Hey, Camp Folks!

2021 is a new year and with it comes new products. Make way for the latest updated water bottles from the one and only CamelBak! Standing alongside other top brand names like Nalgene and Klean Kanteen, CamelBak has just made some upgrades to several of the bottles that we’ve had available here at Everything Summer Camp! Check out our CamelBak bottles—new and improved!

One of the biggest changes you’ll see is CamelBak’s production of Tritan Renew plastic. Using Polyester Renewal Technology, CamelBak uses plastic waste that’s been broken down to its most basic level to construct 50% of their plastic bottles. The process is more efficient than mechanical recycling and produces the same results: highly durable, reusable bottles that are free of BPA, BPS, and BPF chemicals as well as dishwasher safe.

Presenting the Bottles…

Eddy 25oz
Keep this convenient Camelbak Eddy, reconfigured for zero spillage or leaking as well as a better flow when you get a drink with its handy flip, bite, and sip straw.

Chute Mag 25oz and 32oz
Designed using leak-proof material and an angled spout that delivers a high-flow stream for a satisfying guzzle, the Chute Mag 25oz also features its magnetic top (from where it gets its name) to conveniently  stow the cap aside as you take a one-handed drink!

Chute Mag Vacuum Insulated 32oz
Constructed with vacuum-insulated steel, this bottle will keep hot drinks hot for as long as six hours and cold drinks cold for 24! Designed with a high-flow, wide-mouth opening and a magnetic handle that stows the cap away. Built of stainless steel and finished with solid color.

No matter how you choose to fill your summer days at camp, it's important you keep your water bottle filled and stay hydrated. Peruse all of our excellent hydration products from CamelBak by clicking right here. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Adventurers!

Summer camp is full of adventure. Thrilling times abound whether they be in the water, in the woods, or high up in the air! Just about every camp boasts a Ropes Course. It’s sort of a summer camp staple—these structures of wood, cables, and rope that are strung between trees and poles. And yet, Ropes Courses are much older than summer camp. Much, much older.

No one knows who created the first Ropes Course, nor do we know when or where the first one was constructed. What we do know is that they go at least as far back as ancient times when early civilizations created advanced obstacle course challenges for their military training.

Despite not knowing the original inventor of Ropes Courses, physicians and specialists give credit to Georges Hébert for the ‘modern’ Ropes Course.

Born in 1875 Paris, Mr. Hébert became a naval officer of France in the early 1900s. During his service, he was stationed on the Martinique island in the Caribbean Sea. A major volcano eruption in 1902 caused disaster for one little town. The first officer to arrive at the scene, Hébert orchestrated the evacuation and rescue of more than 700 residents!

This experience stayed with him the rest of his life and cemented his concept that soldiers must meet their athletic skill with altruism and courage for their best performance. Along the way he came up with his own personal motto: Be strong to be helpful.

After his time in the Navy, he became a pioneer of physical education in the French military. His naval background gave him a unique idea of an obstacle course—Navy troops would create obstacle courses on the decks of ships which utilized all the aerial exercises that we see in Ropes Courses.

Here he developed his own education system that worked on his three levels: physical training, morality, and fortitude. He called his program the ‘Natural Method’ but it has also come to be known as ‘Hébertism’. In fact, many European and French Canadian Ropes Courses are commonly referred to as Hébertism Courses.

Be sure to test your skills in the ‘Natural Method’ or ‘Hébertism’ during your next opportunity at summer camp. Bring your bravery and, remember: it’s not just a challenge—it’s a lot of fun too! Till next time, Campers! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Squirrel Lovers!

Today’s Squirrel Appreciation Day. There are plenty of squirrel lovers in the world—and why wouldn’t there be? There’s a lot to love about these unique, furry creatures. Just a little shy of 300 species of squirrels, they come in all kinds of colors, sizes, locations, and character! There’s a lot to learn about them too! For instance, they never stop growing their teeth! Without the constant growth of their teeth, they’d wear those suckers out with all their chomping! And without all their chomping, their teeth would grow from here to Timbuktu.   

This time of year, squirrels flex their sense of smell to locate all the nuts they buried a few months back.

Some Sniffer!
Squirrels follow their nose to the burial sites of all their snacks which means being able to smell nuts that may be a foot below the wintry surface! In order to do so, squirrels need an olfactory sense comparable to dogs (or even better in the case of some breeds).

