Hey, History Buffs!

We enjoy learning about the histories of many different things on this Blog, but most of all, we like looking into the stories of all the different pieces of camping gear and other camp supplies that we offer on our online shop. And today, we’ll be looking into the history of First-Aid Kits.

First-Aid Kits are compact containers of medical supplies used to deliver treatment in times when a doctor cannot be reached. First-Aid supplies typically include disposable sterile gloves, an assortment of bandages and dressings, two sterile eye dressings, tweezers, and safety pins.

They’re extremely handy to have around, but there was a time when they didn’t exist.

Before First-Aid Kits were sold in the market, people had to fend for themselves when it came to traveling with the proper supplies that might be needed as well as knowing how to assist an injured person. The first thing people did when somebody was injured was to take off running in search of a doctor—assuming there was a doctor within a couple miles.

Back in 1888, a man named Robert Wood Johnson was traveling on a Colorado train moving west. Robert was an outgoing person and, eager for someone to talk to on his travels, he struck up a conversation with another passenger on the train. This passenger happened to be the chief surgeon of the Railway.

In this conversation, Robert learned that the railroad workers were injured rather frequently and that medical help was often too far away to provide timely help. It wasn’t uncommon for bystanders to make attempts at moving the injured person and ending up accidentally doing more harm than good in the process, the doctor told him.

This conversation gave Robert the idea to market containers that held the contents for emergency medical treatment. In the same year, Mr. Robert Johnson—founder of Johnson & Johnson made the first First-Aid Kit. These boxes saved a lot of lives, allowing for workers to be treated and stabilized on the spot until further medical attention could be reached.

Be sure to travel wisely with your own First-Aid Kit from Everything Summer Camp and always be prepared! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Footlocker Fans!

Designer Trunks are revolutionary to the world of footlocker trunks. Sporting awesome prints, you’ve never seen camp trunks like these before. Choose a trunk design and print option that speaks to you from Aztec Stripes to Galaxy Kittens and Emoji Faces—whatever you like best. We have over a hundred options and we’re adding to our collection all the time!

Dinosaur Escape
Remote and uncharted areas of the world still yield to rumors of beastly creatures thought to be extinct since the end of the Mesozoic Era. There’s no telling when or where these mysterious monsters may surprise you. Our Dinosaur Escape Designer Trunk should be enough to contain these beasts if you can somehow lure them inside.

Octopus Crate
People have tried to keep octopuses as pets before, but these beasts have exceptional problem-solving skills and often find a means of escape. Our Designer Trunks are constructed of heavy-duty birch plywood, but octopuses are known to pull off the impossible because of their loose and unstructured form.

WARNING: Octopus may or may not be inside by the time your trunk arrives.

HUD (Head Up Display) Control Panel
Whether you’re going across the galaxy or just off to summer camp, be sure to check power levels, fuel supply, and maintenance scans when you travel in this camp trunk! The Head Up Display Control Panel will keep you alerted about any system updates.

To give these trunks the cool graphic effect they boast, we create a dazzling high-definition print that gets UV-cured onto the DuraShell exterior of the trunk. Made with rugged C&N construction, click over to our main site and check out all our latest designs. There’s sure to be a Designer Trunk with your name written all over it. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

At Everything Summer Camp, we look far and wide to see what famous celebrities happen to also be former summer campers. So far, we’ve posted about 90 celebrities! When we discovered that Sara Gilbert had gone to camp, we knew we wanted to mention her on the Blog! She’s best know for her role as Darlene Conner on the very popular 90’s sitcom from ABC, ‘Roseanne’.

Sara attended Interlochen Center for the Arts which is famous for graduating top students in dance, theater, music, and art. Located in the beautiful northwestern region of lower Michigan, Sara spent her summer days soaking in the summer sun as it beat down on 1,200 acres, nestled between two lakes.

One day when she was six her older sister, Melissa, got a plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and she decided that day that she would be an actress. But she had talent all over the board. She developed a great interest in photography alongside her visual art. She was a skilled writer as well.

She landed some appearances in several made-for-TV-movies and she did a commercial for Kool-Aid as a kid. And by the time she was 13, she got the role of Darlene, the middle child in ‘Roseanne’. She became a crucial character in the show and Sara received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance. She even wrote one of the stories for an episode in the fourth season of the show.

