camper’s names included on it, we then exposed the plates and negative to UV light.

The anodized aluminum on the plate that was exposed to the UV light ended up getting baked on. We would simply then wet and wipe away the rest of the aluminum gunk on the plate, leaving behind a crisp print of a name.

As time progressed, however, so did our Nameplates. Around 2010, we found entirely new methods and materials to use that allowed for the addition of so many choices, colors, fonts, icons, and sizes. Not only is our designing process cool and fun, it’s also empowering for children to take part in shopping for and customizing their gear, lending them a sense of control, independence, and ownership over their summer camp experience.

Go design your own Nameplate right now when you click right here! Have a blast creating this identification for your camp trunk! Till next time—thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John Sieglaff