Hey, Frisbee Fanatics!

Disc Golf is a game of extreme command and skill. Requiring the controlled throw of a flying disc which has replaced the club and small, dimpled ball of regular Golf, Disc Golf is typically seen as a youthful alternative to the age-old sport of Golf. Combining the groomed outdoor escape and the rules and scorekeeping of Golf, Disc Golf and one of the sports founders, George Sappenfield were the focus of a recent post about the pioneers of particular camp activities.

You can learn all about the history of this sport as well as the involvement of Mr. Sappenfield and summer camp itself by clicking here to read that Blog post.

Just the same as Golf, you start each “hole” of a Disc Golf course with a lengthy drive, typically going for great distance with a metal chain basket to catch a flying disc instead of a cup in the ground. Each element of the game requires its own set of skills to sharpen from long drives, to mid-range shots, and the light tosses of short game.

Unlike the goal of many sports, Golf victories are focused the player with the lowest score. The score is tracking how many strokes of the golf club each player takes to get the ball from the tee into the hole. Just the same, Disc Golf scorekeeping counts who many times players throw their flying discs. The player with the least amount of throws in the end is the winner!

If you play Disc Golf at camp this summer, enjoy this great game which has become an increasingly popular camp activity since the 1960s. If you love this game, find a summer camp that offers this for a camp activity and enjoy playing it with some other friends. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

The Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing saw an excellent response last year with 60 entries! That’s why we’ve published each and every one right here on the Blog! We received a handful that weren’t long enough to qualify for our contest, but we thought we’d at least share them on the Blog. Check out these three accounts from excited campers!

First is this entry from Winnie O. who attended Camp Oneka: “My camp is awesome because it has been around for 110 years. My grandmom, my mom, and my aunt all camp to this camp too. This was my first year and it was so much fun. Camp Oneka has the best food ever all thanks to Nancy, the cook who has been there since my mommy went to this camp 30 years ago. She cooks the most amazing mashed potatoes and I love her chocolate cake with green icing. My camp is also the best because I learned to play Newcomb, tie a square knot and go sailing. I made new friends from all over the world and can't wait to go back next year.”

Next up is a submission about Aliza C. and her time at Camp Agawak:

“Returning for my fourth summer at Agawak I knew what to expect, I didn’t want or expect change, but it was coming! First session continued as normal. Yet, when second session arrived so did change. My cabin for the past 4 years received new campers. This brought shock as the new campers didn’t know us or anything about camp. We had to show them the ropes to being a camper.”

Thanks for these submissions, Winnie and Aliza! Glad to hear camp was full of fun, new experiences for the both of you! If anybody else is interested in attending one of these camps, put some time aside and look into Camp Oneka or look into Camp Agawak for yourself! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

Our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp saw an excellent response last year with 60 entries! That’s why we’ve published each and every one right here on the Blog (and why we’re still publishing them)! We received a handful that weren’t long enough to qualify for our contest, but we thought we’d at least share them on the Blog. Check out two more accounts from excited campers right here!

First is this entry from Melanie M. who attended Camp Greystone:

“Camp Greystone ran a favorite recipe contest in fall 2017. I won for my session by submitting sausage macaroni casserole and potato chip cookies. I got to cook for over 500 people at camp with one of my best friends! It was such a neat experience! I loved seeing everyone enjoy a family recipe of mine that was originally my grandfather's. This memory will last me a lifetime.”

Next up is a submission from Lisa R. who wrote in to tell us about her old camp counselor from her days at Camp Natchez in the 80s.

“I went to Camp Natchez from 1982-1986. The summer of 1985 there changed the course of my life forever. I was a 14 year old rather impressionable teenager just looking for a role model. The drama counselor was a beautiful college student who seemed to do everything right. Her hair was perfect, her clothes were trendy, she was very popular. I was very excited to be in the camp play that she was directing. She gave me a lead role and took me under her wing. From there on she was like my big sister. Then, in 1992 I moved to California with her, where I am still living today. She was my maid of honor in my wedding and has helped me through life since the day I met her.”

Thanks for these submissions, Melanie and Lisa! That’s a great that your grandfather’s recipe was able to be shared with so many folks, Melanie. And how cool to have made such a bond with someone as much as you have with your old camp counselor, Lisa! If anybody else is interested in attending one of these camps, put some time aside and look into Camp Greystone for yourself. Camp Natchez is no longer in operation. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Campy Kids!

I’ve mentioned French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts a number of times before here on the Blog what with ‘Share Your Camp Story’ submissions from French Woods campers themselves as well as posts about all the celebrities who attended this camp in the past like Robert Downey Jr., Zooey Deschanel, Jon Favreau, and others. Today, however, let’s focus on just the camp and the great things going on there in the state of New York.

French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts sits contently on a private lake in the western Catskill Mountains of New York State near the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania Border.

Offering individual choices for the performing arts, French Woods gives opportunities like never before for their campers as young as 7 to 17 years old. Younger campers have more guidance and supervision at French Woods, while older campers are able to take on some responsibility and have a chance to work in the areas of their interest.

French Woods Festival of Performing Arts offers Theater, Dance, Music, Circus, Magic, Rock N’ Roll, Visual Arts, Film and Video, Sports, Tennis, Fitness, Water Sports, Skateboard, Horseback Riding, and more.

French Woods campers are provided with a spacious, comfortable, and modern home base, complete with electricity, private showers, and private toilet facilities. They’re responsible for tidying their own spaces, and the toilets and showers are cleaned daily by a professional cleaning staff. Ten campers live in each bunk, supervised by three counselors who all tuck away in the accommodating and cozy wooden bunk beds.

If you think you’d like to follow in some of the famous footsteps who have attended French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, give this summer camp a good look for your own summer experience sometime and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Loungewear Lovers!

Robes have been around for a very long time, dating back to ancient times. These long, loose-fitting garments were worn in public. They signified importance in society—not exactly the image you’d be putting out there nowadays if you donned your robe and went out to, say, pick up groceries.

These days, robes pretty much stay reserved to either ceremonial purposes or loungewear for morning and nighttime attire. And while you may one day wear a robe in a ceremony (for graduation perhaps), today we’re going to focus on the luxurious loungewear of bathrobes.

The history of this particular kind of robe begins with the dressing gown in the western world early on in the 18^th Century. It was modeled after the Eastern banyan. These garments were originally intended for men as a sort of home alternative to a heavy outdoor cloak. In the early 1700s, robes were made of fabrics like silk sometimes with gold or silver thread woven in for decorative patterning. However, over time, other fabrics became common for cheaper alternatives products. Cotton robes became commonplace.

And around the 1850s, the market for women started taking advantage of these less expensive robes for morning routines. They wore robes and dressing gowns with undergarments for breakfast, for sewing, and all-around relaxing.

This made way for the bathrobe to become a hot item in the early 1900s. This craze lasted well through half the century. It became standard before very long that each member of the family would have their own robe for leisurely Saturday mornings and trips through the house from the shower to the bedroom.

As Americans adopted a faster-paced living beyond the 1950s, busier schedules allowed for less ‘hangout’ time among families in the home and robes became much less typical. They are, however, still a popular piece of apparel especially at summer camp! Check out some great robes we have available here at Everything Summer Camp from masters of comfort like Candy Pink, and Sovereign Athletics. As always, thanks for reading!

- John