Hey, Summer Camp Writers! 

Are you planning on participating in our ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest this year but have yet to actually enter your story? WHAT ARE YOU DOING READING THIS POST, THEN?!!?!! Stop now, click here, and get your story written up and submitted. You still have all day to make it happen, so don’t despair. Just make sure to write or create a video of yourself telling your camp story! 

We love to hear from as many of our readers as possible! Today is the last day for taking submissions, however, so act fast if you want to be a part of this year’s contest! 

The ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest has quickly become one of our favorite times of the year! We get to hear how the camp season went straight from the source! We love reading about all the accomplishments and friendships you made as well as what fears you may have overcome or simply what your favorite part was about going to summer camp! 

Get excited! We’re just a week away from finding out who among our participants are our winners of our gift certificate prizes. To reiterate the breakdown from previous posts, there will be the first round of winners made up of six participants who won the $50 gift card to our site. Next, there will be three $100 gift card winners. And then we have our grand prize winner of a $300 gift card. 

Make sure you don’t miss out on the fun! Tune in Tuesday, September 6^th—the day after Labor Day—when we reveal our first random winner and publish their entry right here on the Blog to kick off this year’s ‘Share Your Camp Story’ Contest collection. Maybe it’ll be yours! Looking forward to it, Camp Fans! And, as always, thanks for reading! 

- John

Hey, Camp Folks! 

The recommended camp outfitter for nearly three hundred summer camps, we here at Everything Summer Camp are proud to work with every single one of them! And we love singing the praises of the many camps with whom we’ve developed a working relationship too. That’s why today I’m shining our camp spotlight on the gorgeous hill country of East Texas. 

Like everything, Camp Peniel began as a vision before its physical manifestation. It first existed in the minds of its founders, Gordon & Alice Whitelock. Back in the 1940’s, they started taking kids camping in the Piney Woods of Texas. The tradition lasted years and years—each trip more fun than the last! By 1960, 256 acres of the Silver Hills Ranch near Marble Falls in Texas became Camp Peniel campgrounds. They eventually added 126 acres for a current total of 382 enchanting acres! 

Since 1946, boys and girls have been having a blast participating in all the fun and challenging summer activities available at Camp Peniel. Peniel campers are met with abundant adventures on the land, Archery, Canoeing, Crafts, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Large Scale Games, Zipline, and Swimming (of course) in the beautiful spring-fed lake. 

Camp Peniel is sure to offer comfortable accommodations for their campers who attend their overnight sessions. Nestled within awe-inspiring cedar forests, the climate-controlled cabins at Camp Peniel are all of various sizes that can house anywhere from ten to fifty people and they feature indoor plumbing. 

Camp Peniel pushes for each week of camp to be a life-changing experience for the campers. The whole experience of extreme fun and spiritual education is designed to encourage their campers’ personal growth. Take a look at Camp Peniel’s website for a closer look and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks! Happy Camping! 

- John

Hey, Dance Fans! 

Dance is one among many of the performance arts to be offered as an activity at summer camp. If you’re interested in stretching your skills, you can seek out the summer camps that offer Dance as an activity. On this Blog, we like to zero in on some of the record setters and pioneers of sports, crafts, and other summer camp activities. And who else to highlight as a pioneer in the field of Dance other than the great Gene Kelly? 

Gene Kelly, of course, is considered one of the best dancers of all time. He performed in films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, striking it really big in 1952 with the production of the smash hit musical ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. Starring alongside fantastic co-stars and performers, let’s take a look at this trio. 

Gene Kelly
Hailed as the world’s greatest dancer, Gene actually dreamt of becoming a baseball player when he was little. His mother, however, had a different plan for her son, enrolling him in dance lessons. He wanted to quit at first because he would get teased, but he soon realized girls loved a boy who could dance! 

Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds was certainly made famous by her breakout role in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, but her career had really kicked off several years prior when she won the Miss Burbank beauty pageant in California. She was offered a $65-a-week contract—much more than the free scarf and blouse, the sole reason she entered the competition. 

