Happy Fourth of July, Campers!

The Fourth of July is here, marking the peak of summer and the beginning of a season filled with adventure and excitement. Many people celebrate with parades, grill outs, marshmallow roasting, and fireworks! And, for summer camp enthusiasts, this holiday holds a special significance—it's the closest one to the summer camp season! In fact, some campers may already be off on their camp adventure right now!

If your camper hasn't left just yet, however, enjoy the festivities of the holiday together! After your celebration, you can focus on preparing your camper for their upcoming stay and get them into the summer camp spirit (though they probably already are)! Here are some ideas you can put into action:

Hiking Adventure

Suggest you and your child lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails for an outdoor adventure. Explore some local trails, nature reserves, or foothills around your area if you have them! Hiking is a fantastic way to connect with nature and build endurance for the adventures that await your child at summer camp. Don't forget to pack plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen for your journey!

Camping Gear Familiarizing

Take some time to review your child’s camping gear, ensuring they understand how to properly use and care for each item. Show them how to load batteries, operate flashlights and lanterns, and set up tents or sleeping bags. Their gear doesn’t do much good unless they know how to use it. This hands-on practice will help them feel more confident and prepared for their summer camp adventure.

Practice Campfire Building with Your Parents

Enjoy an evening around the fire pit and show your child fire building skills like arranging tinder, kindling, and firewood to create a safe and efficient campfire. You can also teach them proper safety techniques, such as putting out the fire completely before leaving the area.

Overnight Camping Trips

Extend the Fourth of July celebration with a family camping trip. Gather your camping gear, pitch a tent, and spend a night under the stars in the great outdoors. Use this night to have a great time with your child before they leave for their camp stay and talk to them about any thoughts or concerns they might have about the upcoming experience.

Camp-Themed Reading

Encourage your child to dive into some summer camp-themed books to further ignite their excitement for the upcoming adventure. Look for titles that capture the magic and spirit of summer camp, whether it's through stories of friendship, outdoor adventures, or overcoming challenges. Reading about the camp experience can help ease any pre-camp jitters and provide valuable insights into what to expect.

Incorporate these activities into your Fourth of July celebration and you'll kick off the summer camp season for your camper with confidence and excitement, all while creating your own quality time together before they leave for their camp stay! Happy Fourth of July, Everyone! And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey Camp Folks!

The days are growing longer and the temperatures are rising. The sense of excitement is so thick in the air you can feel it—it's summertime! A season filled with endless possibilities and unforgettable adventures.

With the promise of sunny days ahead, now is the perfect time to celebrate all the joys that summer has to offer. That's why I’ve compiled this list of the top quintessential summer activities to put into action this summer season!  

Lemonade Stand

Let the entrepreneurial spirit inspire you this summer and set up a lemonade stand and offer passersby a refreshing glass of that tangy sweet beverage on a sunny summer day. From squeezing fresh lemons to creating colorful signs, kids learn valuable lessons about business and customer service while enjoying the sweet rewards of their hard work.

Beach Architecture

Put your sand-building skills to the test at the beach or your own backyard (if you’re fortunate enough to have your own sandbox). This time-honored tradition sparks creativity and imagination in kids. Whether constructing towering fortresses or digging moats, beach architecture fosters teamwork and problem-solving skills while providing endless hours of fun in the sun.

Bike Ride

Hit the open road and explore the great outdoors on a bike ride adventure. Pedal your way to new discoveries as your cruise through your neighborhood or take a scenic trail. Biking promotes physical activity, independence, and a sense of freedom as kids.

Water Balloon Fight

Cool off and let loose with a spirited water balloon fight! Filling and tying balloons, strategizing sneak attacks, and dodging incoming splashes make for an exhilarating outdoor activity that guarantees laughter and friendly competition among children of all ages!

