Hey, Axe Fanatics!

Axemanship, also known as lumberjack sports, is a competitive sport that may be offered as an activity at your summer camp. It involves an assortment of skills and techniques which are related to forestry and logging. In fact, as you may have guessed, this sport originated from the logging industry and slowly transformed into a pastime for enjoyment. One of the leading names in Axemanship isn’t a man at all. Martha King is a world-famous, record-setting champion in a number of events.

Martha is reputed to be one of the best female axemen in the world; born to a family of loggers in 1971, she had a good start, competing in her first axemanship event at just 16! Her expertise is attributed to more than just her upraising, though. Her tireless work ethic and dedication to logging is bolstered by the countless hours she’s spent training in the gym and the woods. 

Setting multiple world records for speed as well as accuracy in a number of different events, Martha excels in events including the standing block chop, the single buck saw, and the springboard chop. She’s also won championships in lumberjack sports and is considered one of the best in the world.

With a completion time of 29.43 seconds the world record for standing block chop belongs to her! She’s also set records in the single buck saw and the springboard chop. In addition, she’s won several championships in lumberjack sports, including the Stihl Timbersports Series (the most prestigious competition in the sport). She’s been inducted into New England ‘Logger's Hall of Fame’. And she’s been inducted into the ‘the U.S. National Axe Throwing Federation' Hall of Fame! That’s a lot!

A true legend in the sport, Martha’s accomplishments have been inspirational for countless young women to try their hand at lumberjack sports. Is Axemanship something you have an interest in for the coming summer camp season? Confirm that it’s an activity your camp offers and have an axe-swinging good time! Thanks for reading, Camp Folks! And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John

Hey, Light Lovers!

With the music of crickets and a million other night creatures filling the air, it’s always an exciting feeling to tiptoe your way through the thick darkness—your flashlight in hand to break the black, its steady, bright beam illuminating your path. Flashlights are essential gear for your summer camp stay, other adventures, and any emergency situation. Let’s take a good look at the Torch 1000 LED Flashlight from the affordable camping gear brand Gear Up. 

Casting a powerful, thousand-lumen punch of pale white, LED light, the Torch provides excellent illumination that’s powered by three AAA batteries. No worries that this flashlight will suddenly die out on you—the battery life of this flashlight will last you for full days—even on high mode. The included user manual comes with this flashlight gives a maximum of 15 hours, but we found that, with Duracell batteries, it lasted just shy of five-and-a-half days (or 130 hours) high and weeks on low.

One of the features of the Gear Up Torch Flashlight that really stands out is its telescoping head that offers the option to focus or widen the beam. Extend the head to narrow and sharpen the light or pull it back inward to broaden it and cover larger areas. The options are handy in different situations, like spotting something in the distance, or lighting the path ahead of you.

Built with rugged construction, this camping flashlight is armored in a durable aluminum enclosure so it can withstand tough conditions and rough treatment. It can take a number of spills, including ones of a ten-foot drop! Shockproof as well as waterproof, this flashlight is perfect for camp. It holds comfortably in your hand and is small enough to sit in most pockets.

If you’re unsure how much use your camper will get out of their outdoor equipment when their camp stay is over, Gear Up products are a great choice—made not just to be effective and durable, but very affordable as well. It’s an excellent option for anyone looking to complete your camper’s packing list without breaking the bank.

Also perfect for setting that eerie atmosphere for telling ghost stories around the campfire and entertaining friends with shadow puppets, the Torch 1000 is definitely the Flashlight for you during your camp stay. Check this awesome Flashlight out for yourself by clicking right here (batteries sold separately). Enjoy crossing this one off your summer camp’s packing list and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

Of course every item on your packing list is important to bring along when you’re packing for camp—that’s why they’re on the list. But there are certain items commonly forgotten or overlooked that you definitely don’t want to forget! Being sure to pack essential items on your packing list will help ensure that your camper has a safe and enjoyable summer camp stay.

Here are the top six most important items to bring to camp:

#6 – Comfort items
You’ll need to replenish all the energy you can throughout your nights at summer camp which means making sure you remain comfortable. Remember to pack cozy bedding, a warm blanket, a fan, and a stuffed animal for camp.

#5 – Extra socks
Of course you’re going to send your camper with some cotton socks—who isn’t? But make sure they have a couple pair of nice wool socks as well! Some camps even specify to include wool. Playing around in the outdoors, there’s no telling when you camper might need to change out their socks for a fresh pair.

