Hey, Camp Fans!

We can’t help ourselves, here at Everything Summer Camp, but to bring on new camping gear when we see awesome, new products from cool suppliers like Columbia, High Sierra, Kelty, and Wenzel. We love broadening our selection and giving you more options for your camp endeavors! If you need a reliable sleeping bag for your little sprout, then you’ve come to the right place!

Introducing the Wenzel Sprout Youth Sleeping Bag! A great bag for a great price, the Sprout is guaranteed to keep you comfortable throughout the night! With a temperature rating of 40°—perfectly comfortable on a summer night—you’ll stay snug as a bug when you’re wrapped up in this durable, polyester cocoon.

This bag is 27” x 66” and packs 2.5 lbs. of Insul-Therm™ fill on the inside—an excellent selection for your sleeping satisfaction at summer camp. But this Bag doesn’t have to stay in the attic all year until your next summer camp stay or camp outing!

Wenzel’s Sprout Youth Bag can still be a great bag during fall weather too. It may be too chilly OUTside for this Sleeping Bag to give you the proper protection, but the Sprout makes a practical accompaniment for a fun, sleepover at your friend’s house or for family visits.

The perfect bedding for staying overnight at somebody else’s house, The Wenzel Sprout isn’t too outdoorsy, so it’s sure to not keep you too warm overnight. Great in the winter and spring as well, you couldn’t ask for a better price for a Sleeping Bag that you can provide you with a proper night of sleep throughout the year!

Get your Wenzel Sprout Youth Sleeping Bag from us right here at Everything Summer Camp for just $24.99! And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

A lot can be said for summer camps all across the nation—or ones in our own, virtual backyard. Not far from Everything Summer Camp headquarters, let me tell you about an amazing and magical place located in Mellen, WI, on Lake Galilee, amidst our state’s beautiful Northwoods. Camp Eagle Ridge provides fun, friends, personal attention from counselors, and excellent facilities including awesome log cabins in an absolutely, inspiring setting.

Eagle Ridge cabins are all set up with electricity, fans, and modern bathrooms with private showers and areas for changing. However, much more than a beautiful place with accommodating facilities, Camp Eagle Ridge is a welcoming community that gives new campers a warm feeling of being home-away-from-home and definitely a part of the Eagle Ridge family!

Met every day with fun activities, Eagle Ridge campers are given the opportunities to sharpen their skills and broaden their experiences from a wide selection of available sports and other activities. Eagle Ridge offers a variety of water sports including Sailing, Kayaking, and Canoeing. You can also play Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, La Crosse, Rugby, Wrestling, Kickball, and more!

Campers also get the chance to practice their skills in a plethora of artistic and physical activities as well, such as Visual Art, Dance, Improv, Archery, Gardening, Outdoor Living Skills, Rockwall Climbing, and more!

Founded in 1994, Camp Eagle Ridge has been guiding kids for 21 years with a focus on leadership, decision-making, and helping kids realize the best they can do. Everyone—ages 7 to 17, boys AND girls from all over the country and all over the world are welcome to have an unforgettable time for one to seven weeks—depending on how long you’re comfortable with staying.

Come back for our Blog post on Wednesday where I talk about Noah and Ella who enjoyed their summer at Eagle Ridge Find your love for Camp Eagle Ridge and check it out for yourself sometime! And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Enthusiasts!

So many people have gone to camp and we get really excited, here at Everything Summer Camp, when we find out about famous or successful people who are also former summer campers. That’s why I’ve posted about nearly 60 celebrities who were once summer campers, just like you. Certainly don’t ‘curb your enthusiasm’ for Mr. Larry David—a summer camper himself, once upon a time.

That’s right! The man responsible for the classic ‘show about nothing’, went to camp when he was little. Full name: Lawrence Gene David—Larry was born and raised in Brooklyn. Long before the days of Seinfeld, when Larry was 13, he attended All-American Camp in New York—the same time (and age) of a fellow, contemporary comedian named Richard Lewis.

Finding it hard to get along with particular people all throughout life, summer camp taught Larry at a young age that even though you don’t see eye-to-eye with somebody, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get along. It took them both a long time to set their troubles aside, but they are friendly to another now as mature, grown men.

After his camp days, he enrolled in Sheepshead Bay High School. And after high school, he went to the University of Maryland, graduating with a Bachelor’s in History. Before he developed a talent for comedic scriptwriting, he did a lot of stuff between his college graduation and finding work as a writer.

