Hey, Camp Fans!

The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing here at Everything Summer Camp brought in almost 30 entries! What a great response—which is exactly why we’re eager to publish each one right 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 Ella B.’s camp story about her physical and spiritual summer experience at

“Step after step. I pause to wipe the sweat off my brow using the back of my hand. I can hear my heart pounding, feel the blood coursing through my veins. I am so close to the summit, I can feel it. But standing between me and the top of Mt. Canon is a huge, almost perfectly vertical slab of rock, it’s cold and cruel voice mocking me. I take a deep breath and start to scale the boulder in front of me, gasping as my feet suddenly lose their grip and I plummet to the ground. I latch on to a tree on the way down, my white-knuckled hand rapidly losing hold. I use all of my strength to pull myself onto a shelf in the cliff. Once I catch my breath and the immediate threat is gone, I smile, adrenaline running through me like a drug. I scramble back on to the mountain and continue up the path. As soon as I climb to my feet, I see the summit, the sweet resting place I was looking for. I rush over, and collapse. Grinning, I reach into my backpack and grab my water bottle and throw a handful of trail mix into my mouth. The view is worth it. Not a soul in sight, with only the sky and the sweet smell of pine riding across the breeze to keep you company. The clouds lazily drift across the sky like a boat in the sea. I feel so small and so big at the same time. I close my eyes and let all my worries melt away.

‘Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.’ – John Green”

Thanks again for your submission, Ella! It’s great to hear that you had such an active camp stay that provided you with a cool connection to the great outdoors! To anyone else interested in Camp Arcadia, you can check it out right here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

There are so many great camps to talk about—Everything Summer Camp is happy to call your attention to them, one-by-one on our Summer Camp Spotlight posts. Today, our spotlight is on a residential camp for boys in Tuxedo, North Carolina—nestled in a peaceful mountaintop cove since 1969 sits the brother camp of Camp Greystone: Falling Creek Camp.

Having purchased 545 acres in 1968, a man named Jim Miller opened for Falling Creek Camp’s first season the following summer with 110 boys for a single, seven-week session. The camp has seen a few different owners in its nearly 50 years of existence. However, despite new owners and different faces every summer, Falling Creek is steeped in their traditions and history.

Campers are shown an awesome summer of sports like Archery, Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Rifelry, Soccer, and Tennis as well as outdoor adventures where you’ll go Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Backpacking, and take Canoe Trips. There’s fun in the water too and, of course, there’s lots of classic camp activities like Arts & Crafts, Pottery, Woodcrafts, and more.

Let me give you the virtual tour of Falling Creek Camp to show you what excellent, accommodating facilities await you for extraordinary summer experiences: First of all, Falling Creek boasts a multi-purpose gym where you can shoot hoops on the basketball court, kick goals for indoor soccer, or watch a performance on the stage!Outside, you’ll find five tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, athletic fields, and an archery/riflery range. Climb 50 feet to the top of the Falling Creek Climbing Tower or go for a serious challenge on the 200 ft., granite face at Gilbert’s Rock! They also have a studio for pottery as well as arts and crafts time, along with a blacksmithing and woodworking shop.

And for a comfortable camp stay, Falling Creek provides 39 open-air, screened cabins with electricity and private baths/showers. Boys will be boys, and develop a sense of identity while becoming part of the camp community at Falling Creek Camp. Check out this camp for your kid and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing here at Everything Summer Camp has brought in about 30 entries! It was a great response! That’s why we’re eager to publish each one right here on the Blog! After our seven lucky winners, everyone else who submitted received a $15 gift certificate to our online store—so really everyone who submitted was a winner! Today’s post features Sophie M.’s camp entry about her productive and educational summer stay at Sjolunden Swedish Language Village:“Through Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota, I have had the privilege to attend their Swedish Immersion Camp in Bemidji, Minnesota for six years. This past year was my first year as a high school credit student, which means I earned high school credit for my language learning. With 180 hours of instruction in Swedish, I passed with an A! After five years of being a two-week camper, I was finally a “big kid”. Sjolunden is always the most special part of my year, but this first year filled with learning, fun, and lifelong friends will always stand out in my mind. This camp is a passion, a love, and my second home. It will always be a part of me and my childhood. This camp means the world to me, and I can’t wait to be a counselor in four years! My friends from all around the world and the counselors from all around the world make it all worth it. I love my summer camp, and can’t wait to go back next year!”

