Nick | Eric | Carmel | Kyle | Bailey | Robert | JoJo | Derek | Alex D | Amanda | Alexander
The John Popper Story
Camp Counselor Nick
Since growing my beard I haven’t had this issue much, but in my more baby-faced days I was more than once mistaken for John Popper. This also may be due to the wide brimmed khaki hat that I still wear at festivals to protect from the sun. The most interesting time this happened was at Summer Camp in 2011. I was backstage waiting to go to the now infamous two- song Cornmoe. set at my campsite. I was sitting in the front seat of a golf cart just after Widespread Panic’s Sunday set. As Jimmy Herring was making his way to the tour bus he spotted me sitting in the shadows. I heard an emphatic, “John! John! How the hell are you I haven’t seen you since All Good!” And with that Mr. Herring hopped around the golf cart and scooped me up in a massive bear hug. He began speaking at me rapidly, “I didn’t know you were going to be here, you look great…” I looked at him and said, “Jimmy, I’m not John Popper, I’m Camp Counselor Nick, but now you have to take a picture with me so I can tell this story for the rest of my life.” He let me know that I looked just like him as a friend snapped a quick picture. Jimmy hastily retreated to the tour bus and I never saw him again. He was a good sport and I got a great story.
https://youtu.be/KwPi5f5uD2U
My very first Summer Camp
Camp Counselor Eric
My first Summer Camp was 2011 and I will always think of it as one of my best. One of the great things about the internet is the Summer Camp community that encapsulates the many social outlets available to converse about your favorite bands and venues. My first Summer Camp was awesome because I met up with at least 16 folks I had before only met online. Bringing this many like-minded yet different people together to act as one small family in a large city-sized community is amazing! I am happy to say those 16 folks still to this day make up the core foundation of my “Festival Family.” It has grown into the hundreds over the years but those first few SCampers and I are bonded for life at this point. Forever friends and forever the memories of our first SCamp will live in our warped minds as we perceived them on those light filled jubilant nights of joyous SCamping!
Oprah-ing the hell out of my first weekend as Summer Camp Counselor
Camp Counselor Carmel
So the first year I became a Summer Camp Counselor I convinced myself I was basically going to Oprah the hell out of my weekend. I had a friend named Mike who knew a thing or two about video production and he walked me through how to create some cool videos about the Summer Camp experience. In all honesty though, I had no clue what I was doing… Well, on Friday afternoon we were getting ready to head off to Umphrey’s when I got pulled into an interview with an artist I knew absolutely nothing about. His specialty was dubstep and to this day I can’t even tell you what that actually means. As a Counselor these types of things were just part of the long list of responsibilities that could be asked of you over the weekend so I happily agreed to jump into this awkward situation full force and, as they say in the biz, IMPROVISE! Looking back there are a million little things I would have done differently (like brushed my hair…) but nothing is ever really perfect in life and sometimes you just gotta surrender to the flow. Check out the video of my very first artist interview: https://youtu.be/nkRNijuOwrUSummer Camp will always have my heart
Camp Counselor Bailey
I was laying on the beach at Dominican Holidaze and it truly is a dream come true, however I just couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting to Summer Camp. With so many SCamp bands like Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, Lettuce, and Lotus, how could I not? I was reminded of my very first SCamp when I got Ryan Stasik to autograph my water gun because I didn’t have anything else with me. I loved watching Squid Elmo (one of the few totems I like) dance around at a sunny afternoon Leftover Salmon set and even better, the rare occasions I’ve spotted him since! I was floored when I heard the bass line of one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs during a Primus set and turned around to see none other than Bob Weir on stage! I will never forget how breathtaking my first Umphrey’s Sunset set was nor will I forget how I literally had to jump out of the way as golf carts rushed up with the Umphrey’s guys so they could climb up on top of the sound board to start their second set. Last year I lost track of time and needed to get to the Moonshine stage in a hurry to shoot George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, so I caught a ride on a golf cart with photographer Jay Blakesberg! Some of the craziest things have happened at Summer Camp and the fond memories are endless…but of course, the most incredible of all are the amazing friends I have made throughout the years thanks to this festival. Home is where the heart is, and Summer Camp will always have my heart.
My favorite Summer Camp (and life) memory
Camp Counselor Kyle
My favorite Summer Camp Music Festival memory happens to be one of my favorite life memories as well. It was the last day of the festival in 2013 and the weather forecast had a lot in store for us. It was my first year as Summer Camp Counselor and all day long I was told to be ready for an awesome private set experience that evening. The anticipation grew as they wouldn’t tell me who would be there to perform for me. The time finally came; I just had a fresh slice of Manolo’s and was ready to rage a private set with my close friends and family… only one problem. When we got to the church, we were told that with the radar showed an intense storm heading right for Summer Camp. The band was no longer coming to us in fear of damaging their instruments. This meant I was only allowed to bring three people with me. I was sad for my friends I had to leave behind, but I pushed onwards with my brother, sister, and girlfriend. We arrived backstage of Moonshine and entered into a trailer. It was none other than moe. and Victor Wooten ready to give us three songs! They were all so welcoming and inviting. The set consisted of Kyle’s Song, Cissy Strut, and The Weight. It was an experience only few can say they have had, and one I will cherish for the rest of my life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5YPyDQzjLgGetting to SCamp on a budget
Camp Counselor Robert
A couple of seasons ago, I was pulled over driving about one month out from SCamp. I will spare you the details, only mentioning that the driving charges were all dropped, but to summarize the consequences after having my car impounded along with being forced to pay a variety of delinquent parking tickets from all over the state, lawyer fees and so on.. I was left with a significant dent in my account balance and had made the conclusion that I simply wouldn’t be able to afford my way to SCMF that year.
