Hey, Camp Fans!

Door County was full of summer campers in the 1920s. Chock full of forests, fields, and bays, that the Wisconsin State Legislature designated for preservation in 1909, Peninsula State Park offers a breathtaking view looking northwest: the chain of Strawberry Islands as they skip through the Green Bay water. A world of fun was had here by children in the Midwest who attended camps in this gorgeous part of Wisconsin such as the rustic Adventure Island Camp off the shores of Ephraim on the thumb of the state.

Check it out! 

It was a man from Illinois, Charles “Skipper” Kinney who spearheaded a boys camp on the largest of the Strawberry Islands (initially named Big Strawberry Island and renamed Adventure Island) in 1925. He kept dominion over the land and summer operations season after season, and remained true to the original purpose the camp was founded upon—“The Spirit of Adventure which is inherent in practically every boy.”  

Adventure Island Camp was truly a self-made camp. Aside from the cooking, all the work at Adventure Island Camp was done by the campers. They did it all and they did it without electricity or running water. In the very beginning, work included the construction of the camp’s cabins and other structures.

To compensate the boys, Skipper gave them incredible freedom. Every day, he would ask them individually what they wanted to do for the day and, as long as you weren’t going to kill yourself doing it, he provided the material and guidance for them to achieve their goals.  

The 7 to 14 year old boys would venture out on solo treks for overnights in the woods or build their own wooden kayaks. One year, the kids constructed their own Viking ship and named it ‘Serpent of the Sea’. They took it on a five-day cruise, a voyage off to distant lands like Escanaba and Marinette!

To make the freedom that much better, the boys could even bring their dogs for the summer. The freedoms taught the campers invaluable lessons. They found that they were ‘free’ not to do their dishes, but then must eat on dirty plates. They were ‘free’ to stay up at night, but had to be up and at ‘em with the sun.

With further establishment in later days, the camp came to offer a baseball league, stamp club, journalism, an orchestra, and a shooting range to expand the options the boys had for activities. A true inspiration for why we have summer camp, the Skipper was a wonderful influence on the youth of his day. The camp stayed in operation until 1952.

There were a handful of other historic camps that operated in close proximity to Adventure Island such as Meenahga Girls camp and the Cherry Camp. I’ll cover these camps and more in future Blog posts. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Runners!

Do you live for the thrill of the wind rushing past your face as your legs propel you forward with every stride? Running is involved in plenty of sports, but none put such a focus on running as the sport of Track & Field (also referred to as Cross Country). In fact, running is about all there really is to Track. Just a couple months back, I wrote about the invention and the guy who helped popularize Track. Check that post out by clicking here.

An incredibly inclusive sport, here are a few good reasons why Track & Field is a great sport for anybody and everybody to enjoy!

Everyone Can Do It!
Literally everyone is able to do it! It doesn’t matter how good or bad you. Meets are short—WAY shorter than any football or soccer meet. You may have to deal with some long bus rides, but generally Track is easy on your schedule. Also, it’s super cheap! All you really need are a good pair of running shoes and the proper apparel (things you may already own).

An Individual Sport with Teammates
While Track is a very individual sport that is based on your effort that you put into your training and races, it technically is a team sport. Your teammates are always there to cheer you on at all your workouts, races, and long-distance runs. Often times, your Track teammates become really good friends or at least a friendly face you know.

Feeling Good
It feels really great on a few different levels when you finish a race. Of course you’ll be exhausted, thirsty, and out of breath, you’ll feel on top of the world. People who sign up for Track aren’t necessarily in the greatest physical shape, but everyone sees some kind of progress. It’s a very rewarding activity!

All that being said, Track is anything but easy! You need strong determination to see a race through to the end—especially when you have to run in rain, snow, sleet, or extreme temperatures! Maybe Track will be an immensely positive part of your life this summer or in the next fall with your school. Enjoy every step and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Language Lovers!

We all know those old sayings and turns of phrases. You probably use them every day. These expressions, or adages, have become so widespread and frequently used that they’ve actually blended right into our typical conversations. You likely use these old sayings without even realizing it. In June, I did some digging on the phrase ‘Keep it Up’, which I was stunned to learn was a phrase with its own origin story and not just…three words. Check out that post right here.

