Hey, Camp Fans!

Today is Mount Vesuvius Day, commemorating the terrible tragedy that took place nearly 2000 years ago in a place near Naples, Italy. After sitting dormant for centuries, one of the most deadly volcanoes erupted on August 24, in the year 79 AD. Volcanic ash filled the sky, blocking out daylight and raining down six inches of ash every hour. By the end of the eruption, roughly 15 feet of ash had accumulated.

The eruption destroyed the two Roman cities Pompeii (as well as the lesser known Herculaneum). Pompeii always steals the spotlight because four-times more people lived in Pompeii and also because of the peculiar way in which it was destroyed.

The ash rained down in such a way that it preserved everything perfectly when it buried the city in large amounts of ash and solidified lava. There were many buildings, remnants of the city, and most of all PEOPLE who were well-preserved and ‘frozen’ in time, just the way they were during their sudden and scary deaths!

Herculaneum, on the other hand, saw the death of 5000 (compared to Pompeii’s 20,000) people who were buried under 60 feet of not just ash and volcanic materials, but lots of MUD too!

I leave you with these three facts concerning Mount Vesuvius and its violent wrath:

1.) The people in Pompeii and Herculaneum truly did not see their deaths coming. They were very surprised when they looked up to see the frightful sight of this mountain spitting molten rock and other volcanic emissions. They didn’t know better than to take heed from the series of massive earthquakes that had been shaking the region—as we now would know.

2.) We know that the terrible tragedy from 2000 years ago was not the first eruption from Mount Vesuvius and that it had previously erupted at least two other times. Recent excavations have pointed to the belief that it erupted almost another 2000 years before 79 AD. (1800 BC), again destroying large settlements of people in that region.

3.) Mount Vesuvius is still active! It last erupted in 1944 and experts say that it poses a threat to the 2 million people who now live in the area. According to them, it’s due for an eruption some time in the not-too-distant future.

If you happen to live in Naples or know someone there, tell them to beware warning earthquakes and hot lava! And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Summer Campers!

There are lots and lots of kids who attend summer camps every year. So many, in fact, you’re more likely to find adults who went to camp as kids than you are to find adults who DIDN’T. A crazy amount of celebrities are known to have spent a week or two at camp. It seems everywhere you turn in Hollywood there’s another former summer camper! 

Jonah Hill Feldstein—or, since you likely know him better as just, Jonah Hill—is an actor who has really shaped a strong career for himself. With passion for both writing and  acting, Jonah has loved to do both his whole life. He was encouraged by his supportive home life, school, and his days at Indian Head Summer Camp.

Spending those summer days in the splendor of the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, Indian Head Camp certainly played a role in encouraging Jonah that, when he grew up, he could be anything he wanted to be.

During his college days, Jonah started to write plays that he performed at a bar in New York City. When his plays started to develop a returning audience, he realized his calling in life was to be an actor. Friends with Dustin Hoffman's children, Jonah was introduced to Dustin, who then advised Jonah to audition for a role in a film called ‘I Heart Huckabees’. It ended up being Jonah’s film debut!

Since then, Jonah’s acting career has been on fire! He’s in lots of films, has appeared as a guest star, and done voice work in an episode of ‘The Simpsons’ in which he plays an immature prankster.

Starring alongside other funny, former summer campers such as Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, Jonah played a role in Judd Appatow’s ‘Funny People’. With wild success in comedies like ‘Superbad’ and ’21 Jump Street’ as well as his more serious roles in films like ‘Moneyball’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, Jonah has been nominated twice for Academy Awards and has nowhere to go but up.

Your future success could be similar to Jonah’s. Summer camp may just set you on the right path! As always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Flight Fans!

If there’s no greater thrill for you than taking off in a giant piece of metal that goes soaring through the sky, you’re not alone. Lots of people think flying is the greatest. Planes are undeniably awesome. In fact, the Blue Angels just performed a show on the Fourth of July weekend this summer—they’re a hit! That’s why we have National Aviation Day.

In celebration of this awesome holiday, I thought I’d give you these five little-known-facts involving the Wright Brothers—the fathers of Human Aviation.

1.) Did you know that inspiration and obsession with flight was instilled in the Wright Brothers from a young age in 1878 when their father gifted them with a flying model helicopter made out of cork, paper, bamboo, and powered by a rubber band. The boys were hooked.

2.) In an issue of The New York Times from 1903, the paper published their prediction that building a flying machine would not be possible for another 1 to 10 million years. Later in 1903, the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.
3.) The Wright Brothers flew together just once in 1910. Scared to lose his sons to flying accidents, Milton Wright (the Wright father) made his sons promise to never fly together. Milton, however, allowed them to fly together one beautiful day in May. He too, at 82 years old, went for a ride with his son Orville piloting. As they gained elevation, Milton’s said to have shouted, “Higher, Orville, higher!”