Sorting for Snack-Time
Depending on the surroundings and good of a year it is, squirrels will gather anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 nuts each fall and sort them into categories of their favorite kind, how well they can sniff them out, how big they are, etc.. This way they can recall what kind of nuts are buried where and retrieve the kind they want with ease come the winter.

Squirrel Burglars
Squirrels are notorious thieves. Each season, a squirrel is estimated to lose about a quarter of the nuts they buried in the fall. Studies have actually found that squirrels will dig holes only to pretend to bury nuts—just in case any other squirrels are watching!

Take some time to appreciate squirrels today. It probably won’t be hard to find some in your own backyard or local park. An organization called Project Squirrel asks citizen scientists to observe and record the number of squirrels they see in their backyards, parks, or anywhere else. You can make your own report when you click right here. Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John 

Hey, Camp Fans!

We weren’t just blowing smoke when we named ourselves Everything Summer Camp. We really offer everything campers need and just about everything they could ever want to get the most out of their visits to summer camp. With so many products available, you can bet that we carry quite the assortment of brand names—and it’s only a matter of time before each one is featured here on the Blog.

Today we’re showcasing Coghlan’s—‘the outdoor accessory people’.

But that’s not how it began. Operating the company out of a small service depot he bought in Canada, Norm had just started Coghlan’s Gas Appliances which sought to service those with natural gas heating. He had a few tents and sleeping bags for sale as well, but that was it. His customers would come in to have their camp stoves and lanterns worked on and they might buy or rent some of the camp equipment he carried.

Many customers would have a question for him too: how to make toast on a camp stove. As some may know, a camp stove toaster is that ingenious, little rack that’s made to sit just above the flames, built with four spots to place your bread. Norm found a local based company that made this toaster. The manufacturer had discontinued the product, so Norm bought the remainder of their inventory. This move set the stage for the evolution of Coghlan’s to grow into the largest selection of camp accessories in the world.

Popularity for accessories grew since Norm’s beginnings in 1959. Eventually, the company expanded beyond the local warehouse they use in Winnipeg, Manitoba and added another warehouse located in the USA in St. Paul Minnesota. They now ship to more than 40 countries.

We have a substantial sample of their product line right here because, here at Everything Summer Camp, we know Coghlan’s means quality. From Sleeping Bag Straps to First Aid Kits, stock up on great traveling gear and camping supplies. Check out their great, affordable gear right here! And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Let’s take a moment here on the Everything Summer Camp Blog today and highlight the next among the many summer camps with whom we’re proud to have developed a wonderful relationship. For today’s Summer Camp Spotlight post, we’re fixing our light on our friends down in Arkansas, less than a couple hours north of Little Rock where we find Camp Bear Track.

Established on 200 acres in the Ozark Mountains, Camp Bear Track is an awesome camp for girls and boys. 130 kids, ages 6 to 16, are welcomed every summer to get the summer camp experience of plain, ol’ fashioned fun. And Camp Bear Track delivers in more than just one way—behind the scenes of all the fun stuff, campers are growing mentally and spiritually, building on their independence and self-esteem.

Camp Bear Track is equipped to show its campers what fun is all about summer after summer. So just what kind of fun stuff are we talking here? Practice your skills of activities like Archery and Riflery, Arts and Crafts, Basketball, Biking, Canoeing, Cheerleading, Climbing Class, Cooking, Drama, Flag Football, Guitar, Golf, Horseback Riding, Lacrosse, Lake Sports, Outdoor Living Skills, Photography, Soccer, Street Hockey, Swimming, Tennis, Trash Can Band, Volleyball, Water Ski, Xtreme Sports, Zipline, and plenty more on top of all that!

Among all the fields, courts, studios, etc. they need in order to offer the available activities, Camp Bear Track boasts a full Ropes Course which includes a 100-foot cliff, giving campers the opportunity for climbing and rappelling. Camp Bear Track also has a pool, however, the waters of Greers Ferry Lake in the Bear Track backyard are always preferable.

As for living quarters, Camp Bear Track campers are provided with well-maintained cabins that house between 10 and 11 campers along with 2 or 3 staff members. All of the cabins have ceiling fans and are complete with bathroom facilities including showers.

If Camp Bear Track sounds like the place for you, give it a closer look and check out the website by clicking right here. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John