Sidewalk Chalk Art

Transforming ordinary sidewalks into vibrant works of art, sidewalk chalk allows kids to unleash their creativity and decorate their neighborhood with colorful masterpieces. From hopscotch grids to intricate designs, chalk art encourages self-expression and outdoor play in a fun and interactive way.

Picnic in the Park

Pack a basket full of goodies and head to the park for a delightful picnic experience. Enjoying sandwiches, snacks, and sweet treats amidst nature's beauty provides a perfect opportunity for relaxation, bonding, and creating cherished family memories.

Planting a Small Vegetable or Flower Garden

Get hands-on with nature by planting a small garden filled with colorful flowers or tasty vegetables. Kids learn valuable lessons about responsibility, patience, and the environment as they nurture their garden and watch it grow throughout the summer months.

Making Homemade Popsicle Sticks

Beat the heat with homemade popsicles crafted from fresh fruit juices or yogurt. With endless flavor combinations and creative molds to choose from, making popsicles at home is a fun and delicious way for kids to stay cool and satisfy their sweet tooth all summer long.

Camp—of Course!

Last but certainly not least, summer camp holds a special place in the hearts of many as the ultimate summertime adventure. From outdoor adventures like hiking and canoeing to creative pursuits like arts and crafts and theater, summer camp offers a wealth of opportunities for children to learn, grow, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Summer camp is an experience like no other.

As we embrace the beginning of the summer season, let's savor every moment of sunshine, adventure, and laughter that lies ahead. Whether you're enjoying a backyard barbecue, lounging on the beach, or heading out for your summer camp adventure, may this season be filled with joy, excitement, and unforgettable memories. Thanks for reading. Happy Summer and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Welcome, Camp Folks!

Evening in Arches National Park presented a troop of summer campers with golden hues stretching across the orange, desert landscape. Each step marveled them more as they moved through the breathtaking scenery unfolding before them: towering stone arches reaching towards the sky, massive rock fins sculpted by the hands of time, and giant balanced rocks that seemingly defy the natural law.

Arches National Park is found in southeastern Utah. This unique landscape boasts the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world with over 2,000 of these stunning formations accompanied by soaring pinnacles and massive rock fins. Visitors hike along well-marked trails that wind through the red-rock wonderland, marveling at the intricate beauty of each arch and rock formation.

A paradise for adventurers, Arches National Park offers everything from leisurely strolls to challenging hikes, there's something for everyone to enjoy. And as the day draws to a close, the park comes alive with the vibrant colors of sunset, painting the sky in shades of pink, purple, and gold. It's a sight that's sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to witness it.

We're thrilled to celebrate the natural beauty of Arches National Park with our exclusive National Park Trunk Collection. Featuring stunning imagery inspired by the park's iconic landscapes, this Trunk is the perfect way to bring a little bit of Arches back home. Whether you're planning your own adventure to Arches or simply dreaming of the possibilities, our trunks serve as a reminder of the awe-inspiring beauty that awaits in this incredible natural setting.

So pack your bags, lace up your boots, and embark on an adventure of a lifetime! Whether you're exploring the towering arches, hiking the scenic trails, or simply soaking in the breathtaking views, Arches National Park is sure to leave you spellbound. Does your next great adventure awaits amidst the red-rock wonderland of Arches National Park. Thanks for reading, Camp Folks. And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John

Hey, Trunk Owners!

Reminiscent of the classic nameplates found on briefcases, C&N Nameplates, are here to make your Camp Trunk POP! We have a great designing tool on our website so you can create your own custom nameplate that’s as unique as you are! With a slew of choices in background colors, icons, font styles, and nameplate sizes along with your personalized text, campers can design something that’s truly one-of-a-kind.

But that wasn’t always the case with our nameplates. Back in the day, we offered only our smallest size with just one font option that appeared in black against the silver plate. No background choices. No icons to pick. No color. They had a simple charm about them…. Very, very simple.

In the early days of this product, they were all made on a silver plate that was covered in a photosensitive layer of black gunk called anodized aluminum. Overlaying the plates with a transparency that we would use as a negative with the camper’s names included on it, we then exposed the plates and negative to UV light.