The production of ‘Roseanne’ was happy to work around the schedule demanded by her education as she simultaneously continued her education, and eventually attending Yale University (from which she graduated in 1997 with honors, majoring in Art with an emphasis on Photography).

Since her days on ‘Roseanne’, she has gone on to make appearances on select episodes of shows like ‘The Simpsons’, ‘24’, ‘Law & Order: SVU’, ‘The Big Bang Theory’, and more. A wonderful actress, Sara had summer camp help show her her own potential. What will summer camp show you? And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

The Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing saw an excellent response with about 30 entries! That’s why we’re publishing each and every one right here on the Blog! Today is our last post to share the submissions we got from last year! We got a handful of entries that were too short to qualify, but it seemed like they had fun, so we thought we’d share their stories on today’s post.

First, is Robin H. who wrote about her time at Camp Longhorn.

“What are your summer plans? Each summer for 15 years the camp experience has been mine. I have had the honor of serving as a Camp Nurse in Maine, Missouri, and Texas. My children accompanied me and when they became aware of traditions and annual reunions with cabin mates, we returned to the same camp for their remaining years.
             One never knows when the common camp experience will surface. Upon entering college, my son wanted to join a certain club. Many of his peers had attended a certain camp and wondered if he was related to their ‘favorite’ Camp Nurse. My son felt this camp connectedness had some part in getting him accepted into this club.
             Things that you remember most are those that happen in your heart. Camp provides treasured experiences that one will carry for a lifetime. My children are grown now…Going to camp connects me with children of all ages… heartfelt joy that is never ending!!!”

And here’s the submission from Bob D. about his experience sending his daughter to Geneva Glen Camp:

“Geneva Glen Camp is a bit of a legend here. It’s only about an hour outside of the city but once you’re there it feels like you’re worlds away. I love that there’s not just kids from Colorado, but from all over the country and the world!
             Katie is always excited about spending weeks away from home: swimming, riding, shooting, hiking and hanging with new and old friends. In fact, she has signed letters to home with ‘Miss You (not really!)’
I have mixed emotions: I love for her to have the experiences but I miss her when she’s gone.
             What I don’t love: I seriously dread hiking up the hills of Geneva Glen with her trunk. Of course it’s big, heavy and has a clever zebra print. But, it’s a no-name trunk, purchased online and the single handle broke the first time I lugged it up the hill.
For camp next year, Katie is getting a trunk, with wheels!”

There’s no network like the summer camp network! I’m glad you guys have such positive camp connectedness. If anyone else is interested in one of these camps, you can check out Camp Longhorn and Geneva Glen Camp sometime soon! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Campers!

If you live around the same latitudinal line as we do here in the small, northwestern town of Boyd, Wisconsin or higher, then there’s a good chance that you’re developing some cabin fever. It happens to the best of us. This cold, snowy weather insists that you bundle up in order to get some fresh air and exercise.

That’s the best way to beat cabin fever.

The second-best way is to make some recreational fun for yourself indoors. We have games that can be used outside as well as inside. They make great indoor fun and give you entertaining games to focus on. Check out these awesome products from our Camp Games Department.

Roll-up Magnetic Darts
Darts meet hunting on this awesome Magnetic Roll-up Sports Board with Magnetic Darts. One side gives us the classic dart board that you see in recreational rooms and on the other side there’s a fun game called ‘Trophy Hunter’. Instructions are included to provide you with rules to lots of the traditional darts games as well as three variations for playing Trophy Hunter. With an easy magnetized surface, this game set also includes six magnetic darts in two different colors, a mesh travel bag, and a carabineer. Sharpen your hunting skills this summer and pull out a hat trick!

Backpack Table Tennis
Set up this net with adjustable posts on any smooth table top you can find. First player to 11 points wins! Choose who will serve to start the game. The ball can bounce on your own side once before going over the net or it can go straight over, but it has to land on your opponent’s side in order to have the potential to make a point. For each volley that is not successfully returned, a point is made. The net should fit most tables that reach 1.75” thick. This set includes two authentic table tennis paddles, three balls, a net, and a mesh travel bag. Game on!

Get your games for affordable prices right here at Everything Summer Camp to get some fun going indoors! They’re easy-to-use, easy-to-pack, and fun for all! Bring the games with you when you head off to summer camp where the fun never stops and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John