Hey, Camp Fans!

The recommended camp outfitter for roughly 250 summer camps, we here at Everything Summer Camp are proud to work with every single one of them! And we love singing the praises of the many camps with whom we’ve developed a working relationship too. That’s why today I’m shining our camp spotlight on the magnificent Birch Trail Camp for Girls.
Situated along the eastern shore of Lake Pokegama among 430 acres of beautifully wooded northwestern Wisconsin, Birch Trail boasts one of the country’s leading wilderness trip programs. Birch Trail campers enjoy their summers under lush, tall trees, exploring the land and discovering all the animals that live there including the resident bald eagles!

Birch Trail Camp offers a plethora of incredible activities such as Archery, Ropes Course, Outdoor Cooking, Climbing, Horseback Riding, Wilderness Trips, Fishing, Field Hockey, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Yoga, Painting, Nature Crafts, Photography, Chorus, Drama, Jazz Dance, everything you could want to do on 4700 feet of lake front, and so much more!

Your girls are in good hands at Birch Trail Camp with a camper-to-staff ratio of 2.5 to 1. Accommodating, campers live in cabins complete with electric, bunk beds, shelves, as well as a table and chairs. And wash-houses are located nearby the cabins that offer hot water and showers.

More than just a beautiful, natural setting, Birch Trail maintains beautiful, rustic buildings across their campgrounds like the main lodge, large craft shop, main office and trip-supply house, a theater, health center, and more! But camp is about much more than fun, rustic facilities and a charming environment. Camp is about feeding young people’s confidence and independence.

Feed your daughter’s personal growth and check out Birch Trail Camp for your daughter. Just click here to visit their website. Be sure to check out their cute video posted below and, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Parents!

The camp season is upon us and Opening Day is a BIG day for campers, parents, and staff alike. This post is the first of three throughout July that will focus on the important parts of navigating opening day, visiting day, and closing day at camp. Summer camp experts Chris Thurber and Jon Malinowski break down the six most important elements of a successful Opening Day in their comprehensive guidebook, ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’:

Make a Travel Plan

You’ll want to add an additional hour or two to your travel time when headed to camp. You might need to stop along the way for a toothbrush, pillow, or any other items that you suddenly realize were left at home. Plan a relaxed trip. Stop for lunch if camp opens in the afternoon. If camp registration starts in the morning and you live far from camp, it might be wisest to make the trip the day before and spend the night nearby. A positive attitude is key on this trip as it sets the tone for your kid’s entire camp experience!

 

Complete Registration
Registration is a way for the camp to ensure that everyone who is scheduled to arrive has made it to camp. Punctuality is important for camp registration; early arrivals inevitably interfere with the last-minute touches the staff is making. Be ready to meet directors, check in, get assigned a cabin, see the medical staff if you need to, unpack your kid’s gear, and meet the staff. If you won’t be able to be with your kid at registration, you’ll need to complete some basic pieces of Opening Day by phone or mail.

Meet Your Child’s Leader
There are likely to be more than just one cabin leader who will be working closely with your kid this summer, but you’ll want to be sure to meet at least one of them. Open up to them about any physical, behavioral, emotional, and medical issues they should know about with your kid. It’s smart to ask the cabin leader questions about themselves too to give yourself a better idea of whose hands you’re leaving your child in. Ask questions about their own experience at camp, where they go to school, where they live. It’ll make you feel better.

Address Medical, Behavioral, and Emotional Concerns
Be sure to talk with the camp director and a representative of the medical staff about any concerns you have—especially medical conditions such as asthma, allergies, recent injuries, illnesses, physical disabilities, or any others. The decision about whether to share information is up to you, of course. However, it is hardly ever beneficial to leave the camp in the dark about significant issues. Had staff been informed about a problem or concern, they could have helped out right away instead of guessing at what a problem is.

Allocate Spending Money
Most camps do not allow campers to keep cash with them. Therefore, the camp may ask you to allocate spending money for your child to purchase items at the camp store, buy projects at the arts and crafts shop, pay for out-of-camp trips, and so on. Some camps include spending money in the registration fees; others ask you to make a deposit when you register. If the camp does not publish a suggested amount in their information packet, ask the director how much spending money is adequate. You’ll get back whatever is leftover at the end of the session.

Say Goodbye
It’s smart to ask your camper ahead of time how long they want to hang out together at camp before parents head home. Some kids want their parents to stick around, others are ready to push you out the door. How will you say good-bye? A short walk? A hug and a kiss? Just a hug? A high-five? Talking it over now will make your good-bye go more smoothly. Also, once you’ve said goodbye, you should make your resolved departure. Lingering or unexpectedly returning can increase your kid’s anxiety.

To get even more great information about these six elements of Opening Day, pick up your own copy of ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’. Enjoy Opening Day as best you can and tune in next Monday for tips about Visiting Days at camp. As always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Gamers!

Innovation and technology in the video game field have been sweeping the nation since they got their start in the 70’s. From Tetris to Mario, Donkey Kong to Madden NFL, the world of video games has boomed in popularity with advancing possibilities. A leading branch of entertainment, a lot of good can be said about video games and their proficiency in experiential learning—just check out this Ted Talk from gaming expert Jane McGonigal.

