Hey, Fashion Aficionados!

Fashion is a big deal to a lot of campers. That’s why you can always find a plethora of pretty patterns and cool designs in all of our camping gear, and other camp supplies. Not surprisingly, an extremely famous fashion designer was once a summer camper like all of you. In fact, Ralph Lauren thought camp was so nice, he went there twice (or to two different camps anyway which are both now closed).

He attended Camp Massad, located among the magical, “Lauren”tian mountains in Pennsylvania. After a summer stay there, he continued his personal growth at Camp Roosevelt in Monticello, New York in the Catskill Mountains on Lake Sackett. At these places, Ralph took his first steps into a larger and more independent world.

Like his summer camp experiences, Ralph went to two different high schools as well: the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy as well as DeWitt Clinton High School, from which he graduated in 1957. Ralph grew up admiring role models like John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Stewart so it had always been a dream of his to develop the type of persona and reputation that a movie star might have.

His fashion sense was budding early—in his high school days—when he started selling neckties to his classmates and other students. He went on to study business at Baruch College. With only a few business classes under his belt, Ralph started his own business to reprise his production of neckties.

Making minor tweaks to the skinny, plain neckties of the day, Ralph made wide ties that popped with color. His simple, new take on fashion swept Bloomingdale’s and other retailers of the time. In his first year of business, he sold $500,000 in ties! This business eventually grew into the Ralph Lauren Corporation clothing company which is now a globally recognized multi-billion-dollar venture.

Since his wild success, Ralph has noted that in his Clinton High yearbook, he put down ‘millionaire’ as one of his life goals. Last year, his wealth was estimated to be $8 billion, making him the 155th richest person the world over.

Summer camp certainly helped Ralph to see that some risks are healthy to take and, sometimes, will lead to endless success! What will summer camp teach you? As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

The Everything Summer Camp ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing saw an excellent response with nearly 30 entries! That’s why we’re publishing each and every one right here on the Blog! Today I’ve got two submissions ready to go from Greyson C. as well as Nathan G.! They’re entries are both on the shorter side, but you can tell there wasn’t any shortage of fun at the camps they attended.

Here’s what Greyson had to say about his stay at Rock Eagle 4-H Center:
“I went to camp for the first time this year and had a great time! It was the first time I had left my parents and my mom was sad, but trying not to cry. My dad was sad, too, but not like my mom. He said go have fun and see you in a few days. Once we had my new gear packed on the bus, I decided to hop on, too. I was very excited to be going and be away from my parents for a week! We waited a long time before we got to leave and it was a long drive, but we finally made it. It was awesome! We got to swim, canoe, and hike. I also got to do archery and learned how to really clean up our cabin. It was a competition between tribes and at the end of the week, our tribe won! We were pumped! We stayed up late and got up early so when I finally got back home all I wanted to do was eat and go to bed. Of course, I had to hug my mom first. It was the best week ever!”

And here’s the entry from Nathan about the summer at
“Intro from Jason Sebell, camp director ‘Last night we had a sudden surprise in our closing campfire. A young man from Ithaca, NY tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could say something to the entire camp. This is what he said’:

‘So this is my first summer here, and when I got here I really didn’t know anyone. I had never even been here for a visit. I wasn’t sure that I would make any friends. Then I met this kid on the bus and we sat together and I knew immediately that we were going to be friends. Once I got to camp I was amazed at how many people were nice to me, and how comfortable I felt to just be me. I get to be me here. This place really surprised me. This was the best 7 weeks of my life. I just want to say thank you to everyone for helping make this my home.’”

Greyson, it’s great to hear that you had such an awesome camp stay! It’s amazing how summer camp makes everything more fun—even cleaning your cabin! And thank you, Nathan, for your touching submission! Summer camp truly is a home away from home! If anyone else is interested in one of these camps, you can check out Rock Eagle 4-H Center for yourself as well as Camp Kenwood (which includes Evergreen along with it!). As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Lexicon Lovers!

