Hey, Camp Folks! 

The recommended camp outfitter for nearly three hundred summer camps, we here at Everything Summer Camp are proud to work with every single one of them! And we love singing the praises of the many camps with whom we’ve developed a working relationship too. That’s why today I’m shining our camp spotlight on the gorgeous hill country of East Texas. 

Like everything, Camp Peniel began as a vision before its physical manifestation. It first existed in the minds of its founders, Gordon & Alice Whitelock. Back in the 1940’s, they started taking kids camping in the Piney Woods of Texas. The tradition lasted years and years—each trip more fun than the last! By 1960, 256 acres of the Silver Hills Ranch near Marble Falls in Texas became Camp Peniel campgrounds. They eventually added 126 acres for a current total of 382 enchanting acres! 

Since 1946, boys and girls have been having a blast participating in all the fun and challenging summer activities available at Camp Peniel. Peniel campers are met with abundant adventures on the land, Archery, Canoeing, Crafts, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Large Scale Games, Zipline, and Swimming (of course) in the beautiful spring-fed lake. 

Camp Peniel is sure to offer comfortable accommodations for their campers who attend their overnight sessions. Nestled within awe-inspiring cedar forests, the climate-controlled cabins at Camp Peniel are all of various sizes that can house anywhere from ten to fifty people and they feature indoor plumbing. 

Camp Peniel pushes for each week of camp to be a life-changing experience for the campers. The whole experience of extreme fun and spiritual education is designed to encourage their campers’ personal growth. Take a look at Camp Peniel’s website for a closer look and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks! Happy Camping! 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks! 

With the camp season kicked into full gear, perhaps you’ll come across the summer camp that you’re attending this season as we continue to add to our Summer Camp Spotlight category of Blog posts. Today, we’re fixing our camp spotlight over to the East Coast in Vermont where we are checking out Sangamon Summer Camp for boys, ages 9 to 16.  

Camp Sangamon was built on 200 picturesque acres that feature sunny fields, cool woods, 20 acres of a spring-fed lake, and plenty more! A totally renovated farmhouse from the 19^th century brings the campers together for mealtimes. They’re kitchen prides itself on using fresh ingredients—some of which they grow themselves. The majority of their meals are made from scratch and they always offer vegetarian alternatives. 

There’s tons of fun going on at Sangamon. Try your hand at Archery, Soccer, Mountain biking, Tennis, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Camping Trips, Gardening, and lots more! The weekends pack in even more fun with cabin cook-outs on Saturdays, cabin nights on Sundays, and a free-for-all, all-camp games that keeps the campers ready for anything! 

Sangamon campers are treated to the simple pine board cabins with fieldstone fireplaces! There is no electricity, though they do offer modern, portable LED lanterns for easy nightly navigation. Each cabin houses eight to ten campers along with three cabin leaders. Often enough, the leaders are joined by an intern—the term at Sangamon for folks in their third year of the camp counselor-in-training program. 

The pioneer spirit is kept alive at Camp Sangamon through the buildings they make, the small farm and garden that they run, and their daily practices among the natural world. Sangamon campers are taught to appreciate and coexist in nature. Is Camp Sangamon the camp for you? Let us know in the comments any fun times you’ve had at Camp Sangamon and, as always, thanks for reading! 

- John

Hey, Camp Fans! 

We here at Everything Summer Camp are proud to work with nearly 300 summer camps across the nation! We’re their recommended camp outfitter and, in return, we love singing the praises of the many camps with whom we’ve developed a wonderful working relationship. That’s why today I’m shining our camp spotlight on the beautiful surroundings of Lake Maxinkuckee in the state of Indiana.  

Located in the Great Lakes Region—just a little ways away from the south end of Lake Michigan—sits the entire campus of Culver Academies which has called this place home since its beginning as the Culver Summer Naval School in 1902. Ten years later, Woodcraft Camp was founded. Woodcraft uses a separate 250 acre campgrounds for their summer activities. 

They offer great individual sports such as Archery, Riflery, Cross Country, Disc Golf, Fencing, Fishing, Horseriding, Golf, Tennis, Track, Chess, and more. You can also enjoy team sports such as Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Frisbee, and more. 