Thanks again for your submission, Sophie! It’s great to hear that you are so driven to learn! I hope you have a great time next year at Sjolunden. To anyone else interested in Sjolunden Swedish Language Village, you can check it out right here. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Youthful Readers!

I write about a lot of different topics on this Blog, but today I’m talking about YOU! Today is Young Readers Day. The preferred method of relaxing for many people, reading is incredibly healthy and beneficial to your brain! All across the nation, grade school teachers encourage their students to read wherein they’ll find knowledge, success, and happiness.

Everyone knows that reading has its benefits. But what exactly are they? How does reading help sharpen our minds? Take a look at these four points about the health that reading provides.

Habitual reading makes you smarter.
Not only does it offer you information and knowledge, but just the act of reading gives your brain the workout it needs to improve the daily functions it carries out every day. Just the same way that lifting weights builds your muscles, reading is like pumping iron for your brain!

Reading fiction increases empathy.
When you allow yourself to get lost in a work of fiction—stories that are not based in reality—you are sharpening your ability to relate to others. In fictional stories, we read about the feelings and problems that “other people” (the characters in the story) are going through. Caring about others transforms you into a more understanding, sensible person.

Reading reduces stress.
Ever wonder why it feels so good to snuggle up with a good book? It’s relaxing, isn’t it? It certainly is. In fact, it’s so relaxing that it can actually drop your stress levels by 68% (according to a study conducted by Sussex University researchers in 2009). Need to step back after a long day? Curb your stress by picking up a book!

Reading a physical book before bed aids sleep.
E-readers and other screen devices are convenient in certain ways, but they don’t help tire your eyes the same way a physical book will. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, looking at a screen before bed actually deprives you of sleep. Habitually reading a real book before bed, however, creates a nightly routine that tells your body to get ready—it’s time to fall asleep soon.

So celebrate Young Readers Day by grabbing a good book and forming a healthy reading habit today. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

We’re always finding the best products to bring in from awesome companies like Mint, Wenzel, MpowerD, and many others. We just can’t help ourselves when we see innovative and high-quality products such as these. Check out the slew of products we’ve brought on board since the end of this season’s camp sessions.

First up, we have the Luci Aura Color Changing Inflatable Solar Lantern from MpowerD. Virtually indestructible and easy-to-pack, this Lantern’s perfect for summer camp. It brightens an area of 150 square feet at 50 Lumens and makes for a great toy! Staying bright for up to six hours, this Lantern charges in eight.

We recently expanded our selection from Lockers 101 with their Magnetic Storage Bin, the Dots, Stars, & Stripes Locker Trio, as well as the My Busy Life Set.

You can get a closer look at the Wenzel Sprout Youth Sleeping Bag on another previous Blog post as well. Read about its practical year-round uses and affordable price on this Blog post from last month.

Also made recently available are the Mint Seersucker Laundry Bag and Toiletry Pouch. Bring hip fashion and style to your dirty camp clothes and toiletries with these cool bags from Mint.

Now you can find the canvas-covered reservoir 16 oz. Water Bottle from Tote+Able! Unlike any other rigid bottle, this 16 oz. canvas ‘Bottle’ rolls up or folds to create ease for storage or backpacking.

From Buckhead Betties, we offer the Hanging Accessory Bag for convenient storage at your camp bunk. We also have the Kids Lounge Bottoms—just as cute as they are comfortable—as well as a classy Buckhead Betties Laundry Bag.

Lastly, take a look at our selection of ‘Trunk Decorating’ Decals. Having expanded this department with excellent vinyl decals from great brand names like Wall Pops and RoomMates, you can now find creative, reusable Message Board Decals, Dry Erase Decals, Peel & Stick Mirrors, Glitter Decals, Alphabet Letters, and more!

Get ready for next year’s camp season right NOW and shop our awesome new products today! Also, be sure to tune in next Tuesday for a big product announcement that you won’t want to miss! And as always, thanks for reading!

- John