5 Ways Ship Camps Makes Summer Camp Travel Easier


Summer camp is an incredible experience for children of all ages. It’s a chance to unplug from technology, make new friends, learn new skills, and explore the great outdoors. But before the summer fun can begin, there’s a lengthy list of items you need to obtain for your child. Once that’s done, it’s time to determine how you’re going to get all that gear to camp. Will you drag everything through the airport? Or will you opt for an overpacked car with no visibility, instead? Luckily, there’s a third option. And it’s far easier and more convenient. It’s Ship Camps! Ship Camps is a service that will collect your child’s trunks and luggage from your home and deliver them to camp safely and on-time. This means all you have to do is pack, then sit back and relax. They’ll handle all of the heavy lifting and, another plus, you won’t have to pay any of those pricey airline baggage fees.

Ship Camps are also one of our newest partners. They’ve committed to helping A THOUSAND SUMMERS campership recipients ship luggage to camp.

They’re already trusted by hundreds of world-class camps and camp families to ship luggage to and from home. Here are 5 reasons why:

  1. Convenient
    We’ve all experienced the long lines at the airport, the dreaded overhead bins, the large crowds at baggage claim, and the looming concern of “I hope my bag rolls out next.” Ship Camps eliminates all of those worries and headaches. Once you experience traveling through the airport hands-free, you’ll never go back.
  2. Personalized
    The Ship Camps service is tailormade to what works best for you and your child. They offer flexible pickup and delivery dates and times to accommodate your schedule and allow you to ship various item types including luggage (duffel bags and suitcases), boxes, and trunks.
  3. Safe
    More than 2 million bags were lost or mishandled by the airlines in 2022. Could you imagine sending your child off to camp only to find their luggage didn’t make it? Not only does Ship Camps eliminate touchpoints at the airport, but every shipment comes with access to real-time tracking and an unbeatable on-time delivery guarantee. So, your bags will be where you need
    them, when you need them there. All shipments also come with complimentary insurance. If your child happens to be traveling with more expensive items, you can select a higher insurance amount that best matches the value of their belongings.
  4. Time-Saver
    Arguably the greatest benefit of shipping luggage to camp is that it saves you time on both the sending and receiving ends. Scheduling your shipment is easy and can be completed over the phone or online in just a few clicks. Shipping labels will be mailed to you in ready-to-attach pouches for qualifying orders. Then, all that’s left to do is wait for pickup! No need to worry about packing your car or expending energy at the airport. Upon arrival at camp, you’ll find the move-in process is simplified, too. Since your child’s bags are already there, you’ll be able to enjoy the last few moments with them to the fullest, instead
    of worrying about the logistics of getting them settled in.
  5. White-Glove
    The cherry on top to Ship Camps is its exceptional customer support team. They are available seven days a week by phone, text, or email for any questions or concerns you may have. They also closely monitor your child’s shipment to ensure on-time delivery and send you email updates when your bags have been picked up, once they’re out for delivery, and after they’ve been delivered to summer camp.

They’ve truly thought of everything so you don’t have to. Enjoy the Ship Camps experience all season long and make this summer the best one yet. Get a free quote to get started!

A Message of Thanks from Carlos

During this traditional time of giving, we want to recognize you as part of a community committed to giving young people an opportunity so powerful that it has the potential to shape their future. While at camp each summer, campers forge lifelong friendships and overcome challenges, becoming more confident, resilient, and responsible.

We are proud of the work we do together to change kids’ lives. Thank you for believing in our mission and for positively impacting the lives of some wonderful kids.

Click on the video below for a special message from Carlos explaining how grateful he is for your support.

Your Support is Changing Kids’ Lives

We would like to say THANK YOU to our loyal and generous supporters who help to provide the gift of camp to amazing kids around the country, allowing them to develop lifelong friendships and important life skills while having the time of their lives. We are so grateful to our supporters for making a difference in the lives of the young people we serve, and they are truly appreciative also.

You can hear from a few of them by clicking on the video below.

DEI

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Wilderness summer camp programs provide a unique opportunity in youth development. Historically, these types of highly impactful enrichment experiences have been reserved for families with significant financial means. A THOUSAND SUMMERS’ primary mission is to bridge that financial gap and make camp accessible to youth who otherwise would not be able to attend. At the same time, we are committed to serving youth who represent the full breadth of diverse backgrounds. This means partnering with camp programs that invite people not simply to “fit in” with the spoken and unspoken cultural norms of those who have historically been represented at summer camp, but to feel a deep sense of belonging. We strive to ensure that each participant is valued for who they are and what they bring to the summer program they join.

Outside Influences

A Thousand Summers has the great fortune to partner with some of the highest quality outdoor adventure summer camps in the United States. Though their natural environments differ, they share common philosophies of social and emotional growth through supportive communities and outdoor experiences.

“Outside” looks different for the kids in our A Thousand Summers program depending on which camp they attend. They might spend their summer exploring Rocky Mountain National Park or the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. They may find themselves at the bottom of a rock canyon in the Utah desert or learning about ancient cultures at Mesa Verde and in the Four Corners region. They may learn to love the remote North Woods of Maine and the Appalachian Trail or the stunning lakes of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Some even get to venture internationally to canoe through the pristine wilderness and interconnected waterways of the Canadian Boundary Waters. And starting this summer (2022), some of our campers will have the amazing experience of living in the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest at our newest associate camp, Camp Nor’wester.