In the meantime he did stand-up; during his time as a stand-up comic, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and found work as a store clerk, a limo driver, a television repairman, and more around midtown Manhattan. It was there, living in the Manhattan Plaza—across the hall, lived Kenny Kramer, the man who sparked the idea for the legendary sitcom character Cosmo Kramer from ‘Seinfeld’.

After his ‘odd jobs’, Larry found work as a writer for NBC’s Saturday Night Live. He only wrote there for about a year and, in that time, only one sketch of his was actually shown! After quitting the show in the middle of the season, Larry wasn’t the type to fret about his situation. Instead, he teamed up with comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and the two of them made one of the most acclaimed sitcoms ever made.

Continuing his work after ‘Seinfeld’, Larry wrote and starred in his own television series, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ which has been met with a similar applause and fandom.

So, enjoy your time at summer camp and see what it has to teach you! As always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ drawing here at Everything Summer Camp has been brought in nearly 30 entries. And so, we’re happy 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 Logan T.’s camp story about an unfortunate turn of events during her summer camp stay at Camp Netimus:
“I woke up hearing the beep of my watch. I slowly opened my eyes and remembered where I was, camp. I sat up in the bottom bunk and looked out at the half-exposed window. The beautiful sunrise was at its peak with a golden shimmer. I smiled, I just couldn’t help myself. I was surprised to hear a small groan. I turned to see Taylor in the bunk behind me rubbing her eye. “Good morning!” I whispered excitedly. Taylor yawned and asked quietly, “What time is it?” I glanced down at my watch and slipped a grin. “It’s 6:47,” I whispered. Taylor let out one last groan and fell back asleep. I took the time I had left before everyone else had to wake up to look around. I turned my attention towards Laura’s bed. She had came back late last night from peeling potatoes for International night. Today is her birthday. She is turning 22 years old. All the balloons we had put on her bed were now on the floor. I had so much excitement within me. Soon, the wake up bell rang and everyone got up. I was the first one done getting dressed and brushing my teeth. As soon as the flag bell rang I rushed out the door with my other cabin-mates. We gathered around the flag pole for attendance. Afterwards, we all went to breakfast. The mealtime was over quickly and I had to return to my cabin clean-up. Many of my cabin-mates were excited for the
Crayola trip today. I didn’t want to go so I will stay here at camp. I heard the class bell ring. I knew what that meant as I ran to my camping and hiking class. It turned out I was the only one there. “So…what are we going to do today?” I asked the counselors. “I don’t know. Are there any classes you have that you want to join now to get a head start?” answered one of the counselors. I thought for a second and responded, “ I could join my Ropes class.” They said that it was alright so I ran over quickly to get my harness and helmet on. Once I joined the little class they had, we went over instructions. We were going on a new obstacle today. They said I was lucky because in my real Ropes class I could go first since I would already know what to do. I grinned at the thought. Everything was going my way today. I rushed through 2nd and 3rd period classes. Once it was time for flag again we all met down at the pavilion. Once flag was over it was time for lunch. After some munching on grilled cheese it was time for rest hour. I walked up the path to get to the cabin grove. Once I found cabin 7 I went in. We were celebrating Laura’s birthday. The song ‘22’ was playing. Lucy, Taylor, Ashley, and I were dancing. While my other counselor, Arthie, was plucking her armpit hairs. We don’t know why she does it. Anyways, Lucy kept on screaming, “WHEN YOU’RE 22!” Laura kept on laughing. I was sitting down making her a birthday card. When the walkie-talkie make a sound, Arthie told me I was needed at the office. I wasn’t expecting anything, so what could I be needed for? I left the cabin and walked towards the office when I saw my mom and the dogs. I ran to hug them. The fact something bad happened slipped my mind. I looked at her face as her expression changed. I immediately got worried. It was obvious now something bad had happened. We went over to the fire ring and sat on a log bench. My mom simply said, “Grandpa Ron is dead. He committed suicide. He shot himself with a shotgun.” The tears never stopped. I felt as if I had been shot. I must have cried forever trying to make out words, but crying instead. Eventually my mom was crying too. We were just hugging and crying together. I had to stop crying enough in order to go get my clothes from my cabin. Thankfully, I didn’t have to tell them what happened. The office told them. I was immediately embraced by a huge group hug. I felt a tiny bit of happiness from that hug. Once all my stuff was packed and I was in the car I cried again. The week I was gone attending my grandpa’s funeral flew in tears. I returned back at camp to find myself in another group hug. It was at that moment where I knew that Camp Netimus was my home. I felt safe, loved, and happy there. If that’s not a home, then I don’t know what is.”

