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The Story of Legendary Chuck Berry: Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer

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Hey there, Summer Camp Folks!

Gather 'round the campfire as we celebrate the incredible Chuck Berry, a true pioneer among guitar players who left an indelible mark on the world of rock 'n' roll. In fact, he would come to be known as the ‘Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ as he rocked the music scene like none other before him with his electrifying electric guitar and the infectious tunes he played on it way back in the 1950s when rock 'n' roll was just sprouting up. Let’s get right into his legendary guitar skills.

As Mr. Berry showed the world, playing a stringed instrument (such as the guitar) goes way beyond making music. It becomes a channel for self-expression and a way to connect with others. Any campers who picked up a guitar this season at their summer camp stay discovered their own creative power and the wonderful release through this creative outlet. As your campers strummed those guitars, they built up their patience, confidence, and determination.

Chuck was surrounded by a lively community and discovered his love for music at an early age. His talents blossomed, and he joined his church choir at the age of six. In high school, Chuck's passion for music grew, leading him to perform in talent shows and ultimately take guitar lessons from local jazz musician Ira Harris.

At 17, Chuck embarked on a journey with friends to California which marked the beginning of his incredible musical career that would inspire generations of musicians and shape the landscape of rock 'n' roll.

He honed his skills and set the stage on fire, bringing a very energetic presence to the scene as he played catchy riffs and sang lyrics that stuck in your head. Quickly developing his innovative guitar techniques, his playing paved the way for future generations of musicians to explore new horizons

Lift your guitar to the legend, Chuck Berry, and pay tribute to his absolute gift to the music. His pioneering spirit continues to inspire budding guitarists from more than 70 years on. Many summer camps offer exciting musical activities, including guitar lessons and jam sessions. Did you play any music during your summer camp stay? Leave a comment on this Blog post to let us know.

Thanks for reading, Camp Folks! Keep strumming those strings and rocking on! And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John




Capture the Flag: A Classic Summer Camp Game

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Hey, Flag Fans!

An absolute blast, Capture the Flag has long been a staple of summer camp as well as playgrounds and backyard fun for kids of all ages. Children love the strategy, teamwork, and physical activity it takes to achieve victory in this game. The history of Capture the Flag goes back hundreds, even thousands of years. But where did this exciting game come from and how did it become a staple of summer camps?

Capture the Flag is chockfull of fun.

Long ago, flags were more than just a symbol of identity or pride in a nation or group. They were paraded by a flag bearer on the battlefield as a source of moral support. Having the flag flying meant your troop was still putting up a fight. This is why in our national anthem, the lyric proclaims “…gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.” The flag still flying was proof that the war was still on.

To play the game Capture the Flag, the playing field is divided into two clearly designated halves, or territories. Everybody splits into two teams—one to each territory. Each territory has a "flag" which is most often a piece of fabric (but can really be anything you want) that they have hidden or otherwise protected within their section of the playing field. Players then venture into the opposing team's territory, grab the flag and attempt to return with it to their territory without being tagged.

We owe the recorded rules of Capture the Flag to one German gymnast named Wilhelm Lübeck who put them down in the 1860 German gymnastic manual. These were the earliest known set of rules for the game. He didn’t call it Capture the Flag, though. He called it Fahnenbarlauf—named after an older European variation of the game called ‘Barlaufen’.

Capture the Flag is a classic kid's game at summer camp!

With such an enduring history to it, Capture the Flag is a true testament to the power of play and the importance of tradition in the summer camp experience. Make sure you get involved in a fun game of flag capturing at camp this year. Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John


Captain Frank Mundus: The Legendary Fisherman

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Welcome, Fishing Fans!

For anyone familiar with the fun of fishing, the thrill of the catch can be an incredibly exciting experience. But for Captain Frank Mundus, fishing was more than just a hobby—it was his career. Known as the “Monster Man,” Mundus was a record-holding fisherman who caught some of the largest sharks anybody had ever seen.

Born in 1925, Mundus grew up in Long Island, New York where he developed his skills and passion for fishing. He started fishing as a profession in the 1950s and, over the years, he became known as one of the best and most daring fishermen around. Specializing in shark fishing, Mundus had made a name for himself as a fearlessly wild hunter of the sea.

