Hey, Camp Fans!

While folks from all over the country have been compelled to close their doors in the summer season to take the precautions deemed necessary to keep everyone safe throughout this pandemic, there have been some areas where people have been fortunate to not be impacted as heavily as others. Though many camps have had to close their doors for the 2020 summer season, there are still some that are holding sessions.

Camp Wayfarer in North Carolina nested among the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains was delighted to start their camp session several weeks ago on June 21. To assure campers and parents alike that the campus was safe, the staff put out this message:

“Our camper and staff’s safety and health is paramount and we want to assure you that preventative steps are in place to create the best possible care for all.... It is our hope that our new procedures and protocols will reassure you as you make your final decisions for camp.

We are reassured by our current enrollment and the fact that new Wayfarer families have still been in contact asking about session availability. It is easy to see parents want their children outside and experiencing new adventures with their peers. Camp Wayfarer is committed now more than ever to this goal and we are grateful for your love and support.”

We here at Everything Summer Camp are in full support of Camp Wayfarer and are so excited for their campers who get to have their summer session this year despite lots of questioning. We’re delighted to know that summer wishes are coming true for some fortunate kids this season. May we all make it through these strange times and set our sights on a less questionable summer season next year. As always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans.

In these trying times for our nation and everyone who lives here, folks from all over have been compelled to close their doors even into the summer season in order to take the precautions deemed necessary to keep everyone safe. We never saw this coming in the late winter and early spring when whispers of something called coronavirus were still fresh. Unfortunately, this summer season has seen a good amount of camp closures and, along with them, a lot of glum faces.

Just like all of you, everyone here at Everything Summer Camp is deeply saddened that there are so many camps closing their doors for the 2020 season and that so many campers don’t get to have their summer camp experience this season. While some of you may still be able to attend your camp, others won’t be getting their summer camp stay for this season.

To those of you who won’t be attending camp this year, know that you’re not alone. Today, we’re featuring one of the many summer camps who aren’t having their normal camp season this summer—Walton’s Grizzly Lodge. Here’s the message from their website:  

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel our summer camp sessions for 2020. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our campers, families and staff as we worked and hoped for a different outcome. 2020 marks our 95th season; 95 years of providing children a safe and special place to be kids and to belong to a community that sings, laughs, and plays together. We will be back in 2021 and can't wait to welcome you and celebrate a summer that is sure to be filled with joy as we reunite at camp.

We appreciate your support and kindness as we face our first summer without welcoming campers in June. We miss them already. See you in 2021. It's going to be epic!”

Check out the Walton's website for yourself when you click here. Everything Summer Camp supports Walton’s Grizzly Lodge as well and we look forward to seeing normal camp sessions return in 2021. We hope all you campers who had planned on a summer stay at Walton’s are still able to get out into the wilderness for your own personal camping experience and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

This pandemic has left us with a lot of questions—particularly at Everything Summer Camp, “Will camp happen this year?” Camps all across the country have an optimistic resolve about the coming summer camp season. We work with tons of camps and the majority are still planning on a 2020 summer camp season! One among the many is Brantwood Camp in New Hampshire.   

Concerning covid, they put this message out on their facebook: “Brantwood Camp Family & Friends! We are doing everything we can to put procedures into place to make sure our staff and campers are safe and, as long as we can ensure that safety, we are planning on operating Summer 2020 as usual!”

Treated to 350 scenic acres of beautiful hills and impressive woods of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, Brantwood now receives 365 eager campers each year. In operation since 1904, Brantwood was initially a summer camp exclusive to boys, but opened Brantwood for girls in 1982 just a mile down the road. There’s lots of fun going on at Brantwood Camp! Provided with a pool as well as the gorgeous Silver Lake, daily Swimming is an essential part of a summer stay. As for fun on the land, campers learn confidence, teamwork, and good sportsmanship playing sports such as Baseball, Basketball, Football, Kickball, Swimming, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, and more! Brantwood’s Campcraft program is awesome too, giving campers the chance to practice water safety and first aid as well as learning astronomy and exploring nature.