The anodized aluminum on the plate that was exposed to the UV light ended up getting baked on. We would simply then wet and wipe away the rest of the aluminum gunk on the plate, leaving behind a crisp print of a name.

As time progressed, however, so did our Nameplates. Around 2010, we found entirely new methods and materials to use that allowed for the addition of so many choices, colors, fonts, icons, and sizes. Not only is our designing process cool and fun, it’s also empowering for children to take part in shopping for and customizing their gear, lending them a sense of control, independence, and ownership over their summer camp experience.

Go design your own Nameplate right now when you click right here! Have a blast creating this identification for your camp trunk! Till next time—thanks for reading and, as always, Happy Camping!

- John Sieglaff

After Packing your Camper, how are you getting them to camp with all their Luggage?

Hey, Camp Folks!

So you've finished packing the full list of your child's camp gear and luggage! Now how is your trunk getting to your child's camp this summer? There are a variety of options folks take for shipping camp trunks.

Maybe you’ll be driving your child to camp yourself in which case you can bring the footlocker to camp directly—no shipment necessary! Some summer camps offer a service in which they’ll come get your trunk and transport it for you. You can use other services for shipping camp trunks too such as Ship Camps or DHL that will take your footlocker and get it where you want it to go.

What are the Best Ways for Shipping Camp Trunks?

These avenues may not be available to you or may not be an affordable route. So how else will you handle your camp trunk shipping? Here are some excellent tips that we have for you on today's Blog post!

Reuse your Delivery Box from Everything Summer Camp

Our first piece of advice for new trunk owners is to hang onto your box from Everything Summer Camp if it remained in decent enough shape to reuse it. This is, obviously, the best box and means of packaging you can achieve. By repackaging your trunk in the same box it came in, all you’ll need to do is put a shipping label on it and take it to your local FedEx or UPS store.

Acquire your Box for Camp Trunk Shipping

If your box arrived too beat up to reuse, you’ll have to find another box you can use that’s big enough. Perhaps you’ve held onto other large boxes from a recent a purchase of a lawnmower or some other equally large item. Some people will even cut and tape a couple boxes together to craft a single box large enough to fit your camp trunk. But if you’d rather just go to the store, you can find large enough boxes and other packaging material with the Moving Supplies offered at hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes.

Leave Camp Trunk Shipping to the Experts

Of course, if you’d rather let somebody else take care of the packaging completely, you can just take your unboxed trunk to your local FedEx or UPS store and ask them to properly box it up themselves. They’ll get your footlocker to its final destination for you, but will charge you a good amount to do it. This option means no more struggling to load up the car or lugging heavy gear across campgrounds.

Bare Minimum Shipping Protection

At the very least, it’s important that you cover your trunk in some way so you avoid scuffs, scratches, or other similar, cosmetic damages. That’s where our Camp Trunk Shipping Protector Bag comes into the picture. Certainly not protective against severe damages the C&N Shipping Protector Bag will, however, keep your trunk from scuffs, scratches, and the like.

Lifetime Free Repair Warranty

Not that you want to have to take us up on our Free Lifetime Repair Warranty, but all other damages are covered under our warranty. As we like to say about our camp trunks, the trunk your camper takes to camp could be the trunk THEIR kid takes to camp!

Last Tip for Shipping

Before you send off your camper's trunk or duffle to Texas, New York, California, or wherever they're headed, here's one last tip to prepare the trunk contents for a smooth shipping journey: When shipping camp trunks, use packing materials like bubble wrap or clothing to cushion fragile items.

With the right camp trunk shipping service, you can be confident your camper’s gear and baggage will arrive safely and on time—giving you one less thing to worry about during all your prep. Be sure to live chat, email, or call us at 1-800-535-2057 for any questions you have. Thanks for reading, Everyone! And, as always, Happy Camping!

- John