Boast your blooming vocabularies with us today as it’s National Thesaurus Day. What better way to flex your lexis than by referring to the handiest reference book since the Dictionary? Peter Mark Roget published the first modern Thesaurus in 1852, 46 years after Noah Webster came out with his Dictionary.

Peter Roget—as in ‘Roget’s Thesaurus’—was born this day 236 years ago in 1779. His painstaking publication of wordlists categorized by synonyms has proven extremely useful throughout the years. Never having been out of print, it’s still in largely popular use today. I have one sitting on my desk, in fact, as I currently write this Blog post.

Maybe not everyone owns their own Thesaurus, but the folks at Dicitonary.com felt compelled to share a free thesaurus online as well (Thesaurus.com). Extremely helpful, visit Dictionary/Thesaurus.com to strengthen and assist your own writing!

There’s never just one way to convey a story, an idea, or even just a single sentence. Showing a knack for finding the precise words that perfectly convey your thoughts and stories is what good writing is all about. Using a Thesaurus is a great way to expand your vocabulary and sharpen your writing skills.

Just as Native American tribes all spoke different languages and celebrated different cultures all across the land, summer camps have different names for their amenities and activities. Luckily there are lots of words that have similar meanings all throughout our language. Here’s some fun with synonyms and words associated with summer camp:

GEAR, n.
Lots of people call the stuff that they bring along camping with them their ‘gear’. While they may be more popular in other fields or activities, the following words would work just as well…You could say:
accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, kit, supplies, tackle, and trappings

CABIN, n.
Summer camps all use their own different names for their campers’ sleeping quarters. You might hear ‘cabin’ or you might here any one of the following terms:
bunks, dorms, huts, lodges, teepees, tents, and yurts

INDEPENDENCE, n.
Spending time away from home, away from your parents, is a big step toward becoming a more independent person. You can express the growth promoted by summer camp with any of these words:
autonomy, freedom, individualism, maturity, personal growth, self-betterment, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency

FRIEND, n.
They all have different names (and nicknames that you might have given them), but here are some other words you can use to refer to a friend:
acquaintance, ally, buddy, chum, comrade, companion, boon companion, pal, partner, and playmate

Using synonyms to substitute other words makes writing (and reading) great fun—for instance, you could say:

“My summer camp stay is sure to be fun.”

Or you could say:

“My summer camp trip is bound to be a blast!”

Or you could say:

“My summer camp excursion is likely to be a rollicking good time!”

Next time you’re writing about your camp experiences, whether it’s in a letter home, a personal journal/diary, a submission to Everything Summer Camp, or a school project, use a Thesaurus to boost your vocabulary and turn your words into a masterpiece.

- John

fun, n. amusement, diversion, entertainment, hobby, jollity, recreation, romp, tomfoolery

Hey, Camp Fans!

The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing here at Everything Summer Camp has brought in an awesome response of about 30 entries! That’s why we’re eager to publish every single one of them here on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our online store! Today’s post features Kayla N.’s camp entry about her favorite part about her summer camp stay at
“Saturday. At Camp Kohahna, Saturday was the big cleanup day. Not just sweeping the floors, make our beds and neatening up the clothesline. We had to do EVERYTHING! Our trunk had to be cleaned, our clothes had to be perfectly folded, our hair brush couldn’t have a single hair in it and so much more! Now maybe I’m making it sound so hard to do but. IT. WAS. SO. FUN. Yeah we were cleaning but our entire cabin was together! Saturday also was the only day we could listen to music!

‘Cleanup will be done in ten minutes’ yelled Kathleen, the Director of the Camp, on her megaphone.

‘Ahhh’ I squealed loudly, running around the cabin crazily trying to do the finishing touches on my bed. I still had to sweep the porch!

I grab the broom from the inside of the cabin and race outside. SLAM! I slammed the door behind me. Whoops!

