Summer at Camp Lou Henry Hoover

If you ever wondered what it's like to spend a summer at Camp Lou Henry Hoover, just ask one of our former campers-turned-camp-staff, Tori Barnaskas! She outlines what to expect at camp and shares some of her most cherished memories of summers spent in cabins and on the lake with her friends.

When I was asked to be a guest blogger for GSHNJ, I was honored. After a few minutes of both disbelief and happiness, the panic set in. How was I ever going to be able to accurately portray just how special and important camp is, especially Camp Hoover: I was afraid I wouldn’t do it justice. Even now, I’ve been sitting here for hours making lists and hitting the delete button thousands of times. That being said, I’m just going to write and hope that I can help you understand what to expect at Camp Hoover and what makes it an incredible experience.

The first time you drive up Rainbow Road can be scary and thrilling and intimidating all at the same time. The Commons might look a little hectic on Sunday morning because everyone is checking in and dropping their luggage off, but during the week it is home to games before meals, flag before breakfast, and any other activity your counselors might plan for you. It’s a great place to stargaze and to pitch a pop-up tent for a campout. Last summer I spent the last night of camp laying on the Commons with my friends, eating Chipwiches, reminiscing about the summer, and hoping for the future.

There are so many other activities you can do throughout the week. Commander raiding is one of the most requested ones amongst older girl units. We have all-camps, first night campfires on the second night of camp that have a humorous feel, and last night campfires that are more serious and meaningful. Of course there’s archery, swimming, and boating, but it’s sometimes the smaller, side activities that you’ll remember the most. If you’re in Survivor Girl, you may go on a hike to find edible plants around camp and make flower crowns, or if you’re in Mini Camp you might go on a unicorn hunt.

For me, some of my favorite memories of camp happen in my cabin or in my tent. I can recall getting in trouble for being up too late and being too noisy, but I just couldn’t go to bed. I wanted to stay awake and talk to my new and old friends. For some, summer is the only time that we get to see each other and we just want to make every second count. I’ve always believed that camp friends are the best friends. They’ve seen you in shorts and a t-shirt, without makeup on, without trying to be someone that you’re not. They’ve seen you laugh and cry and everything in-between. They don’t expect you to be anyone but who you are and want to see you succeed, whether it be moving up a color down at waterfront or encouraging you to apply for a job you might be too scared to go for.

Camp Hoover is a one-of-a-kind place. It’s an environment where you don’t need to be checking your phone constantly or logging into Facebook to see what everyone else is up to. You can leave your busy world behind and listen to the sounds of the wind in the trees, the crickets at night, and the peace around you. There’s a certain kind of magic about camp that you’ll only understand if you’ve been there. You’ll make friends and memories that you’ll never forget. There’s a saying that goes “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as smoke rises, my best friend you’ll be” and you’ll be saying it to your friends for years to come.

Join us this summer at camp!