Brantwood Camp also offers B-Jerseys to those who earn them through victories in outdoor challenges and problem-solving competitions. Do awesome things at Brantwood like Rope Course, Rock Climbing, Rope Swing, Tightrope Walking, Canoeing, and more!

The boys’ campus is home to seven A-frame cabins where up to nine campers and two staff members sleep. Campers are accommodated with bunkbeds and cots as well as a drawer and cubby for belongings. The girls’ campus has six, identical cabins. They house up to 11 campers and two staff members, providing storage areas. Each cabin has a screened door and windows for good ventilation.

Each campus is equipped with fully modernized bathrooms, kitchen and dining room, large indoor recreational space, nature center, spacious activity fields, and a swimming pool! An awesome place for awesome kids, check out Brantwood Camp for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hi, Excited Campers!

These current times with coronavirus has left everyone with a lot of questions, but summer camps across the country have an optimistic resolve about the coming summer camp season. A couple weeks ago, I featured Forest Lake Camp in Chestertown, New York. Today let me tell you about Camp Lantern Creek in Montgomery, Texas. 

Camp Lantern Creek provides a picturesque escape from city living with fantastic views of sunrise and sunset over the beautiful hundred acres of Texas Piney Woods. While prepared for a worst-case scenario, Camp Lantern Creek sounds positive about the summer camp season. Check out this video from the Lantern Creek director, Sunni Markowitz.

In hopes of a best-case scenario, Lantern Creek has some pretty fun things planned for the summer including sports like Archery, Basketball, Kickball, Ga-Ga, Volleyball, Canoeing, Knitting, Singing, Doll-Making, Drawing, Painting, Stage Crew, Dance, and more. Their Rosie the Riveter program is full of girl power skill building in activities like changing a tire and making a fire.

Check out their great facilities in this cool video tour and see their campus, complete with a couple pools and a 40’ waterslide that’s known around Lantern Creek as Sally Ride, the theater and studio called The Muse, as well as Rally Hall where meals are had, and more.  

Lantern Creek campers (or ‘Creekers’) live in one of the five cabins—North, South, East, West and Compass. The cabins are well-kept and setup with the works: central air-conditioning and heat, and full bathrooms. They’re also set on enough space for its own yard, clothesline, and fire pit! Cabin life is at the heart of Creekers’ summer camp experience and relationship with each other.

Get a deeper look at this magical place on their website by clicking here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hi, Excited Campers!

These current times with covid has left everyone with a lot of questions, but summer camps across the country have an optimistic resolve about the coming summer camp season. A couple weeks ago, I featured Camp Takodah in Richmond, New Hampshire who has continued to invest in the upcoming summer camp season. Today let me tell you about Forest Lake Camp in Chestertown, New York.  

Concerning covid, Forest Lake Camp has put this message out on their website: “As camp people, we are used to dealing with both the expected and unexpected challenges that come with running a camp. In the meantime we will stay at home and ride out the next few weeks with all of you. Camp will be as important, if not more, for kids to have this summer, and we will do everything we can to make sure our campers have the chance to come home to FLC.”

Some of the fun things they have planned for this summer include over 50 different activity choices Archery, Arts & Crafts, Baseball, Basketball, Canoeing, Climbing, Fencing, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Music, Riflery, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Wilderness skills, and much more. Fun and unique camp activities come along all the time too depending on the experiences and expertise of the staff.

Morning routine for boys and girls is to clean up their cabin to teach them responsibility and teamwork. Each camper has a responsibility to keep up their beds, drawers, and lockers well-organized and clean. Along with individual responsibilities, each camper will get a cabin job that’s on rotation such as sweeping the cabin, cleaning the showers, and taking out the trash.

Keep your thoughts positive about heading to camp in the summer, and check out a magical place like Forest Lake Camp for your summer stay. Take a look at their website by clicking right here and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John