Hey, Camp Adventurers! 

Much like Archery and Horseback Riding, Zip Lining is something of a classic summer camp staple activity. It’s one of those iconic camp activities that kids look back on as a truly thrilling moment that they achieved because they dared to! 

Ziplines have been used for centuries to move people and goods rather quickly over hilly terrain, mountains, woods, lakes, rivers, canyons, etc. This rather ancient and innovative invention is still used today, but typically associated less nowadays as goods transportation and more so as fun!    

Here are some interesting facts about Zip Lining: 

Biology to the Max
Believe it or not, Zip Lines were popularized in the field of Biology. Scientists doing research in the Costa Rican rainforest were literally able to zip around to different areas and observe the surrounding nature without disturbing the animals or plant life! Pretty cool, huh? 

We used to Zip Line to School
There are some children in China who Zip Line to school over the Nujiang River. Talk about a morning wake-up call! You’d arrive at school wide awake and alert after your morning zip. 

A Long Zip Trip
Zip Lines are extraordinary fun and usually completed in about 20 seconds or less. The longest Zip Line in the world is the 1.3-mile Eye of the Tiger in Peru. That’s nearly 6500 feet! It takes longer than a minute to reach then end site. 

Do you plan to travel by zip this summer at camp? It takes a bit of courage and possibly fear-conquering to hang tight and soar across the land! But it’s sure to be a memory that will last. Let us know in the comments about any Zip Line experience you’ve had or hope to have in the coming camp season. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks. And happy camping! 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks! 

Staying hard at work with an assortment of responsibilities, Amy is our Graphic Artist—a role that keeps her very busy with creating graphics and managing them on our website, photography requests to show off our great products in clear detail, laying out emails as well as our brochure, and a laundry list more. But we’re not talking about work today! 

Today we’re going to find out what Amy would do if she got to go to summer camp right now as an adult. Amy couldn’t settle on any one camp activity so she gave me a laundry list of fun stuff. Check out the busy schedule she would make for herself: 

Archery
At the top of the list, Amy gave me Archery. “I’ve had archery experience though other camps/activities (girl scouts and high school gym class),” she told me. “I really enjoyed that.”  

Softball
A very close second was Softball. “I played in high school and bar leagues and miss it so much!” she said. “My dad spent many hours in the backyard teaching me all of the basic skills before joining the high school team.” 

Pottery
Pottery was one that Amy’s always had interest in and wanted to try. She’s simply never had the chance before. It would definitely be on her list of camp fun. 

Fishing and Canoeing
“I’ve always loved to fish” Amy told me. “It’s always been a family activity – starting when I was about two years old! Every year our family vacation was spent fishing on a lake in Northern WI. We are hoping our kids enjoy it as well. We recently bought a canoe and I have found it very relaxing.” 

Knitting, Sewing, and Woodworking
“These are all skills my parents have and I’d like to learn more so I can pass those skills onto my own kids,” said Amy. “My mom taught me to sew but I really expanded my skills when I started at my first job in 2007 (at Nancy’s Notions). I’ve since taught my husband some basic sewing machine skills! I can do basic woodworking that I learned from my dad, but I have no knitting skills.” 

She’s off to learn and have a bunch of fun! Do you love any of the same camp activities as Amy? Will you be enjoying any of these essential summer camp experiences this coming summer! Comment below to let us know. As always, thanks for reading and happy camping! 

- John

Hey, Art Fans!

Art is our Handyman and Maintenance guy at Everything Summer Camp. His position is a little difficult to hang a name on as his jobs range from repairing and maintaining equipment around the factory to electrical work to mowing the grass on company property.

I’ve previously posted on the Blog about how Art has enjoyed providing Everything Summer Camp with his services for the last ten years. Today we’re talking about what Art enjoys outside of work—specifically what kind of camp activities he’d like to participate in nowadays.

Without much hesitation, Art gave me two activities that he still loves and tries to get out for with some regularity: Trapshooting and Hunting/Hunter Safety.

Talkin’ Trap
Art’s been shooting trap since he was a strapping 19-year-old. All these years, he’s been developing his skills involved in the sport: patience, watchfulness, readiness, focus, leading accuracy, and more. Click here to read a post I wrote a while back about Trapshooting. You can read another post about a couple of the best Trap Shooters in Trapshooting history when you click right here.