‘A spider will land on your bed’ yelled Jules. That was a cabin inside joke. Let’s just say black widows are scary enough outside but the inside by your bed. Yikes.

‘Sorry’ I yelled, still in a panic as I sweep the shoes off the porch crazily. I was in a really big rush!

I finally finish. I take a deep breath. I walk back in the cabin as all my other cabin mates were finishing up their jobs. Lucy was double checking everyone’s square corners on their bed. Annabel was doing a quick third sweep around the cabin. Jules was double checking the indoor clothesline. Olivia was fixing the outdoor clothesline, and Katie was double checking everything. We were all doing this while singing along to pop music.

‘One more minute everyone. After cleanup everyone meet me at North Star’ yelled Kathleen.

‘I wonder why we have to meet at Northstar’ I think aloud… The only times we meet at North Star is meeting for the evening activity but obviously it wasn’t evening yet…

‘TIMES UP’ bellowed Kathleen, ‘ please come to North Star for a quick meeting about the rest of the day’.

‘Come on girls’ Lici said, trying to get us out of the cabin. Lici was one of our counselors.
Everyone walks outside and heads down to North Star. We get there just in time because Kathleen was about to speak.

‘And a hush fell over the crowd’ she said, ‘HUSH’ everyone replied. Then Kathleen began to talk.

‘Ok there is a lot of good news and a tiny bit of bad news. So I’ll start with the bad news’ Kathleen said nicely.

‘We will be having dinner about an hour late’. Everyone groaned. ‘But the good news is that I will be telling you right now what our evening activity will be’.

Everyone cheered in reply. I could tell people were getting super excited… But of course they were getting excited! Normally we have to wait till dinner to hear the evening activity!

‘Drumroll please’… ‘Your evening activity tonight will be… LIP SYNC’!!!

Everybody screams happily! Lip sync is so so much fun! We get to plan a cabin lip sync and a dance and perform it on stage! I was so EXCITED!

‘Ok girls. Settle down. Ok the thing is since our dinner time is later tonight you will practice before dinner, then we will perform right after. Ok now instead of going to beach period you guys will pick your song and practice your dance. Ok? Great now go have fun.’

Everybody races to their cabin, humming songs, and doing small dance moves excitedly.

When I get back to the cabin the cabin was already talking about what song we should do.

‘How about What makes you Beautiful by One Direction’ mentioned Jules while everyone was talking at once.

‘Girls, girls, girls’ said Lici laughing at how hyper, crazy and excited we were, ‘chill’!!

‘Yeah, girls, let’s not talk all at once. Okay Jules said What makes you Beautiful. Any other suggestions’ asked Anne. Anne was our other counselor.

‘How about Don’t Stop Believing’ said Lucy.

Lici played the song on her laptop as I dance around the cabin seeing how the choreography would go.

‘I know’ said Lici excitedly, ‘how about Classic by MKTO’.

‘Yeah’ I say jumping up and down excitedly, ‘my friends jazz dance was to that song! I love that song!!!!!!!!!!!!! We totally have to do it’ I say squealing! That song was a really fun song.

‘Looks like Kaya’s excited’ Katie laughed, ‘I do know that song and it is good and very fun. Lici do you have it on your laptop’ asked Katie.

‘Yeah I do’ said Lici enthusiastically. She plays the song once. Twice.

Everyone dances around singing and dancing to the song. Then in the middle of the third time we were listening to it Lici paused the music.

‘Okay girls’ said Anne, ‘lets vote’. ‘What do you think Olivia’ asked Anne kindly.

‘For sure Classic’ she said singing the chorus happily.

‘Annabel’ asked Lici.

‘Either Classic or Don’t Stop Believing’ she said sounding unsure.

‘How about you Kaya’ asked Anne…..

‘Hmmm…’ I thought aloud, ‘Classic or What makes you Beautiful’ I say.

