Sure, I'm still wearing my winter coat, hat, and gloves, but I've got summer camp on my mind because JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE will be out in just 6 weeks!
In order to celebrate, I'm hosting a contest. With prizes! Each week until the book comes out, I'll be giving away an autographed copy of JEMMA HARTMAN as well as some other fun camp items. To enter, all you have to do is tell me your favorite camp memory. Post it here in the comments, or send an e-mail to brenda at brendaferber.com. The memory can be funny, embarrassing, poignant, or ridiculous. It can be about day camp, overnight camp, or any other kind of camp you attended.
I can't wait to hear all your stories! And I hope you'll enjoy reading mine.
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11 comments:
Never went to camp per se, but went camping a lot. I did go to Camp Owasippe in Wisconsin to visit my brothers at boy scout camp. My favorite memories of going there were watching all the animals the boys collected and pooled together (a reptile/amphibian petting zoo), the boys doing made-up skits alongside huge bonfires, and singing crazy irreverent songs.
Gosh, I haven't thought about camp in a long time. So fun!
Hey Kym,
It doesn't seem fair that your brothers went to camp, and you didn't! Someone needs to invent summer camp for grownups, don't you think?
Thanks for entering my contest!
Brenda
I still love camp and remember so many things, but I remember being at a sailing meet at another camp with no wind. We tied our boat to a boys boat, which was a big deal when you went to an all girls camp, and spent the day lazing on the lake and trying to finish the race!
I danced with a boy (Mark Saylor, one of those wonderful 3-day camp romances) for the first time ever at 4H camp. He seemed very self-assured and sophisticated and claimed not to mind when I stepped on his toes.
The other cool thing about that camp is that the cabins were octagonal, with turrets on top, like little castles. And the bunkbeds were THREE high, and I always tried to get the top bunk, because it seemed a little dangerous and exciting to sleep up there.
Can you tell I loved camp? I can't wait to read your book!
I love contests! And I love camp! I had so much fun as a camper, I went back as a counselor during college. My favorite camp memory is marching around our cabin with about eleven other 12-year-old campers, chanting "Burn them bras!" at the tops of our lungs. (I don't think any of us even needed to wear a bra then.) We had no idea what we were doing, but it seemed so right at the time. We were embracing our natural sides, I guess. It still makes me chuckle.
On a three-day canoe trip in the North Woods with my cabin mates, we thought we heard a bear. But it was just the bothersome Boy Scouts from England who wouldn't leave the girl campers alone.
They wanted to borrow some sugar. We called them boogers.
But we really thought there was a bear out there. Scared ourselves silly.
But we ended up with great lyrics about that event to put in a song for the talent show where I was dressed up as a munchkin - singing, "Welcoming, you to Camp Manito-Wish! Camp Manito-Wish!
I went to Camp Manito-Wish in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin when I was 11 and 12 - got tons of memories from leeches to getting our canoe stuck on a log.
Tip of the day: Rocking a canoe in leechy waters: Not a good idea.
Grew up in Deerfield, went to South Park, Holy Cross and Deerfield High School!
Can't wait to read your book.
Oh my gosh! I am loving all these camp memories! Thank you!
I'm lucky I survived Camp Moval in 5th grade--I fell into the lake during the obstacle course and never made it over the stupid wall. Then I fell off the top bunk, or at least I think that was me, maybe it was my roommate. UGH! My memory is getting bad with my old age--one of us fell, and we both survived! I also remember my camp counselor, who was a high school student, didn't have any make up on one morning (she wore a lot now that I think about it, but I thought she was just beautiful) and another counselor came to the door to get her, and the other counselor said to my counselor, "Oh my God, Mindy, what happened to you?" And my counselor was like, "Yeah, this is what I look like without make up." In 5th grade, I thought that was so weird, but now, I know EXACTLY what she was talking about. Do writers wear make up? :) Oh, 5th grade camp--Got to love it!
Margo Dill
Mahomet, IL
Hi Brenda--
I was afraid to go to camp for a long time because I was such a picky eater and I was afraid they would try to make me taste things I hated. But in 7th grade my teacher started a Wildlife Camp. I loved my teacher and I loved nature so I screwed up my courage and went. Luckily the camp cook was fantastic so I not only managed to eat the food, but to enjoy it as well. She made deep dish pizza in a cast iron skillet--this was in West Virginia. No one had ever heard of Chicago style pizza at that time.
My favorite memory was lying in a hammock, outdoors, during our rest time. I would write letters home every day and then read, with gentle breezes and maybe a mosquito or two for ambiance.
Really looking forward to your new book!
Sallie
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