Donald O’Connor
Born into a family that traveled as a Vaudeville team, Donald’s family moved around so much that neither of his parents could recall where and when he was born. Donald was once quoted saying, "I was about 13 months old, they tell me, when I first started dancing…they'd hold me up by the back of my neck and they'd start the music, and I'd dance. You could do that with any kid, only I got paid for it." 

With jaw-dropping performances, these three dancers put together an unforgettable production that still has the ability to wow audiences today! If you haven’t seen ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ I highly suggest you check it out and discover why these three dancers are obvious honorable mentions for their work in this movie. Keep on dancin’! And, as always, thanks for reading. 

- John

Hey, Camp Fans! 

Meet the latest addition to our Graphics Department here at Everything Summer Camp, Maria. Returning for a handful of years as temporary summer help, she joined us full time in 2021 as we saw enough business beyond the camp season to keep her busy year-round! Maria makes our Clothing Stamps, Name Labels, Nameplates, Patches, and plenty other fun, personalized accessories for our camp trunks and more. But that’s enough work talk for now. 

Today, let me tell you what camp activities she'd be interested in if she were given the opportunity to go to camp right now as an adult. 

Archery
Growing up on 40 acres, Maria was free to set up some targets and practice Archery whenever she wanted. She was fairly good, but always looking to improve. Throughout the years, she’s acquired five different bows and, from time to time, she will still head to her mother’s land to shoot bow and arrow (as recently as a few months back). 

Mountain Biking
Her family would make trips out to parks in surrounding areas and woodsy trails where they would cover ground at a fast pace on their mountain bikes. She recalls enjoying the exhilarating rush of beautiful scenery zipping past her. She hasn’t been out for a ride since she was a young girl—about eight or nine, but she’d love to get out again. 

Fencing
While she’s never actually done any Fencing, Maria said she would jump at the opportunity to try her hand at it. Her attraction to Fencing was likely triggered from watching spectacular sword fights in movies like ‘The Princess Bride’, but really she would love to try it just for the chance to try something new and unique. 

For a couple bonus activities, she also told me she’d be interested in learning some Outdoor Skills as well as playing Capture-the-Flag. Are you passionate about any of the same interests as Maria? Hopefully you got to enjoy a passion or two of your own this summer season. Thanks for reading! Till next time, Camp Fans. 

- John

Hey, Riders!

If you’re passionate about horseback riding, then you’re probably already aware of our fantastic selection of riding gear from leading brand names like Equi-Star, Ovation, and Troxel Performance Headgear. Each of these brands has their own niche in the world of riding accessories. And today, I’m talking about Troxel Riding Helmets. We carry their Spirit Riding Helmet, Sport Riding Helmet, as well as the Dakota Horse Riding Helmet for your choice in riding protection.

The world’s frontrunner in ASTM/SEI certified equestrian helmets is Troxel. And they’re able to make this claim because Troxel has done their homework. With helmets that have involved physicians on the developing team, you can rest assured that your rider is well protected when they wear a Troxel helmet.

Having provided over three million helmets to equestrians across the world, Troxel saw that other horseback riding gear providers didn’t offer an alternative to their English Riding accessories. This left an incredible amount of western riders unprotected as well as a gaping, untapped market in the Riding Helmet business. Troxel is the first and only helmet manufacturer to provide safety helmets to both disciplines of horseback riding.

Troxel has been celebrated worldwide not only for its physician-developed research or its all-inclusive construction, but for its original design as well. Ever since it was first established in 1898, Troxel has given the horseback riding community confidence when they go riding. Troxel’s helmet designs reduce the risk of serious injury by 80% effectiveness.

Be prepared in the case of an accident and get a Troxel Riding Helmet for your rider. The world’s leading provider for certified equestrian riding helmets, Troxel is the right brand for reassurance when your rider takes off into the sunset. Check out these protective riding helmets from Troxel by clicking right here. And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John