Hey, Camp Lovers!

We love summer camp too. That’s why we love hearing your stories from camp in our annual ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest at Everything Summer Camp. Your stories were fantastic and it’s such a fun time reading through them! Get a look at each submission as I post them one-by-one right here on the Blog!

Today’s post comes from Catherine B. who wrote in to tell us about her second year at Camp Fern in the Piney Woods of Texas. Get a look at her submission about this last summer at camp: “I am 8 years old and this was my second year at Camp Fern! Last year I only stayed for two weeks, but this year I got to stay for a whole month and I had the best time ever in my life. I had old friends in my cabin and also new friends. My favorite activities were riding and skiing. I even got a ribbons at banquet for being the most improved in skiing and the best overall in skiing. I've never gotten awards like that before. It made me feel really good. Camp Fern is the best place in the world. They teach me so many things. They teach me about nature and how to take care of it. They teach me how to do new things. They teach me that I can do things I never thought I could. And we have lots of fun! Before I went to camp, I had never spent the night away from home. I'm so glad my mom and dad let me go to camp because now I know that I can do anything and learn anything. My counselors keep me safe and are so nice and are kind of like my mom when I get a little homesick. Camp Fern is so amazing. On the last night of camp we write our wishes down on paper and then make them into sails for little paper boats. We light candles and send our wish boats out across the lake. It is so special and beautiful when the lighted boats are out on the water. My boat made it all the way across the lake, so I know that my wishes will come true thanks to Camp Fern! When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. That way I can still come to Camp Fern as a counselor in the summer. I love Camp Fern!!!”

Hey, Catherine! I’m thrilled to hear how much you love your time at Camp Fern. It’s great that you’ve been able to learn so much from all your new experiences at camp. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us, Catherine! As for anybody else interested in Camp Fern, give it a closer look for yourself some time and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

It’s always the right time of year to start thinking about the camp you’ll be attending this upcoming summer! That’s why I like to feature the summer camps with whom we’ve formed a great relationship here at Everything Summer Camp. Today, we’re shining our summer camp spotlight to the West Coast so I can tell you about Gold Arrow Camp.

Gold Arrow Camp, located on Huntington Lake amidst the Sierra National Forest, offers a traditional boys and girls summer camp setting where kids, ages 6-14, are welcomed to make friends, make memories, and make strides forward through awesome activities such as Wake Boarding, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, and so much more. 

In fact, let’s take a closer look at the activities available to Gold Arrow Campers! Try your hand at Archery, Riflery, Climbing Wall, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Mountain Biking, Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, Team Building, and more! You’re sure to have fun on the water too, whether you’re Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, Sailing, Waterskiing, Pontooning, Paddle Boarding, or another one of the many waterfront activities at Gold Arrow!

Experience rustic living with the spectacular backdrop of the National Forest and see what summer campers past have fallen in love with at this California summer home for the past 86 years! Campers sleep in tent cabins or rustic wood cabins on camp-style bunk beds. Gold Arrow insists that their campers get the personal experience away from the everyday conveniences of the modern world such as electricity and air conditioning.

Living without modern conveniences of electricity and temperature control in the cabins is an important element of our philosophy where campers get a more personal experience with the forest and develop resiliency and grit.

Join the generations of Gold Arrow Campers that have come before you and become Gold Arrow Camper yourself! If you like the way this camp sounds, look into it more by checking out their website sometime and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Here we stand, one month into the new year. So, before we step any further into February, I wanted to give an update on how we’ve been doing with the resolutions we’ve set for ourselves here at Everything Summer Camp. I hope all of you are off to a wonderful start with any resolutions of your own!

Here’s how folks around our office are doing with their resolutions: Amy resolved to reform her diet and start eating better. She told me that “Surprisingly I have been doing good and sticking to it.  I just can’t keep any sweets in the house!” I can relate to that, for sure! But when it comes to junky food, out of sight—out of mind is a real thing. Keep surprising yourself till it’s not a surprise anymore, Amy!

