Posts Tagged ‘camp bunks’

8 Things that Are Quintessentially Summer Camp

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014

It’s hard to believe that another summer is almost half over. It seems like just yesterday that campers were arriving, excited for another summer. Time passes so quickly at summer camp that it’s sometimes impossible to not miss some things. But there are certain things that, no matter how busy, chaotic, or crazy things get at camp, remind us of camp and are a big part of what it’s all about.

1.       Campfires—Every camp’s campfire has a unique significance to it. Campfire traditions, songs, and activities vary from camp to camp but one theme is consistent from camp to camp: the campfire has a sacred relevance and, as such, is a very special event at camp. So special, in fact, that the campfire is symbolic of summer camp itself. The fire embodies camp life, and the smell of burning embers raises an immediate reminder of sylvanian settings in which camps are located.

2.       S’mores—What’s a campfire without s’mores? Anyone and everyone who has ever been to camp craves the gooey delight of melted chocolate and marshmallows between two graham crackers. S’mores are so distinct to camp that biting into one instantly harkens memories of camp.

3.       Sing Alongs—Sure, karaoke is a popular activity for get togethers. But there is nothing more harmonious than an entire camp—counselors too!—singing their camp’s favorite tunes together. Camp sing alongs are more than just time spent together singing songs, however. They’re a way of bringing everyone together to celebrate the place that has brought them all together.

4.       Bunks/Cabins—As the saying goes, ‘If only walls could talk…’ And, oh, the stories so many summer camp bunks/cabins could tell. Bunks/Cabins are more than just places where campers and their counselors sleep at night. Bunks/Cabins are facilities in which campers become families. They are also places in which the vast size of sleepaway camps shrink to an intimate setting in which friendships are nurtured and memories are made. Each bunk/cabin family is unique, with its own jokes, songs, traditions, etc.

5.       Arts & Crafts—According to the American Camp Association, Arts & Crafts is one of the five most popular activities at camp, and for good reason. Who wouldn’t want to spend a portion of each day in an area stocked with beads, lanyard, glitter, paint, glue, markers, scissors, and just about any other craft supply one can dream up? The possibilities are endless in Arts & Crafts. The relaxing atmosphere gives campers opportunity to decompress and reflect while still being social. Arts & Crafts is an activity that allows campers to spend time with their friends.

6.       Bugle Calls/Bells—There has to be some way to move campers through their program day at camp. Whether it’s bugles or bells, campers know instantly what each unique sound is telling them to do from waking up in the morning to turning out the lights at night, and everything in between.

7.       Camp Shows—Those who are not familiar with camp may wonder what makes camp shows different from other types of shows. Anyone who has ever been involved in a production that goes from auditions to performance complete with full sets and makeup in a week or less knows that this is precisely what makes camp shows a camp entity all unto their own.

8.       Crazy Wardrobe Choices—We mean C-R-A-Z-Y—as in more is definitely more when it comes to showing spirit or “dressing up” for a special camp occasions. In fact, camp is probably the only place at which one is complimented for arriving at a function wearing body paint and/or temporary tattoos, bright colors, a tutu, crazy sunglasses or hats, a wig (or two) and mismatched socks.

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68 Years of Starlight Summers as Told by Bunk Plaques

Sunday, July 6th, 2014

It’s no secret by now that Camp Starlight is in the midst of the ‘Great Bunk Renovation Project’ during which all of our bunks will be updated and refurbished. Renovations, though, a time of change are also a time of reflection. It’s interesting to think about the many campers who have called a Camp Starlight bunk home over the 68 summers that it has been in operation or even, for that matter, how many more bunks there are in 2014 than there were in 1947.

Bunk plaques in the Dining Hall remind campers and staff each day that the Camp Starlight family extends into the thousands. Campers enjoy seeking out their own plaques from past summers as well as those of their parents and even grandparents. Staff enjoy perusing the plaques and pondering the creative and often comical themes and designs, all of which capture a unique quality of the campers and counselors who called THAT bunk home in THAT particular year.  Together, the plaques tell the stories of the Camp Starlight bunks and the adventures, memories, and moments in which they’ve played an important role for 68 summers.

Today, more than two dozen bunks on each side of camp plus the Lodge and the Lakehouse house the nearly 580 Starlight campers as well as many members of the staff. Back in 1947, the story was much different. The 10 original bunks, according to their plaques, housed, a total of 62 campers, 19 counselors, and 1 CIT. The boys’ bunks were signed with letters while the girls’ bunks were numbered. And of what do we know of those inaugural campers? For starters, Bunk 5 considered themselves “maestros” while bunk 4 liked the word “shnookums.” Moving along the walls of the main dining room and into the staff dining room, one can see that Girls Bunk 3 has housed an eclectic mix of campers over the decades. In 1964, its residents weren’t so tidy, and a group of tattlers called it home for the summer of 1976 while in 1984 its residents loved Cabbage Patch Kids.

The summer of 1984 was a big year for trends. Boys Bunk one called themselves “The Gremlins” after the furry little movie creatures that are cuddly and loveable…until they get wet. The feel in Girls bunk 4 was one of nostalgia in 1952. They dubbed themselves “The Flappers.” Boys bunk 9 was home to the “Cool Cats” in 1960, and even though its seen hundreds of campers since, it’s not likely that the walls of boys bunk 4 have forgotten the “Unforgettables” of 1958. Boys bunk 13 has apparently been home to some of Camp Starlight’s more mischievous campers over the years. In 2000, it was home to Starlight’s Most Wanted and just a few short years later was known as “The Animal House.” No one wanted to be the last one out of bed in Boys bunk 14 in 1990—the last one stacked the table after meals. The girls of bunk 21 were all too aware that they were “making memories of a lifetime” in 2001.