4.) The Wright Flyer from 1903 flew for one day and never again. Four flights were made in the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903. Before taking the Flyer up for one last flight for the day, a heavy wind tossed the aircraft around, flipping it over several times. The damage done to their aircraft was irreparable and it was never flown again.

5.) Neil Armstrong, like the Wright family was from Ohio. Standing on the Wright shoulders of human aviation, Armstrong took a piece of wood from the original 1903 Wright Flyer’s left propeller to the moon with him, honoring Orville and Wilbur who helped to make space travel possible.

As #2 insinuates, outlook was not good in the early 1900s concerning human aviation. We had little to no idea what we were talking about. One thing’s for sure—we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without the Wright Brothers and their dedication/obsession with conquering the ability of flight.

Enjoy the video below depicting many early, failing attempts of flight. Happy Aviation Day and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Looking for a great summer camp for your daughter? Well, it just so happens I have an amazing all girls summer camp to brag about. Everything Summer Camp is more-than-happy to present Camp Riverview for girls with whom we have the pleasure of working.

Located in Mentone, Alabama, Riverview Campgrounds are nestled away off the Desoto Parkway. Bearing lovely surroundings like Lookout Mountain, the clear, green waters of Little River, and the awe-inspiring rock formations of Mentone, Riverview is surrounded by beautiful, privately-owned woodlands. It’s a fine place for a young girl to spend her summer.

They offer a plethora of great activities like Horseback Riding, Swimming, Ropes Course, Tennis, Canoeing, Golf, Basketball, Gymnastics, Dance, Archery, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Living Skills, Rope Swing, Volleyball, Soccer, Riflery, Knitting, Drama, Counselors in Training, Climbing Tower, River Water Blob, Cheerleading, Flag Twirling, Riverview Refinement, Voice and Music, and so much more!
Much more than just a beautiful campground with lots of things to do, Camp Riverview has been a camp rich with traditions since 1926. Enjoy summer night programs like Camper Talent Night, Cabin Fun Night, or Riverview Olympics during the day.

Staying in modest, but beautiful, rustic cabins, equipped with all the modern conveniences that make camp comfortable, Riverview campers start out in ‘Deer Hollow’ and, as they get older, they eventually make their way to ‘The Reservation’, and after that, ‘Arapaho’, a spacious lodge with a very large lobby for senior campers.
Riverview is a fantastic girls camp where each and every camper is made to feel welcome as part of the Riverview community and is also given the opportunity to discover some things out about themselves that may never have learned without the summer camp experience.

For an excellent summer camp experience yourself, check out Camp Riverview for yourself and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Always finding the coolest products to bring in from awesome vendors like Woolrich, Columbia, JanSport, and many others, we just can’t help ourselves when we see great products. Check out these three Lockers 101 products from Three Cheers for Girls, now available here at Everything Summer Camp!

Magnetic Bin 
Keep all your little things tidy and together with this wire mesh Magnetic Storage Bin. Hang it on the outside of your footlocker at summer camp and in your locker when school starts up again. A great means of organization, this attractive wire mesh Bin is a girl’s best friend! It’s 4.75″ long by 3.5″ tall, and 2″ deep.

                                                                                     Dots, Stars & Stripes Trio Set
Go with the most popular Lockers 101 set—the Dots, Stars & Stripes Trio Set. First, it has a magnetic dry erase board including a marker and three magnets. Second, there’s a glitter pin board that includes three pushpins for decorative pinning on your locker interior. And third, you’ll love the view with the polka dot-framed mirror. A great set for any camper and/or student, the Dots, Stars & Stripes Trio brings ease and usefulness to your locker life.

My Busy Life Set
As its popularity will tell you, the Dots, Stars & Stripes Trio is GREAT! But if you really like to take life in the fast lane, then the My Busy Life Set from Lockers 101 is the way to go for your fast-paced lifestyle! Fill all 160 pages of the Busy Life hard cover journal and keep your meetings and plans organized with the 24 sheet monthly desk planner. You’ll also find hundreds of sticky notes, flags, sheets of stickers, a page marker, and a ball point pen in this awesome Set to help keep your busy schedule organized and manageable! Packaged inside a durable and reusable storage tray, they really thought of everything at Lockers 101 for this Set! Organize your hectic lifestyle with My Busy Life Set for your organizational convenience.

Accessorize your trunks and school lockers with these practical and convenient products from Lockers 101 and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John