‘What do you think Lucy’ asked Lici.

‘Classic’ said Lucy, nodding her head.

‘Jules’ asked Anne.

‘What makes you Beautiful.’

Okay, I thought. I know Classic is going to win for sure. I better start thinking of a dance. I could tell most of my cabin mates were thinking of the same thing.

‘Okay Katie. Last but not least. What is your vote’ asked Lici, doing a small drumroll with her fingers.

‘I think… Classic’ Katie announces happily.

‘Okay. It’s 11:20 that took us a half an hour to figure out the song’ laughed Anne. ‘Let’s go outside to the back of the cabin to do the dance.’

We only got through barely a minute of the song when the bell rang throughout the camp loudly.

‘That’s lunch girls’ said Lici…..

‘WHAT’ I say, stunned.

‘What are we going to do about the rest of the dance’ Katie said freaking out as much as I was.

‘Don’t worry about it I bet we will have more time to practice’ said Anne, sounding unsure.

‘Okay’ I say nervously.

After lunch we had rest hour. I never sleep during rest hour. I can’t! Even if I try! So even though we couldn’t get off our beds during rest hour I sat up in my bed running through the part of the dance we did practice. I felt sort of confident after that but we still didn’t finish the dance!

When the bell rang for the end of rest hour Kathleen’s voice spoke loudly on the megaphone.

‘You guys will have thirty minutes to practice your lip sync and dance’, she said calmly ‘then go to your normal morning activities.’

I took a deep breath, relieved.

So the entire cabin went behind the cabin and practiced well. During practice Kathleen went to each cabin giving them snacks so we won’t be too hungry because our late dinner.

I loved the dance and when MKTO rapped Olivia, Jules and I go closer down stage, put on sunglasses and lip synced the rap. I was so so so excited!

When the bell rang for our activities I went up to the Great House for dance. During dance we practiced a dance we were going to perform next week.

Great. I think, just another dance to remember. But both dances were actually not to hard so I tried not to worry about it.

Right after dance I went to camp crafts. In camp crafts we build fires and learn how to survive in the wild. It’s actually really fun and surprisingly I’m good at it!

We had cabin time after the activities. We just hung out around the cabin practicing our dance, talking and complaining how hungry we were. Finally the bell rang for dinner!!!!!!! Yay!

That night for dinner we had pasta. But I was too excited to eat.

After dinner we went back to the cabin and decide on what we were going to where. We finally decided on summer tank tops and denim shorts. Also the rappers had sunglasses. We changed and listened to our song one more time! I was so excited! When we went back to the Great House we sat in front of the stage. Also for some reason Lici went to the Great House early.

When we got to the Great House I didn’t see Lici. Hmm. I thought, that’s weird.

Then a voice comes from behind the curtains of the stage, everyone quiets down. Then two people in black gowns come out on stage. Right away I could tell they were counselors Jo and Doodle. Jo was the Water Director at camp and Doodle was the waterskiing counselor. But of course that’s not how they introduced themselves.

‘Hello ladies and more ladies, we will be the host of this Kohahna lip sync’ said Doodle in a French accent.

‘Yes, yes we are’ said Jo. I could tell she was trying not to laugh.

‘Well. I think it’s time to introduce the judges.’

First Lici came out on stage. That makes sense, I thought! She’s the drama counselor! She would be a perfect judge. Lici was the judge on appropriateness. When Lici came on stage and walked through the small path through the crowd to sit in her seat she was wearing black leggings, a white top and a blue, sparkly blazer. She talked in a super high pitched, sassy voice.

Second Muffin came on stage. Muffin was the ceramics counselor, she was judging the costumes. When she came out on stage and walked to her seat she was wearing a teal sequined tight, strapless dress with a black sweater over it. She was also wearing really cute sunglasses. Muffin spoke in a really sassy voice. It was really funny!

