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

Hey, Camp Folks!

This isn’t the first time that we’ve posted about former summer camper and famous singer, Lady Gaga. But now, in our country’s time of need throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Lady Gaga is contributing to the cause by making donations to local charities to help those affected by COVID-19. Her beauty line, Haus Labs, announced a couple weeks ago that it’s donating 20% of their sales from the last week to local food banks in L.A. as well as New York.

In her previous post, we learned where her stage name comes from and how she went from Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta to Lady Gaga (you didn’t think she was born Lady Gaga, did you?) only scratched the surface about this celebrated performer! Let’s learn some more about Lady Gaga right now:

From a Young Age
Starting at the age of four, Stefani’s mother made her sit at the piano for an hour each day, insisting that she would become "a cultured young woman". This was enforced whether she was playing or not. Playing wasn’t mandatory, but sitting there was. It obviously helped develop her skills over time! Also, when she was 11, she found a vocal coach, Don Lawrence, who still, to this day helps her.

Workin’ It
In attendance of the oldest independent girls’ school in Manhattan, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Stefani was a student alongside Caroline Kennedy as well as Nicky and Paris Hilton. One of the only students with an after-school job, Stefani worked as a waitress at an Upper West Side diner to help make money for her lower class family.

Never Say Never
Stefani went on to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. During her time there, an anonymous person created a Facebook group which was titled ‘Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous.’ Goes to show that you certainly can’t trust anything you read on Facebook!

On behalf of Everything Summer Camp, we’d like to say thank you to Stefani (Lady Gaga) as well as Haus Labs for your generous donations in response to the coronavirus pandemic. To everyone else, stay healthy and active. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Happy Campers!

Finding the proper backpack that will suit you best for the travels you have planned is an essential part of your summer camp planning! That’s why we’re sure to carry quality brand names in backpacks like Osprey, The North Face, and JanSport. One of the latest names to be added to our collection is Deuter. Thrilled to offer this fantastic brand, I thought we might take today’s post to learn a little about this excellent brand name.

And since it’s the first question that people tend to have about this brand name, we’ll go right into how it’s even pronounced. Established in Gersthofen, Germany, you first need to put on your best German accent and then say their name as if it reads: Doy-tur.

Longer than any other backpack brand in the world, Deuter’s been in the backpack game since 1898! Time-tested and adventurer approved, Deuter has been expanding their business the world over and are currently represented in 45 countries!

It was almost 20 years back that Deuter set its sights here in the USA and opened a location in Longmont, Colorado. They were a hit! Despite a bit of difficulty in pronouncing it, Deuter made a big name for themselves here in the U.S. with more than 600 shops they distribute their packs to—one of which is yours truly, Everything Summer Camp! And, as we can attest to, Deuter is recognized all over the country by retailers like us as one of the best brands in the backpack industry.

From casual excursions to outright adventures, wherever you go, bring a Deuter Pack on your back when you hit the trails! You can check out our Deuter collection by clicking here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Comfortable Campers!

Summer camp is all about getting outside and being active, but that doesn’t mean it's not about comfort too. After exerting yourself all day, you definitely want to take advantage of your rest and lounge time! Get the most out of your respite time and have a look-see at the crazy comfy new pillows we brought on board for you to try out this summer!

Everything from lounge pillows to polyfiber pillows and a number of string lights, these bunk area accessories bring some serious personality and comfort to camp!

The Lounge
Also known as ‘Boyfriend’ Pillows, our Lounge Pillows come in a bunch of new crazy characters. Find yourself with a pet pillow llama, or a stuffed jellyfish for dreams under the sea. Maybe you’d like to keep a furry rainbow around your camp bunk! These cozy pillows from iScream are constructed with open, welcoming arms and ready for camp!

Polyfiber Fun
Check out these pillows stuffed with a polyfiber fill and featuring the cutest characters. We carry a bunch of fun pillow friends for your camper to take along to camp such as the Emooly Fleece Pillow, the Go Fish Packaging Fleece Plush, and the Rainboba Tea Packaging Plush. This pillows make for a great means of fun relaxation after a rigorous day at camp!

Creative Comfort
In addition to pillows, you can brighten your camper's bunk area with a plethora of string lights from iScream for quiet, warm lighting that help make your camper feel like they're right at home. Browse our iScream selection to find all the string lights we have available on our site. Click here to shop our iScream products. 

Comfort is, of course, a big part of summer camp so be sure to pack the proper Bunk Area accessories before sending your camper off for the summer. Stay comfy and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hi, Eager Campers!

These unusual times find us all with a lot of questions, but summer camps across the country have an optimistic resolve about the coming summer camp season. One of these many camps is Camp Takodah in Richmond, New Hampshire. Knowing full well what summer camp means to kids, the staff at Camp Takodah is looking forward to the summer. As noted on their website, “This summer,” it says, “Children will need Takodah more than ever.”

Each year Camp Takodah adds a new activity to their exciting gamut of awesome summer fun like the high ropes course addition from a couple years back as well as the standup paddleboards last year. And for the 2020 camp season, Camp Takodah is buying Corcls!

What are Corcls, you ask? That’s understandable. These things with the funny names are colorful, round boats that are designed specifically for kids. They make for easy paddling, spinning, and maneuvering. Kids are sure to have a blast! 

Aside from Corcls, Camp Takodah offers other water activities such as Canoeing, Diving, Kayaking, Rowing, Sailing, Water Trampoline, and more. Other activities they have are 4-Square, Archery, Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Riflery, Rugby, Soccer, Tennis, Tetherball,  Volleyball, Ropes Course, Rock Climbing, Zipline, and more!  

Each cabin has 10 campers and two college-age cabin leaders who have been carefully placed with kids of the same age and gender. Campers are even welcome to request one cabin-mate if they have a know a friend from home or a camp friend from previous years. It can be a helpful arrangement for campers who are a little nervous about their camp stay.

Learn more about this fantastic getaway for your summer camp experience on the Camp Takodah website when you click here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John