When the final bell rings, many students turn to their summer home, sleepaway camp. From the ones that run all the way from Florida to Pennsylvania and New York, they remain a favorite tradition. Whether it’s Echo Hill, Camp Echo or Capital Camps, students make unforgettable memories away from school and home.
Sleepaway camps are typically multi-week programs where kids live in bunks, participate in fun activities and spend their summer away from home.
“I am away from my phone and feel so free. It’s such a nice getaway from the outside world,” junior Ellie Mayster said.
Most summer camps don’t allow technology, which is an opportunity to release stress and block out all school and family responsibilities.
“There’s no such thing as overpacking,” sophomore Dylan Levy said, heading into her ninth and final summer at camp. “And you share everything with your friends.”
Campers often live in bunks of 13-14 people for about seven weeks, so giving others the chance to share stuff is normalized. Most camps offer a lot of activities to try, most of which you can’t simply do in your backyard. From sailing and water skiing to color war competitions and silent discos, camp life is filled with things you might never try with the people you love the most. Being at camp means participating in the fun things you have around you.
“Even if you’re not athletic, creative or outdoorsy, there’s something for everyone,” Levy said.
Camp schedules can change, but most summer camps allow campers to choose their daily activities.
“I love sailing, boat riding and anything in the water,” sophomore Elena Hurwitz said. “At my camp, the counselors announce what they’re offering, and everyone runs to pick their spot for the day. So every day’s different.”
If you ask almost any camper what brings them back to camp each summer, they’ll say the same thing, the people. Camp friends are your best friends, most students spend the year counting down the days till they see them again.
“What made me keep coming back to camp was the friendships. Camp is truly one of the most magical places, where you get a break from all the stress and anxiety from anything you experience back home,” sophomore Nathalie Kuraptkina said.
Even the things most campers complain about, like the mandatory sports or living in your crowded bunks for seven weeks, often become inside jokes or nostalgic memories.
“When you are in a new environment, just be grateful for the opportunities you have because you never realize how much fun you’re having until you leave, until all you have are the memories to reflect on,” sophomore Isaac Leventhal said.
Camp isn’t comfortable, but it’s home. A place to grow, take risks and discover parts of yourself you might never see during the school year. As WJ students prepare for another summer, many will return back to their second home. They are ready to make new memories, reconnect with old friends and have fun without screens. From sailing and campfires to deep late-night talks, it’s clear for many that summer camp isn’t just a seven-week-long experience; it’s a way of life: a summer home.