Last but not least Anna came out on stage. Anna was the trips counselor, she came out dressed as phantom of the opera! She was judging darkness! It was hilarious!!!

The judges gave us points out of five. My cabin, was the 5th cabin to go on stage. All the lip syncs and dances were so awesome!

‘Next up… Windward’ yelled Jo.

We got up and ran behind the stage. We got in position. The music started. Then we danced our hearts out!!

When the song ended we were all grinning from ear to ear! We felt really good! We walked back to our spots in the audience then look at the judges table.

First Lici went, ‘I’m going to give you a…Three and half.’

I look at her in dismay. WHAT?! I thought. What was inappropriate!

‘I loved the dance but the song was not one hundred percent appropriate’ Lici said wincing.

‘Well I loved your costumes! They were so cute! I’m going to give you a four’ said Muffin.

I smile. Thank you Muffin, I think. I looked at Olivia who was next to me and I could tell she was thinking the same thing.

After Muffin, Anna immediately started talking.

‘It didn’t have enough darkness’ she said darkly, ‘but I’ll give it a three and a half.’

I sigh. Oh well I thought. We danced our hearts out and had a lot of fun doing it! Later on the last lip sync came on. Cabin Trails end the counselors in training. They started in the audience. The music started. The song was Survivor by Destiny’s Child. The dance was so good. When the music stopped I clapped and cheered loudly. So did everyone else. Then people started chanting.

‘ENCORE, ENCORE, ENCORE then the music played again as they did their dance a second time. It was just so cool!

Each judge either gave them a five or a four and a half!

‘The winner is, drumroll please’……… ‘Trails End’!! Yelled the judges all at once! Everybody screamed happily and cheered them on!

The the two host came on stage.

‘Congratulations to the C.T’s’ Doodle said smiling and clapping. ‘But now it’s time for a….’

‘DANCE PARTY’ yelled both of the host at the same time! Everybody cheered. The first song that came on was Cheerleader by Omi and we all had a great time singing and dancing crazily.

That night I was super tired out but so so happy. The cabin had a great time and I could just tell we became closer.

This year at Camp Kohahna was probably my favorite year! The girls in the cabin of Windward were such great people and I hope to see them next year. I’m so so so grateful for Camp Kohahna!”

Thanks again for your submission, Kayla! It’s great to hear that you are had such a good time this summer and made some good friends! I hope you have a great time next year at Kohahna. To anyone else interested in Camp Kohahna (or Leelanau), you can check it out right here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Kids!

Here at Everything Summer Camp we’re always trying to come up with different accessories that will help to maximize the use of another product. We’ve done well in the past with products like the LidMate Organizer that allows you to use a spot in your footlocker trunk that is otherwise inaccessible or the Wheel Away System that makes for easy, rolling transportation of your camp trunk as opposed to hauling it with a moving buddy.

We now have more accessories that will provide you with even more use out of your footlocker trunk. Unlike the LidMate Organizer and the Wheel Away System, these new accessories offer more entertainment and fun than they do any kind of practical use. Get our new, magnetic Game Toppers to go on top of your camp trunk.

Easily used as a sit-down bench or a step-on ladder—a nightstand for your bedside or a tabletop for games, get your camp trunk as well as your game boards right here. Pull these magnetic sheets out. Printed with checkerboards, Tic-Tac-Toe squares, Poker, and more, you’ll have tons of fun making friends and having laughs over these fun, simple games.

These Game Toppers allow for hours on top of hours of fun, playing Checkers or Chess, Tic-Tac-Toe, Poker, and other classic games with all the friends you’ll make at summer camp. Spend lazy, rainy days with fun, strategy- based games and some good competition. Have a great time right on your camp trunk when you bring these games to camp!

Our Game Toppers are easy-to-use, easy-to-pack, and fun for all. Get your own fun Game Toppers for affordable prices right here at Everything Summer Camp and slap one on top of your camp trunk to get some fun going at camp. As always, thanks for reading!

- John