Anita resolved to increase her overall health with more exercise and kicking lousy habits. She was happy to report that she, “Started out great, doing the treadmill every morning for 20 minutes, then the second week of January, every morning and night for 20 to 30 minutes. Lost 4 pounds!” She also got hit with a cold in January, so she disappointed she couldn’t stick to her daily routine for a little bit, but I’m definitely calling January a win for Anita!

Diane resolved to make the world better by helping people more. “I have kept my resolution to doing one good deed a month,” she said, but she actually hit it twice as hard! “While in Roatan I gave money to a local family to buy food. I also paid for a car behind us in a fast food drive-thru. It feels so good to do these random acts of kindness.” Awesome work, Diane! I’m sure she’s making people’s days with her generosity!

Matt resolved to shed some pounds and lose weight in the coming year. When I asked how he was doing, he told me, “Good. I've lost 15 pounds—halfway to my goal. Eating right, balanced diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables. Drinking lots of water.” That’s how you do it—well done, Matthew!

Morgan, who resolved to get straight A’s in her last semester of college, responded to my checkup that, “Yes, so far so good! It’s still early in the semester and I only have 2 grades in, but all A’s! Off to a good start!” Wonderful work, Morgan!

Nate has resolved to spend more time with his family and more ‘playtime’ with his kids. “My resolution is going okay,” he said. “I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with my boys.” However, he’d still like to see more nights devoted to the whole family. “We’ve had a couple of family game/movie nights, but not every week like we want to.” This sounds far from a fail to me! Keep up the good work, Nate!

And I resolved to be less judgmental toward people to have more patience. I think I’ve done well in preventing myself from letting my thoughts spiral about other people. I would definitely have to give myself a pass through this first month.

Unfortunately, our Vice President of Everything Summer Camp, Mark, is the first to bow out of his resolution which was to get better sleep. He’s already failed in January. Too many late work nights for that guy! He says he still has full intentions to continue better sleeping patterns for himself, so best of luck to him moving forward in the year!

A good first checkup for our participators, I’m very proud of us so far—only one casualty. Straight A’s for everybody else (not just you, Morgan)! And Bob, who resolves each year not to change a bit, is still the same ol’ Bob! Keep up the good work with your own resolutions for 2019 and, as always, thanks for reading, Everybody!

- John

Happy Groundhog Day!

February has many of us dreaming of warmer weather and the joys of summer camp. As you may already know, Groundhog Day on February 2nd is the day on which we discover whether we’ll see an early spring or get six more weeks of winter. It hasn’t proven to be the most accurate method, but we like to go based off of whether or not a small, little critter called a groundhog spots his shadow upon leaving his den early in February. However, we can’t just get the word from any ol’ groundhog. Such a prognostication must come from no common groundhog, but from none other than Punxsutawney Phil.

This annual rodent Punxsutawney Phil delivers his annual prediction in his own language, ‘groundhogese’. And his word is translated by the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club who reveals the answer to the Vice-President and then the entire gathering of Phil’s adoring fans. So, what else do we know about this special groundhog?

Nice Duds, Classy Hats

Some fifty-some years ago, it went into effect for members of the Groundhog Club Director’s Board (the Inner Circle) that they must wear a top hat and tuxedo uniform during the annual picnic at Gobbler’s Knob. The reasoning: A figure of such importance as Punxsutawney Phil must always be greeted with a tone of respect and formality.

Not your Ordinary Groundhog

A celebrity like Punxsutawney Phil makes just one public appearance a year at the Gobbler’s Knob picnic. Where is he for the rest of the year? He lives with his wife, Phyllis, and two other friends of theirs in a heated area of the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.

Hog Nog

It is said that Punxsutawney Phil has been giving us his forecast for 133 years now. How does one, little groundhog exceed the life expectancy of a super healthy person? Well, according to legend, Punxsutawney Phil takes a swig of ‘groundhog nog’ at the Gobbler’s Knob picnic which is a magic elixir of life that extends his life another seven years with each sip.

You can learn even more about the celebration of Groundhog Day on a previous post from a few years ago which traces back the origin of the Groundhog Day celebration. Check that post out by clicking right here and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John