So You Didn’t Make It to Summer Camp This Year

I’m Nicholas Stock, the first Camp Counselor and 10-time attendee, and I’m not going to Summer Camp this year. The main reason is the birth of my son Charlie, but we also bought a house in December. Life… real life, came knocking really hard and fast while we were watching the Fare Thee Well shows in California. In the words of the immortal Fresh Prince, “My life got flipped turned upside down,” but in the absolute best way possible. I wake up every morning to a smile and laugh that warms my heart. Juxtapose that with your weird encounter with that wookie by the port-o-johns on night three  in 2012 and you can see why I’m taking a year off. You know what I’m talking about don’t you? The producers of Summer Camp push the boundaries every  time and 2016 is no different. I mean Tom Petty will be playing with his old band at Three Sisters Park! Not to mention moe., Umphrey’s, The Roots, Thievery Corporation, and Fishbone.  So let’s not focus on that. There will be a multitude of attendees recording and posting videos online, from all 7 stages which will at least give you a posthumous glimpse of how it went down. The photos posted by the pros in the pit and random kids live-streaming on Facebook in the middle of the herd will give you a taste during the actual event. Jay Blakesberg and his team will provide us with a slew of beautifully shot multi-cam concert footage. The army of Camp Counselors will be scattered across the grounds capturing the special moments from the fest to share with you after it’s all over. But no it’s not the same as being there. Nothing can replace that. And 2017 will undoubtedly bring some other as of yet unforeseen, but mind-blowingly incredible headliner too. So with that thought take the weekend and pull yourself together. Get out and barbeque with your friends and family. But start planning for next Memorial Day now. Save up your pennies and be online when Early Bird tickets go on sale. Start preparing today so you don’t miss it again. Life happens, but proper planning and foresight go a long way in making sure it happens on your terms. Summer Camp is a family and that family isn’t going anywhere. We can all count on the big reunion in the Heartland happening next year; so start thinking about it now. And to all you Summer Campers attending this year, go kill it for all us dreamers. ]]>