15 Things Camp Counselor Carmel Loves About Summer Camp

2) Getting to see friends from far and wide that you only get to see at Summer Camp. Especially old friends that moved away, yet still come back every year to Camp. 3) Manolo’s Empanadas: Fruit filled, meat filled, cheese filled… you name it and they got you covered. This vendor has been coming to Summer Camp since the beginning of time and their empanadas are a staple in any Summer Camper’s diet. 4) Festie Cab rides through the woods are always wild!  Their decorated golf carts are hard to miss and always worth the couple extra bucks it costs to get lifted to the other side of the festival. 5) Uncle Bob’s Ice cream! Because eating an ice cream cone always makes you feel like a kid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npkx5R28mZo 6) The Camping Stage is perfect for discovering new up and coming bands like Tauk or American Babies. It’s also amazing to witness local acts like Brainchild or Greensky Bluegrass graduate to bigger stages over the years but I’ll never forget that this where they started. This stage is without a doubt the root of Summer Camp Music Festival and quite possibly my favorite spot expand my musical tastes. 7) Summer Camp Sangria is a special concoction my crew makes every year at the fest and it just wouldn’t be Summer Camp without it. I would tell you what we put in it, but it’s actually a top secret recipe that changes ever year… last year someone threw some Pepto Bismol in it… we still drank it and it was absolutely FABULOUS! Who knew? 8) Randy! If you ever see a guy with a polka dot tutu running through the forest like a mad man… that’s Randy! Year after year this Summer Camp veteran returns determined to have a great time no matter what and it just wouldn’t be the same without him! 9) Field Day is fun filled competition that anyone can participate in. From dodge ball to beer pong, teams of all different colors compete for the title of champion that culminates with a 312 keg party on the last day of the fest. If competition is your thing,this is the best place to be a winner! 10) The Soulshine Tent is always popping all weekend long with a variety of activities whether it be daytime workshops or late night throwdowns. This is where you can check out the Live Art Gallery or learn how to make the world a better place through the Make a Difference area right next door. It is really one of the best gathering area at the festival, hands down. 11) Sunrise Kickball is a Summer Camp activity unlike any other special event an any other festival. Hosted by bassist Ryan Stasik, this early morning kickball game is both super serious and super hysterical, all at the same time. If you ever find yourself staying up all night after a raging Friday at Summer Camp, this is the place you need to be as the sun begins to rise in the eastern skys. 12) After a festive morning kickball session, an egg sandwich from the Cracked Food Truck is the perfect hangover cure. Located just outside the VIP Lounge, Crack’s top notch ingredients are absolutely to die for. They really put a new spin on festival food and at less than $10 for a meal and coffee, it’s totally worth the price. 13) Wanna know what else goes best with a fried egg sandwich in the morning? MIMOSAS! The VIP Lounge at Summer Camp proudly serves champagne and orange juice all morning long for marathon drinkers like myself. I personally believe it is the best way to start the day, but I might be a bit partial to bubbles in the morning… 14) Meeting new friends at the campfire outside the Red Barn is always a highlight of Summer Camps past.  So many stories told and unforgettable memories shared. Sometimes there’s even a tuba player to really get the party vibe flowing. With logs to sit on and warmth from the fire to bring everyone together, there isn’t any another place at the fest that really feels like a true “summer camp” experience. 15) Finally, the most important thing I love about Summer Camp Music Festival is the lineup. Every year this fest brings us a Pandora’s Box of excellent LIVE music and I love being able to impress everyone I know by name dropping some heavy hitters. Without Summer Camp I probably would have never seen P-Funk, Willie Nelson, Redman and Method Man, or Zac Brown Band… but man am I glad I did! And at the end of the day, that is really what Summer Camp Music Festival is all about: the music. ]]>