Hey, Camp Fans!

Our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest went over pretty well last summer and we saw an even bigger response this year, so it goes without saying that we’re very excited to post these stories to share with all our readers right here on the Blog. Everyone who submitted receives a $15 gift certificate and seven lucky winners will receive larger prizes of $25, $50, and the grand prize of $100. This week we’ll be announcing the first four winners of the $25 gift certificates—and we’re starting right now! Today’s winner is….

Emily B.!

Congratulations, Emily! You’re our first $25 prize winner! Emily spent some fun summer days at Camp Merrie-Woode this year and who made unbreakable bonds with her campmates. Read all about it in her excellent entry:

“I started going to camp with my best friend and I loved it so much. But six years later I decided to go to a 3-week stay. I was scared at first but we had the best counselor ever. It was the last night of camp and all the squire cabins went to Sports field to play a game of manhunt but we were too loud and Lindsay came and told us we had to go back for cabinets. We were pretty bummed but a counselor said because it was her last night she would let us sleep in a different cabin, so we all brought over our mattress pads and sleeping bags and went into the cabin Winken. We were all so excited that we didn’t get much sleep that night but the bonds that we made that year at camp last forever.”

Thanks again for your submission, Emily. Glad you enjoyed your extended camp stay and bonded with your cabin mates! For anyone else interested in Camp Merrie-Woode, you can check it out for yourself sometime. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

Summer camp has only increased in popularity since its well-received beginnings in 1861. It spread across the country like wildfire and kids of all different upbringings were brought together to make summer memories of a lifetime. As camp popularity grew, the amount of summer camp alumni grew too. There are so many former summer campers around nowadays and some went on to become famous.

We all know Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. What’s that? The name doesn’t ring a bell? Maybe you know her better as Lady Gaga.

Anyway, before she was known by her professional persona, Stefani attended the YMCA Camp Hi-Rock in Massachusetts. Located on a thousand acres in the Berkshire Mountains, Hi-Rock campers enjoy a home away from home, set aside from the rest of the world with heavy foliage and their crystal clear, private lake of 90 acres!

Back in her camp days, Stefani was just as interested in the theater as she was in music. Following her interest into her high school days, she appeared in high school plays and when she attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she studied at CAP21 to further her training in theater.

She also had a lifelong passion for music. She started playing the piano when she was four, she wrote her first ballad for piano when she was thirteen, and by the time she was fourteen, she was performing her music at local open mic nights.

Still interested in music in her college days, Stefani formed a band with friends from school—the Stefani Germanotta Band. All their shows eventually brought her some attention and she found herself working with her music producer—Rob Fusari. She traveled to New Jersey every day to record songs she had written and collaborate on new material.

Mr. Fusari explains the origin of Stefani’s stage name saying, “Every day, when Stef came to the studio, instead of saying hello, I would start singing ‘Radio Ga Ga’” (the song from the British rock band of the 70’s—Queen). When sending her trademark song name in a text one day, Rob’s phone autocorrected ‘Radio’ to ‘Lady’ and he sent the text without noticing. Predictably, Stefani responded, “That’s it! Don’t ever call me Stefani again.”

Stefa—I mean…Lady Gaga—rose to fame nearly overnight after her first album, The Fame, and she’s only continued to make music that increases her fan following. Lady Gaga found a path of wild success through her passion for self expression. What path will you find? You can check out Camp Hi-Rock for yourself sometime and, as always, thanks for reading. And check out the video below of the song that inspired Ms. Gaga’s moniker.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

At Everything Summer Camp, we’re always putting our latest ideas to the test and broadcasting the news about ourselves, but we know it’s good to give others a chance in the spotlight too. That’s why we always take the time to spotlight the great summer camps with whom we’ve developed solid relationships. Today, we’re shining our spotlight on Camp Mystic in Texas. This all-girls private Christian summer camp is located among the native cypress, pecan, and live oak trees in the beautiful hill country of west-central Texas along the banks of the Guadalupe River. The young Mystic campers are provided with wholesome Christian values in an atmosphere that inspires development in personal qualities and self-esteem.