Ray Montgomery—founder of Choose Your Own Adventure books said, “experiential learning is the most powerful way for kids, or for anyone, to learn something. It’s not lecturing, it’s experiential—hands-on learning. To a great extent, that’s gaming.” Choose Your Own Adventure books give readers interactivity, multiple-choice, and multiple-endings to make reading less of an academic challenge and more like a game!

Most overnight camps don’t allow video games. But if games are a good thing, why aren’t they allowed at camp?

Summer camp experts Chris Thurber and Jon Malinowski tackle that subject in their informative guidebook, ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’. Kids feel good when they win in a game they like. It boosts self-esteem and gives off a sense of ‘mastery’. Video games give kids control. And control is extremely important to kids who live in a world mostly controlled by adults.

Kids are told where to go, what to do, and how to do it all day long, but not in a video game. There the decisions are up to them. In a video game, YOU shoot the attacking zombies, YOU discover the secret exit, YOU defeat the boss. Video games sharpen skills and strengthen enthusiasm.

Camp, however, is a time to get back to nature. Camp does all the same great stuff of boosting skills and enthusiasm—it just does it among natural settings with the chance to physically participate in activities (not just virtually). As ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’ puts it, “The independence and self-esteem you gain won’t be spoiled by electrical blackouts, computer glitches, or soda pop in the joystick.”

You’re sure to survive a few weeks or even a month or more without video games no matter how much you love them. So look forward to a little hiatus with them and get out and enjoy the natural surroundings that you’ll experience at summer camp and, as always, thanks for reading.

 

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

Summer camp’s extreme popularity among the youth has been growing since summer camp got its start in 1861. Nowadays over 12 million kids attend camp every year! With numbers like that, it’s not too surprising to discover that a lot of former summer campers are now famous celebrities! In fact, it’s likely that summer camp helped them find the path that led to their fame!

Ed Helms—best known for his role as Andy Bernard (a.k.a. The Nard-Dog) on the hit television program, ‘The Office’—was a summer camper himself back when he was a youngin’. Attending Camp Carolina, Ed spent his camp days exploring 220 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as 450,000 acres of the bordering Pisgah National Forest.

The youngest in his family with two older siblings, Ed had a fun childhood outside of summer camp as well. He had to grow up quickly, however, when he had open-heart surgery at just 14 years old! The procedure fortunately corrected a severe heart murmur that threatened young Ed’s life!

He attended The Westminster Schools alongside his buddy Brian Baumgartner. The two didn’t know it at the time but they would end up working together on ‘The Office’. Brian plays Kevin in the show!

When he went to Oberlin College, he started as a geology major but switched over to film theory and technology before long. And he graduated in 1996 and immediately began to establish a career in comedy and acting. He wrote with sketch comedy bands in New York City and studied improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade—a well known improvisational troupe.

He also found work as a trainee film editor at a post-production facility in New York City. There, he recorded some rough voice-overs that eventually brought him paid voice-over work. And this led to Ed finding his talent agent.

Work started coming in for Ed then and it wasn’t very long before he was brought on board as Andy Bernard in the mockumentary style show, ‘The Office’. The writers of the show created Andy—someone who Ed had a lot in common with. Like Andy, he is obsessed with a capella music, despite his proficiency with musical instruments such as guitar, banjo, piano, and even sitar.

Very into music, it’s no surprise to learn that Ed formed a band during his time at Oberlin College with his friends Ian Riggs and Jacob Tilove. The band still plays shows about once a year and put out their first album a few years ago.

Celebrated for his work, Ed was asked to deliver the convocation speech for Cornell University, Andrew Bernard’s alma mater! Summer camp got Ed going on the right path. What kind of path will camp put ahead of you? As always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Texans!

Whether you hail from Texas, attend camp, or go to school there, Texas pride knows no bounds. If you call the Lone Star State ‘home’, then take a look through our Lone Star Twin Sized Plush Blankets Collection. Quite possibly, the softest blankets you’ve ever felt, turn every nap under the Lone Star sky into a luxurious dream. Catch your Texas Zzzz’s with your pick from our excellent Lone Star Blanket Collection.

Cowboys
An essential bedding item for any cowboy, show your team pride with one of these great Dallas Cowboy blankets. Featuring the Cowboy’s Lone Star team logo on one and a victoriously raised helmet on the other, these blankets help you support your team.

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Longhorns
Playing their way to prominence in college football, Longhorns have a rich history of recognition including individual awards and inductions into the College Football Hall of Fame. Longhorn cattle being a crucial factor in the development of Texas, if you identify with Texas steers, then this is the blanket for you!

Aggies
Some nicknames just stick. ‘Aggie’ was, at one point, a common name across the country for a student attending a land-grant—or AGricultural—school anywhere across the country. Throughout history, the term was dropped everywhere except the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas—Texas A&M.

Texans
If you’re loyal to Texas but the Cowboys aren’t your team, jump over to the AFC side of the fence and wrap up with this luxurious Houston Texans blanket. Unafraid of civil war in the Lone Star state, the Texans are the youngest NFL franchise with an animosity toward their counterparts in Dallas. Support your team and stay warm with this blanket.

These blankets are perfect for a chilly night at summer camp and will become an essential piece of bedding keeping you warm in the dead of winter. Pick your favorite Lone Star Blanket and snuggle with unimaginable softness! As always, thanks for reading!

 

- John