Thank you so much for your powerful submission, Logan! Our deepest regards to you and your family! An entry like this one just goes to show how outside events carry on regardless of summer camp. There’s no planning for the loss of loved ones.

But it was awesome to hear what an amazing community there is at Camp Netimus to have made Logan feel so supported and so at home. Check out Camp Netimus for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

So your kid hated the camp you loved as a kid? You’re heartbroken now, right? Of course you are. What parent doesn’t want their son or daughter to love everything they did as a kid? Well, almost everything. Eh-hem. In most cases, we moms and dads want to replicate the excitement, the learning, and the laughter we experienced back in the day. So what gives, kiddo?

Believe it or not, children all over the world don’t like some of the things their parents did at the same tender age. Why? Here’s the breakdown:

• Changes. The camp may have changed. Like any organization, camps evolve. Some get better with time; others get worse. Who knows—from a camper point of view—what direction yours took over the past 25 years?
• Dreams. You have romanticized the experience. I promise. You remember the s’mores, the skit nights, and the sunny days. But do you also remember the homesickness, the wedgies, and the rainy days?
• Quirks. Your child is not you. Many children resemble their parents in mannerisms, food preferences, and intelligence. Fewer resemble their parents in personality, activity preferences, and social style. The camp that fit your interests and developmental level may not fit your child. At all. Maybe ever. And that’s OK.
• Apples. One bad apple can spoil the bushel. The camp may have improved, your recollection may be accurate, and your child may have been a perfect fit. But…last summer may also have been ruined by a rare cruel cabin mate or (less rare) undertrained counselor.

So now what? These and other reasons for a misfit may make sense out of mystery, but you still need options for next summer. Here are a few good ones:

• Breathe. Take a deep breath. Respect the individuality of your child. Honor the ways in which he or she is different from you. It’s exciting to think about the fascinating directions his or her life will take.
• See. Keep an open mind. Maybe your child will return to the camp of your childhood and love it next summer; maybe he or she will attend a different camp. Heck, maybe camp is not even in the cards.
• Invite. Know the research. Children who feel forced to go to camp are much more likely to experience intense homesickness than those who feel a sense of agency. Involve your child in all of the big and small decisions about how he or she spends the summer.
• Learn. Engage your child in a series of low-key, candid conversation about his or her experience. You know they didn’t like it, but now is the time to find out more. Ask: “What were some of the best things about camp?” and “What were some of the worst things about camp?” and “What might make a camp experience better next summer?”
• Listen. Listen carefully, without defending your camp. The key to finding the truth about last summer is to not contradict your child. His or her experience was their reality. Respect that by simply listening. Do not offer explanations, solutions, or—worse yet—minimizing the intensity of their dislike with phrases such as, “It couldn’t have been that bad” or “I know Camp X and I’m sure it wasn’t like that.”

If camp is still under consideration, use the two-column technique and list (with your child) the pros and cons of camp, in general. Then, talk about whether your camp is worth a second try. If there was something specific and solvable, call the camp director (with your child) and see what can be done to remediate the problem your child has identified.

If camp is not under consideration, table it for now. Use a different piece of paper and list some other options. Music lessons? Parks and rec programs? Sports clinics? Volunteer work? Art classes? Your openness to some non-camp choices will actually cause your child to reconsider a summary dismissal of camp. If you space out a series of conversations about the summer, you will further depressurize the topic and open your son or daughter’s mind up to different possibilities. And yes, that includes the possibility of returning to the camp you enjoyed so much as a child.

Whatever you and your child decide—together—about next summer, you can be assured that he or she will get a lot out of the respect you’ve shown; the partnership you’ve formed; the freedom you’ve granted. Lay out the menu of options, but don’t force-feed any one choice or it’s likely to backfire. True growth involves self-actualization. And whether that happens at your camp is less important than whether it happens at all.

Enjoy the summer!

Dr. Christopher Thurber

Doctors Chris Thurber and Jon Malinowski are the authors of ‘The Summer Camp Handbook’, an excellent source of expert advice about choosing camps, packing essential camp gear, and emotionally preparing your child (as well as yourself) for the approaching summer camp season. Check it out for yourself right here. Thanks for reading.