Happy Father’s Day, Everyone!

While this day seems like the obvious counterpart to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day was not as welcome when the idea of the day was first presented. While Mother’s Day was graciously accepted by all mothers, many fathers rejected a day for them, displeased with its celebration of a domesticated male figure being gifted with flowers and other frilly things.

As I had stated in my post last month on Mother’s Day, “Dads are great too, but I think the bond and connection between mother and child is first and foremost.” I stand by this statement and I think most fathers would too which is what’s so cool about Dear ol’ Dad—he knows his place.

The beginnings of Father’s Day were started by Ms. Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane in an attempt to create an equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. One of six kids, Sonora and her siblings lost their mother early on and were raised by their father, so this day was very important to her. In 1910, she had received enough support that a statewide celebration of Father’s Day was recognized.

The day’s celebration spread after that and in six years, the day was even honored by President Wilson, as he unfurled a flag in Spokane with the push of a button in Washington D.C. But it wasn’t until nearly 15 years later that each state government was urged by President Calvin Coolidge to observe Father’s Day despite many men’s irritation.

The holiday still had one more challenge to hurdle before it reached its current recognition. Father’s Day had pretty much plateaued in popularity on a national level with many dads responding unfavorably. A movement that lasted from the 20’s to the 30’s tried to get rid of Mother’s Day AND Father’s Day entirely in order to just make one, unified, Parents’ Day.

Parents’ Day was fought for with the rationale that both parents should be respected and admired equally. The Great Depression, however, stepped in around the same time and put an end to hopes for a Parents’ Day. Retailers did everything they could to promote “manly” gifts like greeting cards, neckties, hats, socks, golf clubs, and other sports gear.

With practical gifts like these, fathers across the country eventually came around with a day made to honor them. And so, in 1972 (nearly 60 years after Mother’s Day was made official), President Richard Nixon finally made Father’s Day a federal holiday.

So may I say to all fathers and to those who love him, happy Father’s Day! And thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Jugglers!

Today is World Juggling Day! If you’re reading this and you’re asking yourself why there’s a World Juggling Day, then you’re asking the wrong question! Your question instead should be: Why WOULDN’T there be World Juggling Day? See, much like the Yo-Yo which was recently discussed on this Blog, the art of juggling was developed back in ancient times! Anything that’s survived that long deserves its own day!

Even older than the Yo-Yo, juggling is documented in Ancient Egyptian paintings on tomb walls that date back as far as 4,000 years! Juggling is a skill that’s been passed down from generation to generation! So far, it’s made it four millennia! Who knows how long it will last?!

It seems to go through popularity booms like it did in the early 1900s. At this time juggling was performed in the circus and here and there on the street corners. But that all changed when the days of Vaudeville came along. Vaudeville performers would juggle on stage for an audience with impressive acts along with other types of entertainment like bicycle rim rolling and complex balancing tricks.

The days of Vaudeville, however, did not last forever. They didn’t even make it to the ‘20’s! At this time, juggling’s popularity plummeted. It wasn’t until 1947 that it was mildly resurrected, but even then it took another 20 years before a man named Hovey Burgess started teaching people to juggle. He taught everyone he met!

I for one know how to juggle as my brother taught me and I know that there’s at least a couple other skilled individuals that work here at Everything Summer Camp. So for World Juggling Day, we’re going to hold our own little juggling competition to show off our skills of this ancient art.

Thanks for reading, juggling fans and don’t forget to check out our mad skills!

- John

Hey, Campers!

If you had been born 30 years ago, you would have grown up watching Joey Lawrence on TV—despite the fact that he was only born 37 years ago. So actually, you would have grown up watching Joey Lawrence grow up on TV. Joey’s been starring and making television appearances since he was five years old!

He was born Joseph Lawrence Mignogna, Jr. to Donna, a personnel manager, and Joseph Sr., an insurance broker. When Joey was a kid, his family’s last name was changed simply to Lawrence. Joey grew up with two younger brothers, Matthew and Andrew—both of whom became actors as well.

Just like you, Joey went to summer camp when he was your age. He attended Southampton Summer Day Camp in Pennsylvania which was founded only three years before Joey was born. What’s impressive is that even before his days at summer camp, Joey had already appeared a television multiple times!

That’s right! He first appeared when he was about five years old in an old Cracker Jack commercial from the 80’s. Right around the same time, he appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and performed “Give My Regards to Broadway”. This was just the tip of the iceberg!

Joey went on to guest star in TV shows here and there until he landed the role of Joey Donovan on NBC’s “Gimme a Break!” from 1983. “Gimme a Break!” lasted Joey until he was 11 years old. The following year after the show ended he provided the voice of Oliver from Disney’s “Oliver & Company”.

After another few years, Joey co-starred in the hit TV show Blossom. He played yet another Joey, Joey Russo—(whoa). He played Joey Russo for five years until the show came to an end when he was 19. After that, he played in a show called Brotherly Love which actually starred him along with his real life brothers!

Joey hasn’t stopped there either! He’s been in another show and guest starred in a number of others. In other words, the man stays busy! How busy can you be?

Hey Camp Fans!

Welcome again to another Throwback Thursday Blog post in which we link back to a past post that we feel is so valuable we want to get this information in front of you again. Today’s Throwback post goes back about a year ago to a post written by Dr. Thurber including pointers about odds and ends packing.

This post gives you great pointers on, not just what to pack, but how to pack for camp. And most of all not to pack FOR your kids, but rather ALONG with them. It’s all right here on Everything Summer Camp’s Blog post from May 28 of last year.

- John

Hey, Campers!

Last week I talked about the importance of making friends at summer camp. As I briefly mentioned in that post, making friends at camp may sound daunting or even a little scary to some of us who may be on the shier side. That’s why I’d like to take some time today, to talk about how easy it is to make friends at camp. It’s so easy you might not even realize it when it’s happening!

Making friends at camp will truly be one of the most effortless parts of your summer camp stay—even if you’re a little (or extremely) shy. One of the best things to keep in mind is that no one is going to push you away if you give them a friendly hello. Introducing yourself to the people around you is a great way to start making friends.

I know I was rather shy during my days at summer camp, but even so, it would have been pretty much impossible not to make any friends while I was there. You start talking to your cabin mates and before you know it, you know everyone’s name.

The topic may concern you now, but that’s just your anticipation getting in your head. The truth is that, once you’re there at camp, you won’t even think about it. You’ll naturally start talking to other kids and become fast friends with them.

Your cabin mates are the people with whom you’ll spend most of your time. Every morning, every night, every meal, and all throughout, these people will be there to talk to, laugh with, and share the summer camp experience. In fact, while you’re making all your friends at camp, you may even make the grand discovery that you’re not as shy as you think you are.

Next week, I’ll talk about other discoveries you might make about yourself at camp and why camp is able to fuel these discoveries.

Thanks for reading, Camp Fans.

- John