Hey there, Camp Preppers!

As we move down the line of new products that we’ve recently started carrying, it’s our hope that these posts are helping you to make a more educated decision on the gear that you’re purchasing as you move down your camper’s packing list.

You’ll find this post especially helpful if you’ve got a rookie camper in need of a fun sleeping bag in a youth size. Today, we’ll be discussing the Wenzel Moose Sleeping Bag and how it just might be right for your first-timer this camp season.

Make the Wenzel Moose your child’s first sleeping bag. This bag will certainly be memorable for your kids and prove to keep them warm and comfortable during their camp stay as well. When it packs 2.5 lbs. of Insulated thermal fill, how could it not?

Youth sized at 26” x 66” this bag will be a big enough cocoon for your little camper to curl up within and catch all the sleep necessary for the following, adventurous day.  And the Wenzel Moose is warm enough for temperatures as low as 40°, so you know it will be sufficient for your kid this summer.

The bag weighs a total of 3 lbs. and 4 oz. so your little first-timer won’t have any problems moving the bag from the bunk to a tent or anywhere else.

Made with quality, Quilt-through construction, this kid’s sleeping bag is sure to last well-through camp and can be useful after summer camp is over whether it be on a family trip or in a friend’s backyard.

This bag can be completely unzipped to be used as a blanket and comes with a multi-use stuff sack. The bag displays a cute, simple moose print that your kid will fall in love with and remember fondly long after camp is over. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Families!

- John

Hey, Blog Readers!

Just like all of you, everyone here at Everything Summer Camp has their own favorites of musicians, movie stars, and other celebrities among the many in the modern day biz. And just like all of you, all of the celebrities we feature on our Summer Camp Celebrity blog posts at some point went to summer camp.

Today’s post will be the third summer camp celebrity blog post we’ve published. The last summer camp celebrity that we talked about was the spritely actress/musician Zooey Deschanel; and before her post, we talked about the delightful Anne Hathaway.

Today we’re talking about the one, the only, the magnificent, James Franco who attended a four-week summer program for gifted high-schoolers at Innerspark: California State Summer School for the Arts. This summer program studies the art of Theater, along with Animation, Dance, Film, Music, Visual Arts, and—my own, personal favorite—Creative Writing.

James continued to pursue his passion after his summer camp experience and spent 15 months training to be an actor. He then plugged away in Los Angeles, auditioning for parts and yielding minimal results for two years before landing work on the cult classic television series Freaks and Geek in 1999. 

Two years after Freaks and Geeks which only lasted one season, James was cast to play James Dean in a biographical, made-for-TV movie. For this part, Franco really studied James Dean. He took the role so seriously the he learned to ride a motorcycle, and learned to play the guitar as well as the bongos just to better understand his character. It’s no surprise he won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal.

With many other films along the way, James landed himself the part of Harry Osborn, the child of the evil Green Goblin in the superhero movie, Spider-Man. He then continued the role in the following, extremely (and increasingly) successful sequels in 2004 and again in 2007.

Mr. Franco continues to remain busy with his work as he is currently starring as the wizard in the Disney prequel, Oz: The Great and Powerful.

A good start in summer camp, patience, and determination is all it took for James Franco. What will it take for you? And, as always, thanks for reading.

How Kids Answer this Perennial Question Might Surprise You

Let’s reveal the most surprising fact first: Having a friend from home at camp does nothing to diminish the intensity of homesickness. Although everyone experiences feelings of missing home, only 20% of boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 16 are bothered by these feelings. Surprisingly, having a friend from home attend camp at the same time does not determine whether a child is in the mild or moderate homesickness group.

There are probably several reasons for this. First, if a child is intensely homesick, he or she is likely missing his parents most of all. The friend from home is not an adequate substitute. Fun, yes, but simply not mom or dad.

Second, if a child his having a tough time with the adjustment to summer camp, he or she is likely to be struggling socially. At camp, that boils down to making new friends. Having an established friendship from home may be a temporary comfort, but it’s the rare friend who takes an active role in garnering new connections for a lonely peer.

Third, if a child is struggling to fit in, he or she may not be much fun to play with. Children are most attracted to happy peers, not dour ones. Moreover, it’s a tall order to say to one child, “Your pal is feeling sad and left out. Stop having fun and do what you can to connect him with the rest of the group.” Some mature and astute children can do this kind of social engineering; most can’t.