I see the impact of camp on my son. He is much more responsible, independent, and confident in himself. Thank you for allowing these low income kids to have these opportunities and beautiful experiences in their lives…You have had a great impact on my son’s life that he will never forget.

  • parent of a Sanborn Western Camps camper

“My son had very welcoming and friendly camp counselors. He LOVED them. I know that those counselors made a huge difference for him. He was AFFIRMED. He was encouraged. He was accepted. It was great.”

  • parent of a Camp Kawanhee for Boys camper

Regardless of which camp they attend, all of our kids experience incredible scenery and invigorating activities from sunup to sundown. The highlight of their day might be standing on the summit of a snow-capped 14,000-foot peak, hiking to a pristine lake deep in the backcountry, or sleeping under the stars on a multi-night backpacking trip. Maybe they enjoy a lunch on the trail in the middle of a wildflower meadow, a shaded forest, or on the fragile tundra. They might feel the exhilaration of sliding down a summer snowfield or rafting or canoeing through whitewater canyons.

“Being outside and with other kids—this has been a huge lack in his life, and I am so glad he has gotten a chance to do both of those. He is maturing so much, and I can see the leaps from before to after camp. He is calmer, he is more confident, he feels more steady within himself. It is wonderful.” 

  • parent of Kooch-i-Ching camper

They could spend their days learning backcountry camping and survival skills—how to build a fire, cook outdoors, pitch a tent, build a shelter, use a map and compass, administer first aid, and Leave No Trace. They may overcome fear and self-doubt on a technical climbing route or create lifelong memories when things don’t go as planned on a challenging hike. They might experience the peaceful sounds of the canoe or kayak paddle dipping gently into the smooth water or the exhaustion of spending the day battling a strong headwind or navigating difficult portages.

“Each year I talk about the small summer successes that have pushed my daughter to growth. But now, as the years have passed, I see an overall picture, one that has deeply been shaped by her experiences at summer camp, the loving guidance of the camp, and the commitment of her mentor. She is passionate, driven, not willing to accept no as an answer, motivated to take the difficult route, and determined to succeed. It has been a beautiful journey to watch unfold. I cannot wait to see how that continues throughout high school and into her leadership years at camp.” 

  • parent of a Clearwater Camp for Girls camper

Maybe their day is spent as simply as splashing their friends in a cold mountain stream, building rudimentary stick dams in the creek, and letting their imaginations roam. Their time may be spent collecting firewood, finding the perfect flat spot to pitch a tent, and ending the day by roasting marshmallows and singing songs with friends around a campfire.

However they choose to spend their days at camp and whatever “outside” looks like at that particular camp, the kids learn and grow through their experiences. Their time away from home in a challenging yet supportive outdoor environment pushes them out of their comfort zone. They try new activities, meet new people, and discover new things about themselves. They become more confident, more independent, more responsible, and more resilient. Camp teaches kids life lessons and helps them develop essential social-emotional skills that stretch their potential and help them realize there are no limits to what they are capable of achieving.

“My son definitely feels like he was able to overcome some challenges and anxiety this summer. He has come home with a more relaxed demeanor and things don’t seem to agitate him as much as they did before…he seems to be much more able to roll with things since his return.”

  • parent of a Camp Thunderbird camper

“I am always astounded at what a different young woman comes home from camp each year…there is a new maturity, a clarity about the purpose of her life and her place in the world, a newfound understanding of what is truly important in life and her role in making a difference in other’s lives.”

  • parent of a Cheley Colorado Camps camper

The A Thousand Summers Campership Program opens up a whole new world to our kids and, in many cases, has a profound impact. The parents of our campers regularly tell us how incredibly grateful they are for this opportunity and what a remarkable difference it made for their child. As you can see from the parent comments we’ve included here, the particular camp they attend or the natural environment of the camp doesn’t matter. The personal growth experienced is universal.

“I have seen lots of different programs throughout my life that are geared toward kids and their growth. This is one of the best I have seen by far. My favorite part of this is growth in themselves in an austere environment. It is far too easy for our kids in today’s world to stay in a comfort zone of screens and social media. By unplugging them for a long period of time and sending them into areas where discomfort is going to be normal, they tap into a whole new area of development and self-discovery. This is just an amazing thing, and I can’t say enough about how much it has helped my son.” 

  • parent of a Colvig Silver Camps camper

Summer camp is powerful in many ways and unquestionably important in the development of young people. Thank you to our wonderful associate camps who provide such rich programming opportunities and experiences for the kids we serve. And thank you to everyone who finds it in his or her heart to share the gift of camp, whether that gift is for their own family members or for kids who deserve the opportunities and advantages that summer camp provides.

“This opportunity that you have given our daughter to attend camp in a different ecosystem, surrounded by inspiring counselors with college experience, has been a window into another way of life she will always have with her… Our family is grateful and blessed with your generosity, which has helped our daughter explore beyond what our family can provide.”

  • parent of an Ogichi Daa Kwe camper