An abundance of fun activities await each Camp Mystic camper! They offer Archery, Arts & Crafts, Basketball, Beauty Inside and Out, Campcraft, Canoeing and Kayaking, Cheerleading, Chorus, Cooking, Dance, Diving, Drama, Drawing, Fishing, Golf, Guitar, Horseback Riding, Hunter Safety, Journalism, Lacrosse, Landsports, Riflery, Snorkeling, Soccer, Swimming, Yoga, and plenty more.

The scenic campgrounds at Camp Mystic are decorated with unobtrusive and attractive facilities—one of which (the historical Rec Hall) has been standing since the camp’s beginnings in 1927—including cabins that are comfortable and airy and have their own indoor bathrooms. There’s also the ‘Heaven Can Wait’ infirmary, the delicious Harrison Hall for mealtimes, as well as a camp office.

But Camp Mystic is about more than just fun times and gorgeous landscapes. This camp gives girls a clearer image of themselves—away from their established reputation back home. Girls at Camp Mystic undergo a transformative experience that takes a young child and sets her on a subtle road to maturity and self-actualization.

A fantastic all girls summer camp for your daughter to attend, check out Camp Mystic for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Back-to-School Preppers!

It’s been a fun-filled, coming-or-going three months of summer. But as August comes to an end, it’s time to change gears and get yourself and your kids organized and ready for going back to school. There’s a lot that goes into getting ready for the return of the school year, so we thought we’d help by giving you just a few little tips that you can put into action before the school season is here!

Sleep Schedule
This is a big one! From helping you remember to boosting your confidence, a good night’s sleep does so much for us and greatly affects our demeanor throughout the following day. A night of sleep can literally make or break the next day for you. Learn a great deal more about the importance of sound sleep in a previous Blog post I shared on January 3—the Festival of Sleep—right here.

Leftover Labels
If you ordered our Clothing Name Labels, Stick-Ons, or any of our other labeling alternatives and you still have some leftover, put it to use on your school clothes, rain coats, snowpants, shoes, and boots. And of course, you can order more if you need right here. Labeled school clothes and school supplies are a surefire way to avoid any confusion in the classroom!

Consider your Comeback
It’s happened to everyone. People ask how your summer was and you respond with a flat, resounding “Fun.” Instead of always giving a dud response, try scanning your summer before school starts for fun stories that you can share with school friends. It’ll make for much better conversation and might allow your friend a chance to tell a fun story from their summer too—something that never would have happened with a, “it was fun” kind of response.

Head into your upcoming school year with confidence and organization with these helpful tips and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey Sale Seekers!

Last month I announced 60 new items to our Closeouts Department at Everything Summer Camp. These items may have been discontinued or they may be overstocked product, but in any case, it means major savings for great camping gear and camp supplies, along with awesome accessories that are excellent for back-to-school or around the home!
From backpacks to raingear to water bottles and Color War apparel, our Closeouts Department is chock full of products that are sure to aid you in your child’s return to the school year. Get awesome back-to-school supplies or get a jump on next year’s camp purchases with these amazing discounts of 25% to 70% off.

These items have landed in our Closeouts Department because we either overestimated the popularity of certain products or we simply bought too much. Neither the quality nor the style of these products plays a role concerning its placement in Closeouts.

I gave a detailed list of our Closeout Products in my original Closeouts post last month, but—keep in mind—it may not be accurate anymore by the time you read this. I’ll just link to it here instead of repeating the list on today’s post. Containing brand names like Columbia, Melissa & Doug, and Speedo, you can’t go wrong!

This isn’t really a sale so much as it is a simple reminder of our cheap, cheap Closeouts Section with new products and awesome discounts. Because it isn’t really a sale, there isn’t any start or end date to the absurd discounts on these products. But don’t dally! Supply is limited on these items and they’re expected to go quick!

You can check out the detailed list of products from last month’s post, but even that didn’t mention them ALL! Better to just go check out the Department for yourself! Enjoy shopping our Closeouts Department and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John