Today we’re examining the origin of the phrase ‘Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth’. Simply put, this phrase means that you ought to be grateful when you’re given a gift. If your older brother gives you a watch, don’t scoff at the brand and mention that it’s not the color you’d prefer.

This phrase’s origin just about covers itself right there in the adage. Its origin is incredibly literal, yet I still thought a little explanation might help people understand why we use this outdated scenario to remind folks to show gratitude when being presented with a gift.

Of course, this phrase harkens back to a time when horses were commonly traded, purchased, and gifted to people. And since horses’ gums significantly recede with age, it’s a common way to know what a horse is worth by looking at how long their teeth are. Being gifted a horse back in the day and immediately checking out its mouth was the equivalent to today’s checking brand and wishing for a different color.

A bonus adage for today is ‘Long in the Tooth’. Less commonly-used, to say someone is getting long in the tooth is to say they’re getting up there in age.

So folks, in conclusion, be appreciative and show your gratitude when you receive gifts from your parents, grandparents, siblings, along with any other family members and friends. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth (and don’t tell anyone that they’re getting long in the tooth). Enjoy another adage origin Blog post from the past by clicking right here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

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 northeast coast in Woolwich, Maine.

Set in just off from the Atlantic Ocean and bordered by Goose Cove and Merrymeeting Bay, Chop Point Camp provides a wonderful, woodsy landscape for overnight campers to unplug from the constant buzzing of the electrical grid. This camp is a fun factory, designed specifically for teenagers ever since 1967 when they bought the land from the defunct Merrymeeting Camp which had operated for the previous 50 years.

Chop Point offers a full range of traditional residential camp activities. Some of them like Basketball, Music, Soccer, Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Black and White Photography, or Sketching and Painting may challenge campers to develop new skills and talents during their stay at camp. Other activities such as Hiking, Biking, Art & Crafts, and using the Zipline are for the sheer enjoyment of participation.

The cabins at Chop Point accommodate eight or nine other campers of similar age along with two counselors. The cabins are rustic while still being comfortable. The girls’ cabins all have a large closet and drawer space, two sinks, a toilet, and a shower. Three of the boys’ cabins share a latrine with plenty of sinks and toilets and two showers. They also have a number of other bathrooms available to them. The oldest boys’ cabin has bathrooms with showers and sinks. All cabins are equipped with comfortable bunk beds for good rest between the packed days of camp!

Chop Point campers have the opportunity to create their own unique experience, selecting from the available adventure trips and daily activities each session. Get a closer look at Chop Point Camp by clicking right here. Maybe your kid is there right now. Or maybe it will be a great place for your camper come the 2022 season! And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Fourth Fans!

A Happy Independence Day to all our patriotic customers out there! The modern festivities we have today may be a familiar sight but before 1776, the fourth of July wasn't our Independence Day of the United States of America; it was just another date on the calendar. For well over a hundred years prior to 1776, the tyrannical King George and the British government kept the colonists under their rule and unjust law despite their move to 'The New World'.

Unfounded taxes and a multitude of other conflicts grew between the colonists and King George (who was literally losing his mind). In response to the unyielding reach of the British Crown, the colonies held a Continental Congress to resolve the matter once and for all. It was one Virginia statesman named Richard Lee who is now known for his famous words at the meeting of June 7 in 1776,

“Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Rather different from our current way of speaking, Mr. Lee was simply saying that the colonies were able to govern themselves and would no longer needed Great Britain filling any governmental role.

These famous words were the catalyst to form the committee that drafted a document to state the colonies’ case for freedom from British reign. The committee was composed of five members: Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was the one to physically write up the document.

They named it The Declaration of Independence.

After days and days of careful examination and minor revisions, the document was finally completed on July 4. The colonies voted in favor of this independence declaration and our founding fathers signed the document at the bottom—John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, signed the largest so “King George can read that without spectacles!” he noted.

And now we celebrate our Independence Day to observe the day that the colonies adopted our Declaration of Independence in 1776.

So, from everyone here at Everything Summer camp, enjoy your Fourth of July and revel in our Independence Day!

- John