Happy Hunting
Art’s father was a hunter and he taught Art from a young age how to practice Hunter Safety. If you know Art, you know he’s a ‘safety first’ kind of guy, so you know his dad did a good job! Art’s a good teacher himself and has assuredly taught the basics of hunter safety to his son. Art’s hunted a little bit of everything…ducks and quail and other poultry are his go-to game choices. Check out yet another previously written Blog post that covers Hunter Safety—click right here.

Art is sure to continue having fun with these activities. Do you enjoy learning hunter safety, going trapshooting, and going hunting? Let us know in the comments. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans. And happy camping!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

While we’re pleased to offer all the summer camp gear and other camping supplies on your packing list here at Everything Summer Camp, our camp trunks are truly our pride and joy. We’re the Maker of C&N Footlockers—the best footlockers around. Melanie (or Mel as she goes by) is one of our esteemed Production workers, crafting our high quality camp trunks.

Given the opportunity to go to summer camp nowadays, as an adult, Mel could think of several ways she would spend her time. Check out her favorite activities she would sign herself up for…

Kayaking
Easily making the top of the list, Mel went kayaking three times just last summer. Her favorite places to go are on the nearby Yellow River in Stanley as well as the Namekagon River in Hayward. She can still recall her first trip out with her mom, her brother, and her best friend back when she was 11. She was a little nervous her first time, but it can be a very soothing experience she told me. “It’s beautiful out there in the morning!”

Gardening
Years before her Kayaking days, Mel discovered a love for Gardening. She loved spending time in the big garden her grandma and grandpa’s house where they offered her money for working out there. They’d give her a dollar for each plant she planted and a dollar per item she harvested. Pretty good incentive!

Baking
Mel discovered a love for Baking at a fairly young age. Her mom had her Baking at just six years old. Folks will attest here around the office that Mel’s Baking skills are next level! “Homemade feels so warm,” she noted.

Softball
Just two years after Baking came Baseball (or Softball anyway). Mel started playing little league as an eight-year-old and she loved it so much that she continued to play throughout her school years and played for her high school team. She missed playing it after graduation and she eventually coached in order to get it back in her life!

Do you love any of the same camp activities as Mel? Her picks are particular, but pretty essential summer camp experiences! Maybe you’ll enjoy one or more of these come your summer camp stay. As always, thanks for reading and happy camping!

- John

Hey, Sports Fans!

Especially those of the home team—Give me an ‘E’! Give me an ‘S’! Give me a ‘C’! What does that stand for? EVERYTHING SUMMER CAMP!!! Cheering for the home team has been a time-honored tradition for more than a hundred years. Chanting mottos and catchy slogans to show loyalty and encouragement from the sidelines is an essential part of spectating sporting events.

This activity offered at many camps can be anything from a chant or rhyme to incredibly skilled and choreographed physical activities or even stunts. Cheer performances are there not just to motivate the team but to entertain the audience as well or for discouragement to the competition.

That’s how it all got started. British students started cheering and chanting in unison for their favorite athletes and team—an activity that only males engaged in. This support from the sidelines slowly made its way overseas and landed in America. And by the 1920s, women started participating in cheers.

It took a little time, but popularity steadily grew among women interested in cheerleading until women in Cheerleading exploded in the 1940s when plenty of the university student men were drafted for the second World War. This gave way for women to begin their takeover of sideline cheers and start developing the idea of cheering into a sport of its own including elements of dance, tumbling, jumping, and stunts.

A 1955 overview for cheerleading explained that in a bigger school, "occasionally boys as well as girls are included". However, by the 1960’s women had completely taken over the activity. Of course, guys are still allowed to join a squad, but nowadays Cheerleading remains a predominantly female activity.

There are currently 116 nations that take membership in the International Cheer Union and more than 7 million individuals the world over who cheer. Cheerleading has really grown in popularity in places like Australia, Canada, Mexico, China, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and plenty more.

If you have an interest in embodying team spirit and positive attitude, be sure to look for Cheerleading on the activity lists of the summer camps you check out. Get into the spirit with our Color War Spirit Pack including pom-poms, bandana, whistle, and more. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John