One could spend days in the Dining Room weaving together the stories of the Camp Starlight bunks and the campers and staff who’ve passed through them and never have to wish that walls could talk. The bunk plaques tell quite the story of the importance of bunk life at camp.

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An Ode to Bunk Junk: Less is More.

Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

Have you ever walked into your child’s room or playroom and thought, “What happened, did a tornado come through here?” So cluttered, so messy that you can’t even think straight?  We try our hardest at Camp Starlight to not let the “Bunk Junk tornado” run through our bunks.

A small amount of Bunk Junk is great! Games to play during rest hour in the bunk, stationary to write home with, books to read, Rainbow looms or friendship bracelet kits.  Each camper has a designated spot for all of these items, and it’s under their bed. At Starlight, all bunk junk must be able to fit into a specific sized “Underbed Box” to keep bunks clean and organized. When campers bring too much Bunk Junk, it becomes an unorganized mess. Inevitably games, toys, and letters can get lost, broken, or accidentally thrown away during a massive clean out of the dark abyss of their underbed.

When you send your campers trunks up, make sure all of their bunk junk can fit, neatly, into the “Underbed Box.” This includes sticker books, rainbow loom/string boxes, stationary sets, and dress up clothes! And don’t forget to think twice about if your child will actually use the items you are sending. In the realm of packing Bunk Junk, use the golden rule: Less is Definitely More.

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The Bunk Family

Thursday, April 24th, 2014

One of the most highly anticipated moments for new campers is finding out to which cabin/bunk they have been assigned.  It’s also the moment when they meet the fellow campers with whom they will spend the next several summers experiencing all of camp’s adventures.  Bunk living is a very big part of the summer camp experience.  Whether it’s a special bunk or cabin joke or song, or even late night storytelling, the bunk is a very intimate environment that is essential to a successful summer.

For new campers, it’s a ready environment to make those first friends at summer camp.  As new friends journey through the summers, they become close friends, laughing as they enjoy all of the rites and traditions alongside one another, then old friends tearfully saying farewell to their final camp summer together, and, finally, lifelong friends who get together for reunions where they remember camp times.  Essentially bunk mates become family.

Bunk mates are the first people campers look for when they step off the bus each summer, racing to each other for hugs when they find each other.  They’re also the final goodbye at the end of each summer.

There is definitely something special about learning how to live and work with others in such a close-knit environment each summer.  It’s a special opportunity that is as much a summer camp tradition as the campfire or the sing-along.  Although everyone at camp is part of the larger camp family, the bunk/cabin environment facilitates a highly individual and very personable experience.  There will always be shared camp experiences.  But shared bunk memories are unique to each specific bunk/cabin.  Even more importantly, being part of a bunk is a childhood experience that is specific to camp.  It’s a set of memories that cannot be acquired anywhere else

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What Are the Bunks Like?

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

What are the living arrangements?

This is one of the most common questions we receive from prospective parents.  Of course, we’ve all seen enough Hollywood interpretations to imagine our children living in everything from tents with cots to luxury facilities complete with common rooms furnished with ping pong tables and fluffy sofas.  The reality at Camp Starlight is somewhat simple, and  in this blog we’re going to try to answer some of the most common questions that we receive about camp living facilities.

What are the cabins/bunks like?
Most cabins or bunks house 8-12 campers plus a couple of counselors in a single room for sleeping and a separate bathroom and shower area.  Some cabins or bunks may have separate areas with cubbies for storing clothing and personal belongings. The beds may actually be traditional bunk beds (one stacked on top of the other) or they may be single beds lined next to each other and separate by cubby stands.

What’s the difference between a cabin and a bunk?
Essentially, nothing.  It’s simply a matter of each camp’s preference in whether to call its living facilities cabins or bunks.  This may or may not be related to the particular region in which a camp in located.  In some areas “cabin” may be the more common term while in others, camps are more likely to call them “bunks.”

Where do campers put their things?
Whether it’s next to the beds or in a separate area, camp cabins and bunks have cubby areas in which children can place their things.  Although there is ample cubby space for everything on the camp’s packing list, it’s important to keep in mind when packing that there isn’t a lot of extra storage in bunks or cabins.  So it’s a good idea to contact the camp before giving into temptation and tucking a lot of extra items in your camp trunk.

Are the toilet and shower facilities inside the bunk, and what are they like?
Although some summer camps do have community shower houses shared by several bunks, all of Camp Starlight bunks have ensuite bathroom facilities inside that are shared only by those living in each individual cabin or bunk. They typically have a two showers, two sinks as well as two toilets and hot water.

Additionally, all bunks feature porches or sitting areas outside and drying racks for beach towels, since waterfront activities are a prominent part of summer camp.  While cabins and bunks do not feature air conditioning, there are plenty of screened windows that allow air to pass through, which works well in mountainous locations where the air tends to be a few degrees cooler anyway.

So there you have it, what a bunk is like at Camp Starlight.

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