#4 – Toiletries
Floss, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap… These are all essential items that you’ll want to make sure you have along when it’s time to head out for summer camp. They will help you remain hygienic so you’re not offensive to others.

#3 – Water Bottle
Hydration is crucial during the summer season—and even more so when you’re engaging in particularly physical activities. You definitely want to be able to bring water on your person throughout all the different events of your jam-packed camp days. Make sure you bring your own reusable water bottle.

#2 – Medication
This one doesn’t require much explanation. And, of all the items on this list, it’s the only one that’s an absolute necessity (potentially for your survival). It may have been the #1 item, except I reserved that for…

#1 – Camp Trunk
No, I’m not just saying that because we’re Everything Summer Camp—the home of C&N Footlockers. I’m placing this as the most important item that you bring to camp because not only does it provide safekeeping for all your other gear, but it’s your own personal dresser space throughout your camp stay.

Keep track on your packing list of what you have packed. Double-check and then triple-check  so you can be sure you have these six most important pieces of camping gear. Also, make sure to go over all the items as you pack with your child to make sure they have everything they need and know where to find it.

Help your camper get the most out of their summer camp experience by making sure they're packed with all the right stuff. As always, thanks for reading. And, Happy Camping! 

 

- John

Hi! Pleased to meet you. I’m John.

The first day of camp is always an exciting scene! When campers get to their cabin, it’s normal for there to be some shyness and nerves about meeting new people. Starting conversations with other kids can feel a bit difficult to begin with, but before campers know it, they’re sharing a laugh or two and learning about one another.

Initiating friendships is often referred to as ‘Breaking the Ice’. We even sell the Buddy Talk Icebreaker Game that helps get new friends talking. But why? How did this term get so intertwined with introductions and making friends?

Well, the origin of the phrase dates back to the 1600s. In those days, it was common for ships that were navigating through Arctic regions to get stuck in the thick ice chunks of the cold ocean waters. Whenever a ship got stuck, crews of other nearby ships would sometimes come to their aid, breaking up the ice to free a trapped ship.  

Literally breaking the ice proved to be a very difficult job—and dangerous too. It required a great, coordinated effort among all the ships involved. The rescue ships, using sheer force combined with strategic maneuvering—would break the ice apart and forge a path for the trapped ship to make its escape. Freeing a ship typically took many hours or possibly days to achieve, but in such cold and merciless conditions it was a matter life and death.

In time, the phrase ‘break the ice’ developed a connotation; people started applying it to any situation that called for overcoming a barrier and establishing a connection. The phrase is now mostly used in reference to initiating a conversation in social situations. Check out our Buddy Talk Icebreaker Game as well as our collection of cards, dice, and plenty of other fun games to make breaking the ice easy at camp!

 

Thanks for reading, Camp Folks. And, as always, Happy Camping!

 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks!

With his crazy sense of humor, solid determination, and wild eccentricities, Matt is our Sales Director who forges our great relationships with summer camps all over the country. He’s played a vital role in helping kids get their camp trunks and camping gear on time, the growth of Everything Summer Camp, and the overall shaping of our company for almost 18 years.

Today we’re going to find out what Matt would do if he got to go to summer camp right now as an adult. He couldn’t settle on a single activity so he gave me his top three. Check out his list for camp activities right here:

Sailing
Matt’s never been sailing before, but he knows he definitely enjoy it. “I like the water,” he told me. Also, ever since a friend of Matt’s got certified for sailing and traveled to the Dominican, it really set the hook in Matt. “I think it’d be a fun hobby to learn!”

Trapshooting
Shooting trap has been a passion of Matt’s since he was pretty young—12, he thinks. It’s been a while since he’s had the time and opportunity to return to the sport. He even inherited his own clay pigeon throwing machine from his dad. Despite that, it’s been 10 years since he tried his hand. Last he saw, his skill level was pretty good. “I could hit 20/25,” he told me.

Guitar
Another lifelong interest of Matt’s is learning to play the guitar. He likes country music and would love to learn some classics from artists like Brooks & Dunn and Diamond Rio. He first tried learning it 20 years back, but didn’t get too far with it. A couple years ago, he made another attempt at learning the instrument. He picked up some basics and can now play most of the major chords.

What have you had the opportunity to do at summer camp? Do you share any of Matt’s interests? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks. Happy camping! 

 

- John