He made history in 1964 when he caught a 4500lb great white shark off the coast of Montauk, New York. While larger sharks have since been caught, Mundus’ catch remained the largest shark caught with a rod and reel for the next 30 years and longer. It was this catch that inspired the character Quint from the fictional novel and film, "Jaws".

Mundus went on to catch several more record-breaking sharks, including a 3,427lb great white shark in 1986 as well as 1,080lb mako shark which set another record at the time.

On a final note, Frank Mundus was a legendary figure who will forever be remembered among fishermen as the fearless record-breaker. His approach, personality, and legacy continue to inspire fishermen to this day. For those attending summer camp, Mundus’ story is a reminder that, with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, we can all achieve their goals, no matter how big!

See what you reel in when you cast your line this summer season and enjoy your time fishing! Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John


King of Wood Chopping

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Hey, Axe Fanatics!

Axemanship, also known as lumberjack sports, is a competitive sport that may be offered as an activity at your summer camp. It involves an assortment of skills and techniques which are related to forestry and logging. In fact, as you may have guessed, this sport originated from the logging industry and slowly transformed into a pastime for enjoyment. One of the leading names in Axemanship isn’t a man at all. Martha King is a world-famous, record-setting champion in a number of events.

Martha is reputed to be one of the best female axemen in the world; born to a family of loggers in 1971, she had a good start, competing in her first axemanship event at just 16! Her expertise is attributed to more than just her upraising, though. Her tireless work ethic and dedication to logging is bolstered by the countless hours she’s spent training in the gym and the woods. 

Setting multiple world records for speed as well as accuracy in a number of different events, Martha excels in events including the standing block chop, the single buck saw, and the springboard chop. She’s also won championships in lumberjack sports and is considered one of the best in the world.

With a completion time of 29.43 seconds the world record for standing block chop belongs to her! She’s also set records in the single buck saw and the springboard chop. In addition, she’s won several championships in lumberjack sports, including the Stihl Timbersports Series (the most prestigious competition in the sport). She’s been inducted into New England ‘Logger's Hall of Fame’. And she’s been inducted into the ‘the U.S. National Axe Throwing Federation' Hall of Fame! That’s a lot!

A true legend in the sport, Martha’s accomplishments have been inspirational for countless young women to try their hand at lumberjack sports. Is Axemanship something you have an interest in for the coming summer camp season? Confirm that it’s an activity your camp offers and have an axe-swinging good time! Thanks for reading, Camp Folks! And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John


Painting Pioneer Claude Monet

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Hey, Painting People!

Claude Monet was a French painter who focused heavily on capturing reality through light and natural forms. The main objective of his work was to analyze light and color and its ever-changing nature. A pioneer in the Impressionist movement, Monet experimented plenty with his work. He was known to paint the same subjects repeatedly to see how appearances changed at different times and in different light.

Impressed?
Without meaning to, Monet gave Impressionism its name. The artistic movement was named after one of his paintings: “Impression, Sunrise”, which was exhibited in 1874. It was the critic Louis Leroy who accused Monet’s painting of being a sketch or “impression,” of a piece, but not a finished painting itself. Despite it being meant as an insult, the name stuck.  

Creativity and Cataracts
In 1905, 65-year-old Monet began to notice his vision deteriorating. Colors had grown dimmer and in less than ten years, he was diagnosed with nuclear cataracts in both of his eyes. His paintings started featuring more yellow and purple tones. Because Monet often repainted the same subjects, his body of work was studied to better understand eye disease and how it affects our vision.

Ultraviolet Painting
Though Monet didn’t want surgery for his cataracts, he eventually agreed to the operation on his right eye. He didn’t have any surgery done on his left eye, however, even though it still had cataracts and violets and blues had vanished from his vision. When he had the operation, the lens of his right eye was removed, allowing more light into his eye. It’s believed that Monet was seeing ultraviolet wavelengths that would otherwise be filtered out by the lens. Blues became very prominent his work from then on.

Do you like to paint? Who knows where your ventures on the canvas will end up! Maybe one day you’ll be considered to be a revolutionary part of the art movement. Keep painting. Thanks for reading, Everyone. And, as always, Happy Camping! Thanks for reading, Everybody!

 

- John