Hey, Camp Folks!

At Everything Summer Camp, we’re passionate about making your camping experience a memorable one and having the right gear is essential for a successful stay at overnight camp. That’s why you can find a wide range of summer camp gear and camping supplies to meet your every need. However, our flagship product is undoubtedly our camp trunks. Our C&N Footlockers are second to none in quality and we stand behind (and on top of) our trunks with a lifetime guarantee.

Joe is one of our longtime Production workers, putting his expert skill level to your service every day, crafting our high quality camp trunks. Given the opportunity to go to summer camp nowadays, as an adult, he could think of several ways he would spend his time. Check out his top choices in summer camp activities that he would sign up for today…

Go-Kart Racing
Though he’s never actually raced on a track, Joe bought a go-kart for his kids to ride around in the backyard. Of course, he had to test-drive it for the kids to make sure it was safe, he told me with a laugh. He obviously had a good time in it for his own sake too. He wanted to put it to the test and see how fast he could go, but never put the pedal to the floor to hard with his children chasing all around after him. If he ever found himself in a go-kart on a track, he’d love to rev it up and GO!

Paintball
Next up, Joe said he would try Paintball. He’s never gone Paintballing either, though he’s been shot with one before! He told me about a night around a campfire a number of years back with a friend who had acquired a paintball gun. They were inspecting the new purchase and getting curious about how it would feel to be hit with a paintball. “Only one way to find out,” his friend told him before letting Joe have it. That night, Joe found out—it HURTS! Perhaps Joe would get his friend to join him in a game today, looking to get a little payback!

Canoeing
For a third pick of another activity that he’s never had a chance to do before, Joe decided he would take a ride in a canoe. “It sounds like it would be an awesome way to see all the scenery and Mother Nature…and things you wouldn’t see from the land,” he told me. On top of all that he said it just sounds like a great way to relax for an afternoon, gliding along on the water and taking it all in.

Do any of Joe’s picks of camp activities sound fun to you? Maybe you’ll enjoy one or more of these come your time away at camp. Find out if your camp offers them or perhaps you can find your own means of having the experience. As always, thanks for reading and happy camping!

- John

Hey, Dodgers!

The energy is charged with cheers, shrieks, shouts, and other sounds of excitement that join the bouncing sounds of a dozen rubber balls launched one way as a dozen more fly in the opposite direction. Dodgeball at summer camp is a surefire means of frenzied fun! It’s been a staple of gym classes as well as summer camp activities, but its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

Some historians speculate that games similar to Dodgeball were played as far back as 500 BC., but it’s officially recognized to have begun 200 years ago in Africa. Their version wasn’t really a game, though. It was played with stones instead of rubber balls. Instead of fun or spectator amusement, it was intended to develop the strength and endurance of their warriors.  

From Africa, it spread to Asia. And after that it was popularized in Europe where they traded out the stones for leather balls. European schools started using the game as a way to teach children important skills like agility, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork. Over the course of the 1900s, the modern version emerged, made its way to the United States and its popularity went through the roof!

Dodgeball helps children develop important skills such as:

Agility
You have to move quickly in this game to avoid getting hit. Become more nimble and coordinated the more you play.

Hand-Eye Coordination
As is the case with any sport that involves catching a ball, Dodgeball strengthens hand-eye coordination. You have to catch balls and throw them back with speed.

Teamwork
Dodgeball is a team sport that requires players communicate effectively and work together in order to achieve the win.

Overall, it's a game with a long history that encourages physical activity, teamwork, and sportsmanship, making it an ideal activity for kids at summer camp! While the game has undergone some major changes over time, its main objective has remained the same (and it’s a lot more fun and safe now that it isn’t played with rocks).

Enjoy some rounds of Dodgeball this summer if you have the opportunity at your camp! Thanks for reading today’s Blog post and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

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

Hey, Camp Folks!

With his crazy sense of humor, solid determination, and wild eccentricities, Matt is our Sales Director who forges our great relationships with summer camps all over the country. He’s played a vital role in helping kids get their camp trunks and camping gear on time, the growth of Everything Summer Camp, and the overall shaping of our company for almost 18 years.

Today we’re going to find out what Matt would do if he got to go to summer camp right now as an adult. He couldn’t settle on a single activity so he gave me his top three. Check out his list for camp activities right here:

Sailing
Matt’s never been sailing before, but he knows he definitely enjoy it. “I like the water,” he told me. Also, ever since a friend of Matt’s got certified for sailing and traveled to the Dominican, it really set the hook in Matt. “I think it’d be a fun hobby to learn!”

Trapshooting
Shooting trap has been a passion of Matt’s since he was pretty young—12, he thinks. It’s been a while since he’s had the time and opportunity to return to the sport. He even inherited his own clay pigeon throwing machine from his dad. Despite that, it’s been 10 years since he tried his hand. Last he saw, his skill level was pretty good. “I could hit 20/25,” he told me.

Guitar
Another lifelong interest of Matt’s is learning to play the guitar. He likes country music and would love to learn some classics from artists like Brooks & Dunn and Diamond Rio. He first tried learning it 20 years back, but didn’t get too far with it. A couple years ago, he made another attempt at learning the instrument. He picked up some basics and can now play most of the major chords.

What have you had the opportunity to do at summer camp? Do you share any of Matt’s interests? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks. Happy camping! 

- John

Hey, Gen-u-ine Gymnasts!

Were you born for the balance beam? Made for mat routines? If so, you’re in luck! There’s a good chance you’ll have the opportunity to try some of your favorite Gymnastic events at summer camp. While you’ll always want to confirm that your camp offers a specific activity that you’re interested in, certain activities are so popular (such as Archery), you’d be hard-pressed to find a camp that DIDN’T offer it. Similarly, you’ll find Gymnastics offered at most camps.

Furthering your skills in the art of Gymnastics will benefit you greatly. Performing a sport as physically-demanding as gymnastics is a fantastic way for kids to improve their level of fitness including balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength. But the benefits of such an activity will also exceed your physical fitness. Check out how ELSE doing Gymnastics can benefit you:

Self-Confidence
Developing your skill level for certain Gymnastic events is a challenge to undertake! With practice and dedication, it’s exciting for campers to discover their progress over the course of their camp stay. Seeing themselves advance instills confidence in their abilities which results in campers feeling more confident in themselves.

Social Skills
Gymnastic events are often performed in a group setting. Kids wait in line for their turn to execute a certain event and then move onto the next. It’s a great setting for kids to talk about their progress, which event is their favorite, and just be silly with each other. It’s a great way for kids to develop their communication skills, work together, and make new friends.

Fun
This sport is hard work, but it’s also exhilarating. Learning new skills and performing routines are accomplishments children can take pride in. It’s something that helps them feel more engaged in the summer camp experience and encourage getting into the camp spirit. Since having fun is the Number One goal of summer camp, you can be sure this is one incredibly fun activity!

Will your camper be enjoying Gymnastics in this year’s summer camp season? It will boost their confidence, social skills, physical fitness, and overall enjoyment of summer camp! Be sure to encourage your kid to give Gymnastics a try. Til next time, Camp Folks! Thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John