Shortly after I was attending the ILL Rock Block Party hosted by The Canopy Club where I found myself in conversation with a club employee about Summer Camp. He wanted to know where I would be camping that year and seemed nearly as disappointed as I was when he found out I wasn’t going. By the time I had walked back from the bar to the picnic table where a group of friends were at I had come to the conclusion that I was, in fact, going to SCamp.
For those of us that face real world financial complications occuring at the absolute worst times, you’ll understand my dilemma. If you happen to find yourself in such a position, fear not, there are alternatives to trading away your rent money for a weekend of fun. I worked four work shifts for Manolo’s in exchange for my entry into the fest. Even though there were inevitable overlaps with my shifts and bands that I wanted to see, some SCamp is better than no SCamp, ALL DAY. I wholeheartedly give my official SCamp Counselor endorsement for working with the Green Team and their renewable resource efforts.
The cast and crew along with every SCamper, vet and rookie, is what makes this event special. It’s not the lump of earth that it takes place on top of. Cast your reserves and hesitations aside. Whatever it takes, come SCamping with me again next Memorial Day weekend. SCamp is home.
My very first Summer Camp
Camp Counselor JoJo
My very first Summer Camp was in 2013, and I went as press for the college newspaper I worked for. Not only was it my first SCamp experience, but also first camping festival experience and one I was covering no less. When I arrived I was fairly nervous, big crowds are overwhelming to me and I didn’t have many friends that I knew. However, as I began to explore the festival I quickly started feeling right at home, if not a little bit like I’d been dropped into some rabbit hole like Alice. This place was amazing! Despite my awkward and somewhat shy demeanor, I couldn’t go five feet without someone reaching out to me to say hello, or grab my hand and dance with me as I walked through a crowd taking pictures. There was one woman I remember specifically coming up to me and saying, “OMG I’ve missed you!” then put a flower crown on my head and ran off. SCamp 2013 was right after I had graduated high school, so it was a stark contrast to the disconnect I’d felt with kids my age. Instead of feeling out of place and weird I felt totally included and loved and, well, still weird but in a good way. That year was wet and muddy the whole time which I hadn’t prepared for, and by night one my sandals had already gotten lost. I had to struggle through the weekend shoeless, drenched and freezing. Despite all of that though, that weekend was easily one of the greatest in my life. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity provided to me by the festival, for allowing me to cover it, and for all the beautiful SCampers I met that year and in years following that have helped me come out of my shell. Cheers to all of you, I can’t wait until #SCamp17!Everyone Orchestra conducted by Camp Counselor Derek
Camp Counselor Derek
“Memories… light the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored (hazy) memories… of the way we were. Remember the time I got do this? I do. Good times.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XldMXkktVYAInterviewing the wizard master himself
Camp Counselor Alex D
I have been incredibly blessed to have attended Summer Camp every year since 2013 as a Camp Counselor. Being a Counselor has given me some of the most incredible experiences of my life, memories that I will cherish with me to the grave. A certain interview I did in 2016 definitely shines a light as one of my favorite memories. It wasn’t just the interview, however, that made it so great. It’s late Saturday afternoon, #SCamp16. I am still struggling with coherency after a Friday night late adventure with EOTO and Keller Williams. I’m standing in line, and by standing, I mean lazily slouching over while waiting for a water and Yerba Mate, to try and simultaneously hydrate and boost my energy. The first notes of “Let’s Go Outside” sparkle through the speakers, weave through my ears, dance with my heart and uplifts my spirit. Without conscious thought, my spine jolts upwards, awareness electrifies, and my suddenly rehydrated body moves in ways I didn’t know possible. The hour-long set of Kyle Hollingsworth Band revitalized my being and easily went down as my favorite set of the weekend. And, of course, following the music: an interview with the wizard master himself: Click to view it here.Summer Camp (with kids!)
Camp Counselor Amanda
Summer Camp is one of those places that just feels like home to me. I have grown up and moved through many stages of life while in attendance. My children have celebrated firsts, met some amazing people, & learned to love new things that they might not have tried otherwise. My husband and I have gained friends who I am sure will be around for a lifetime of experiences with us. If I had never decided to go to Summer Camp, I am sure I would not be the person that I am today. I would lack a confidence and a feeling of community that has truly changed me at my core. I am so thankful that this festival (which has grown a lot over the years) has been one that I have been able to cherish for many years.The adventure is worth it.
Camp Counselor Alexander
My most memorable Summer Camp Music Festival in reflection to all the years of epicness that I have painstakingly endured would come down to the year 2014. I say the word painstaking, because we all know how bittersweet this festival can be. Rain or shine, mud or dust. Which makes the experience seem that much more earnest, and that much more of a ride. Following in that thought, finding a ride to Summer Camp 2014 was one for the books as I was living in Southern California and had no car or budget. I decided to take the Greyhound and pack everything I needed into one duffle bag. I quickly learned to never sit in the back of a bus close to the toilet. In Denver, I ran into a fellow Scamper during my layover and we hit it off from there. I could tell by his attire that we were headed to the same place. When I got to Three Sisters Park I had a laundry list of stuff I wanted to accomplish as a Camp Counselor especially after receiving my very first press pass. I purchased a GoPro just before the festival and set up interviews with Lotus, Slightly Stoopid, and others. It was also my first time going solo. My budget was extremely limited and I was not prepared for rain. Thank the high heavens that 2014 was completely dry. I survived on dollar cliff bars for a week. It was probably the most “in the moment” adventure of my entire life. Interviews conducted, photos taken, and I even got to check out the church UM show. Brutal. My advice as a counselor is to be brave enough to take chances and always believe in yourself. The adventure is worth it. Or rather, Umph love is worth it.]]>