They also offer plenty of activities in Nature, Music, Theater, and Arts. You can even learn languages like French and Spanish or take other academic classes. And, of course, you can make use of the waterfront and go Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing, Diving, Water Skiing, and, of course, Swimming. 

With more than 60 A-frame cabins and a separate dining hall, their facilities include a plethora of instructional buildings, one of America’s largest indoor riding halls, one of Indiana's largest natural lakes, as well as an incredible number of sailboats, power boats, personal watercraft, and the largest three-masted square-rigger on fresh water in the country! 

At Culver Woodcraft Camp, campers soak in a six-week camp stay chock full of camp activities for children from the ages 9 to 14. With more than 80 elective courses and activities to help the youth achieve independence, leadership skills, and self-confidence. Culver Woodcraft Camp has seen great success in kick-starting kids on an awesome path through life. Check out their website for a closer look by clicking right here and, as always, thanks for reading! 

- John

Hey, Camp Fans! 

As a camping gear store directed at families with kids heading to summer camp, we’re thrilled to have formed such awesome relationships with a whopping 300 camps across the nation. We can’t help ourselves but to sing their praises every now and again. Today let’s shine our summer camp spotlight over to the East Coast in New York—just 30 minutes south of Rochester. 

There, resting on East Lake Road in the small, rural town of Livonia, we find Camp Stella Maris. This camp was founded in 1926 by Gerald Lambert and Eugene Hudson. For nearly a century, this camp has invited boys and girls to come be a part of the Stella Maris magic summer after summer. This camp offers not just overnight stays, but day camp services as well a family camp getaway! 

There’s definitely fun for everyone! Campers are shown a great blend of different types of activities ranging from Adventure and the Ballfield to Arts and Nature, Spirituality and, of course, the Waterfront. At Stella Maris, kids enjoy Camp Fires, Shaving Cream Wars, Mudslides, Makerspace, Tie Dye, Archery, and Dodgeball. And older campers can choose to participate in more challenging activities like High Ropes, Water Skiing, Pottery, Climbing Wall, and plenty more! 

Unplugged for a week, campers at Stella Maris are show the time of their lives! The fantastic fun is about more than just a good time. Camp helps build confidence, friendship, personal growth, and wonderful memories. Overnight campers sleep in one of the 21 awesome cabins. 

You couldn’t be bored if you tried, but there’s tons of opportunity for downtime too. Time to reflect on the all the fun you’re having! Give Camp Stella Maris a closer look and click here to check out their website. And, as always, thanks for reading. 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

With the camp season kicked into full gear, perhaps you’ll come across the summer camp that you’ll be heading to as we continue to add to our Summer Camp Spotlight category of Blog posts. Today, we’re fixing our camp spotlight to the northern tip of the East Coast in Maine. Today we’re going to check out Netop Summer Camp for boys. 

Set on 100 acres of mountainous Maine terrain, the spectacular beauty of Netop abounds with lakes, rivers, pines, trails, and plenty of facilities for jam-packed summer days of fun! Camp Netop started welcoming boys to their summer experience in 1955, but the camp closed down about 30 years later, just as Everything Summer Camp was seeing its beginning. 

After a nearly-twenty-year-hiatus, Netop was resurrected under the name Netop Summer Camp in 2006. Netop is back in business, ready to show their campers an absolute blast during their camp stay. Netop campers can pick from great activities like Archery, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Chess, Conditioning, Crafts, Drama & Film, Fishing, Guitar & Rock Band, Lacrosse, Origami, Sailing, Snorkeling, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Woodsman, Wood Shop, and plenty more. 

Netop accommodates their campers with the unforgettable tent experience. The tent walls roll up or down to give campers the best of both worlds: outdoor shelter as well as breezy openness. The morning starts with breakfast followed by “tent clean-up” which has tent mates working together to tidy things up. The cleanest tent of the week wins a Netop Sundae! Each tent is home base for either 4 or 5 campers as well as 1 or 2 counselors. 

If you’re not already going to Netop, check out this summer camp for the next summer season. You’re sure to love your time there. Have a look around at this East Coast camp. As always, thanks for reading and happy camping! 

- John