Camp Laurel

“It’s a camp thing, you wouldn’t understand.” For anyone that’s ever been to a sleepaway camp, this is a phrase that we are all too accustomed to saying. Sleepaway camp is more than a place where you play different sports and swim in the lake. Camp is a life-changing experience. It’s a place where you can show your spirit and be yourself. Camp is where you make lasting friendships, create memories, and most importantly, it’s a place you will forever call your second home.

Whether you have gone to summer camp for one year, five years, ten years, or more, the stories from camp are bound to put an instant smile on your face. From the small moments of playing jacks in your bunk to scoring the winning goal in your soccer game, every person that’s been to camp has a story that they want to share with everyone they pass.

At summer camp, every moment is one that’s worth sharing. The energy and excitement around camp is truly indescribable. This atmosphere makes each moment authentic and a chance to celebrate. During the day, campers cheer as they master their serve at tennis and are filled with smiles as they show off their moves in the dance studio. At night, the memories continue to be made at starry-night campfires, divisional activities, out-of-camp trips, and spirited camp wide events. The possibilities to experience moments that will be remembered forever are never ending at sleepaway camp as each day brings on new opportunities for adventure and fun.

When the summer comes to a close and it becomes time to pack up and return home, campers and counselors alike are brought to tears as they have to say goodbye. Although it is hard, the memories shared are ones to look back on with joy.

Once home, we can close our eyes and still picture our decorated bunks, the green grass, and the beautiful lake. We can still hear the sounds of birds chirping in the morning, the cheers in the dining hall, and the laughter of our bunkmates throughout the day. Throughout the ten months of the year when we are away from camp, these stories remind us of why summer camp is our home away from home.