All of this is simply to say that signing up for camp with a friend from home does nothing to stave off feelings of homesickness and may do little to promote social adjustment. However, for those children whose adjustment to camp is generally smooth, it may be lots of fun to share camp with an established chum. It may also be wonderful to share memories of camp with a local buddy. In sum, a friend from home may be a pleasant addition to a camp experience, but it’s not an antidote to anything.

Finally, when it comes to attending camp with a friend, parents should involve their child in the decision. Like so many other big and small choices, giving children some ownership over the parameters of their experience promotes good adjustment.

Curiously, the number-one thing that children say they love about camp is not the friends or the activities. Those are the number two and number three assets, respectively. What young people say they love most is that at camp they get to be themselves. In part, this means young people get to shed the reputation they have at school and in the neighborhood—maybe even at home, too—and let more of their authentic personality shine.

Sometimes, shedding an old reputation and donning a new personality is hampered by reminders and trappings of home, including the presence of an established friend. For this reason, many young people prefer to attend a camp where no one else from their grade or school is present. Talk with your son or daughter to get a sense of where they stand on the issue. Their answer may surprise you...

Of course, if the staff are doing their job, every child will have some new friends within a few hours of arriving. And if your child’s experience is typical, some of those new friendships will last a lifetime.

Enjoy the summer!

Dr. Christopher Thurber

Hey, Camp Fans! 

If you’re planning on going horseback riding this summer, then you’ll definitely want to make sure that you have the proper horse riding apparel. On today’s post, I’ll be going over five separate articles of clothing from English Riding Supply specifically designed for horseback riding.

Our first item of riding apparel is the EQ Athlete Polo. Made of cotton/spandex jersey, this polo is fashionable, cute, and comfortable. It bears an Athlete print on the left chest and a full horse crest print on the back. You’re sure to remain comfortable while riding in this athletic fabric!

Another great riding top to consider is the EQ Style Polo. Like the EQ Athlete, the EQ Style too is made of cotton/spandex jersey. Unlike the other polo, this one is not printed but embroidered on the left chest and on the back with the Equestrian Style design. Aside from the embroidery, these shirts are two toned with a complimentary-colored collar and bottoms of the sleeves.

And now onto the Euro Tight—it’s made of a mid-weight cotton/spandex blend. Another two-tone garment, the stylish Euro Tight goes well with the EQ Style Pro—no matter what color combination you go with. This tight has star-shaped rivets, a wide smooth-fit waistband, belt loops, and coin pocket OV.

Or you could go with the Horseshoe Jean Breech. Also made of a mid-weight cotton/spandex blend, this breech mimics the classic jean look with contrast stitching and wide a smooth-fit waistband with belt loops. Given embroidered horseshoe designs on both back pockets, the Jean Breech is as close to jeans as you can get in a pair of horse riding pants.

Lastly, I’ll talk about the Elite Half Chaps. These half chaps are made of a lightweight, soft Amara. They bear an embroidered pony design and have stretch panels that are sure to make for a close fit. They have snap closures on the top and bottom along with hidden zippers to help keep dirt out!

Now that you know what to wear, you can finish preparing for some comfortable and stylish horseback riding this summer! Have a blast and, as always, thanks for reading!

Steeped in Traditions

Camp Alleghany is an all-girls’ overnight summer camp located in the Alleghany Mountains in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Girls 1^st through 10^th grades spend three weeks at a time on the beautiful and peaceful banks of the Greenbrier River, away from the many distractions of the school year.

As the oldest girls’ camp in the Virginias, Alleghany has continually upheld the purposes established by her founders more than 80 years ago.  Camp Alleghany educates young women in the principles of sportsmanship, citizenship, cooperation, consideration for others, the Honor System, and meaningful appreciation of cultural and spiritual traditions. These goals are achieved in a lively, relaxed, and fun setting, allowing the girls to enhance their self-esteem and boost their confidence while growing in maturity and responsibility.

Alleghany’s philosophy is that when young women spend time together in a structured yet fun setting, away from their male friends, school, peer pressure, and academic expectations, they gain confidence and leadership potential. Alleghany offers a chance to experience new activities, to express one’s self, and to broaden one’s abilities without the pressures of our fast-paced society. Living under an honor system and in the safety of the wilderness away from the distractions of modern technology, the girls build new skills, lasting friendships, and solid self-confidence.

Thanks for reading, Folks!