Hey, Camp Fans!

Working with as many excellent summer camps as we do, it’s hard not to sing their praises—so we figured, why fight it?! Here at Everything Summer Camp, we work with more than 270 camps and today, we’re shining our summer camp spotlight to our state-next-door neighbor to the east in Michigan where we find the beautiful Manistee National Forest.

This is where we find Camp Newaygo. Let me show you around…

Camp Newaygo sits on 104 acres of land along a chain of lakes in the national forest region of mid-western Michigan. This summer camp knows that it’s important for young women who know city living all too well to find a place where they can escape the routine of life on a residential block. Girls have been finding the right place at Camp Newaygo since its first summer in 1926.

Camp Newaygo fills the summers with awesome activities such as Archery, Water Skiing, Challenge Course, Cheerleading, Team Sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Sailing, Photography, Wilderness Survival, Yoga, Tubing, Zumba, Paddle boarding, Windsurfing, Arts and Crafts, Water Polo, Rugby, Hiking,  Canoeing, Kayaking, Ukulele , Drama, Nature, Swimming, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Outdoor Cooking, Gymnastics, Fencing, Pottery, Synchronized Swimming, Animal Care, and more!

Newaygo is a truly beautiful place. Nature fashioned it that way, but the summer camp staff has maintained it throughout the years with complementary development beautifully built buildings such as Long Lodge, Pottery Porch, The Nook, and many more. And you can take the waterfront road to take in the view as you look out at Lake Pickerel!  

Camp Newaygo is a fantastic place to spend your camp stay. If it sounds like a good match for you and your family, you can get a closer look at this special camp by visiting them on their website which you can get to by clicking here. Enjoy planning for the next summer season and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Denzel Devotees!

I posted about Mr. Washington a number of years ago in which we covered his camp experience as a counselor and the YMCA camp Camp Sloane. And we also reviewed his education and his path through life that eventually brought him to the big screen and stardom! I thought we could revisit him in order to learn more about this famous and much-respected dramatic actor!

Catch these fun facts about Denzel that you probably didn’t know!

Did you know that Denzel was named after his father? Maybe you did. But did you know that his father was named after the doctor who delivered him? He was Dr. Denzel. Knowing the source his name came from, he was inspired to be a doctor before he became passionate about acting.

Denzel flaunted a talent for basketball in the movie ‘He Got Game’, but it’s his son John David Washington who’s the true athlete in the family. Signed by the NFL's St. Louis Rams in 2006, John David has since moved on to portray a football player on the HBO show ‘Ballers’.

Speaking of sports, Denzel played football when he was younger as well. And he’s got the injury to prove it. His pinky finger got all jammed up during a play and to this day it is visibly crooked! It may have been the reason that he never stuck with the football.

Thank goodness for that! I can’t imagine a world where Denzel Washington isn’t in some of my favorite movies. He’s one of those actors that I love to see and absolutely believe on the screen! Summer camp gave Denzel the idea to pursue an acting career. What will it give you? Thanks for reading, Campers!

- John

Happy New Year!

Today it’s time to wring out the old and ring in the new! Here we are in 2020, leaving the good and the bad of the previous year behind us and eager to build on an entire, fresh year that’s rolling out before our feet! From everyone here at Everything Summer Camp, we hope your New Year’s Eve celebration gave a warm welcome to 2020 and that you’re having a wonderful start to this new year!

While there are no real set traditions for the “common” festivities that we typically partake in on New Year’s Day, we all tend to celebrate in a similar fashion. Families are likely to get together and might have a nice meal. The day is usually taken in a laidback approach with lots of snacks indoor games or televised football events. After all, lots of folks are tired from the midnight celebration from the night before as it’s tradition to countdown at 11:59pm.

It’s no surprise that New Years Day ends up more or less of a lazy day. In fact, a good number of people do absolutely nothing! And that means literally, NOT a THING! It can be nice, enjoying a day that way.

For many folks, New Year’s Day is a holiday in which it’s perfectly acceptable to stay in your bathrobe until the afternoon, when everyone in your house takes a nap, and snacking on treats and junk food goes on throughout your waking hours. In other words, New Year’s Day is a giant break from the previously hectic season!

It may not have the thematic qualities of other holidays, but it’s typically one of the most relaxed ones. Be sure you enjoy yourself this new year and enjoy the last of your days off before your winter break comes to an end. Happy New Year once again and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Howdy, Fishermen and Fisherwomen!

While the outdoors can sometimes feel less accessible this time of year in the higher and lower parts of the northern and southern hemispheres, there are always those people who don’t let the extreme climate interfere with their time outside. Fishers don’t let a frozen surface stop them from dropping their lines and catching some fish!

The right equipment gives folks the chance to fish even in the dead of winter with temperatures well beyond freezing! The winter version of fishing creates a whole new world to this long-practiced pastime. Instead of going out on a boat or casting your line from a pier, ice fishers head out on frozen lakes with a tool of some sort to create a hole.

Some ice fishers are more prepared than others. They can create a quick, clean hole through the ice with an auger—a helical screw device for digging. Others use a chisel. And some head out simply with an axe (with safety first always in mind). Then, they catch their fish with lines and fish hooks through the opening.

Frozen lakes are pretty much perfectly safe to walk on once the ice reaches a certain depth. In fact, if it’s been cold enough for a long enough amount of time, you can even drive a vehicle on it. At 8 to 12 inches, ice should be able to withstand the weight of a medium sized car. At 4 inches thick, it’s considered safe to walk on or skate, or ice fish. Anything under that, however, and you risk breaking through.

Lots of ice fishers will just head out and fish in the open. This works just fine, though it’s always a chilly experience! Others head out and set up heated enclosures that they bring along. They can range from small shacks for a day trip out there to bigger setups that include bunks and amenities for a longer stay.

The winter season can make it fun to keep curled up indoors, but after too long it can feel like a prison. If you’ve never gone ice fishing before, find someone with experience and escape the cabin fever when you head out on the ice! Practice safety first out there and have a blast on the ice. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Bakers!

It’s that time of year! When the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, it’s time to crank up our ovens and bake some sweet treats to get the house smelling good! Baking has its obvious benefits, such as the result, having tasty treats, and an understanding of how to use the kitchen. But let’s take a deeper look at this particular practice. It’s very popular this time of year, but it’s used all year round in celebration of all sorts of occasions and indulgences!

What is it about baking that never fails to raise our spirits? Well, there’s a whole mentality that baking sparks and builds in a baker.

Baking must be followed to a tee for the proper results, so it’s important to stick to the recipe. While baking can offer creativity in other parts of the process, when it comes to mixing ingredients, it can be a nice escape from your everyday living to put your mind to this easy but exact task. Baking doesn’t allow for great distraction, so just turn on some music and get into the rhythm. Baking requires your concentration and patience. 

The escape I mentioned that baking delivers is a therapeutic means of escape and relaxation. The same way you relax to the rhythm in the music, you also relax with the rhythm in the baking process. From measuring out your ingredients to kneading your dough, and timing out batches in the oven, a full baking demands a well-oiled process that you can keep up with!

Just the same as any other artistic medium, Baking allows you to express yourself in a way that words, music, dance, or any other art form can (except maybe cooking). Baked goods that have been made with care are the perfect way to show someone a warm connection in you.

Try your hand at this particular art form. A common activity found taught and practiced at summer camps, check to see if your camp offers Baking and learn more about this great domestic talent! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John