This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the love story that keeps on giving: camp. Not just the place, but the people, the moments, the memories, and the magic. The kind of love that smells like lake water and sunscreen, and sounds like chants echoing through the trees.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a lifer, there’s something about camp that just sticks with you. From lake jumps to late-night giggles, in honor of February 14 – here’s 14 reasons why camp is our forever Valentine:
Love letters (yes, the handwritten kind!)
There’s something magical about real mail – even if it’s a crumpled piece of paper that says “For Canteen.” Writing home becomes a quiet ritual that helps campers reflect on their days. And for parents, every note is a little window into the summer experience – misspellings and all.
Camp crushes
The excitement of evening activity? It’s not just about the game. A fresh outfit, a swipe of face paint, and a nervous smile – camp crushes are sweet, innocent, and forever embedded in summer memory.
First friendships that last forever
You may have started out as strangers on bunk beds, but by the end of the week, you’re sharing snacks, secrets, and life dreams. Camp friendships are forged in the fires of shared sunscreen and Color War chants. They’re the kind of bonds that show up in wedding parties years down the line.
Color War butterflies
Whether you’re Red vs. Blue, Green vs. Gold, or Apache all the way – the energy is electric. You’ll never forget the break, the banners, the cheers, and the feeling of belonging to something bigger. It’s where competition meets community in the most unforgettable way.
SING night chills
Even the loudest campers go quiet when the harmonies begin. SING is when emotions rise and tears fall – sometimes from pride, sometimes from just being so full. It’s when you realize camp is so much more than just games and fun.
The way a campfire brings people together
No WiFi, no distractions – just flames, stories, and starry skies. Campfires have a way of slowing time and opening hearts. They’re where laughter and vulnerability live side by side.
Sharing bug spray and socks = real love
You know it’s real when your bunkmate gives you her last pair of clean socks or sprays your back without even being asked. Camp teaches a special kind of generosity – the kind that lives in the little things.
Counselors who just get it
They’re not just in charge – they’re role models, big siblings, hype people, and emotional lifelines. Counselors help campers feel seen, safe, and celebrated. Years later, you’ll still talk about that counselor who made camp magic real for you.
Dance parties in the bunk
No stage, no audience, no judgment – just the best playlist and your people. Whether it’s karaoke, strobe lights made from flashlights, or spontaneous TikTok attempts (without TikTok!), bunk dance parties are pure joy.
Feeling seen for exactly who you are
Camp strips away the pressure to be perfect. Here, being loud, silly, messy, or sensitive is celebrated. Camp is where kids are free to be their full, unfiltered selves – and that’s a kind of love every kid deserves.
The photos that never leave your lock screen
Camp memories aren’t always posed – they’re muddy, laughing, mid-hug, mid-cheer, and so real. The photos say it all. Camp becomes the background of your favorite stories.
The first jump in the lake
It’s freezing. It’s shocking. It’s freedom. That first cannonball or cautious wade is a rite of passage – and a literal plunge into summer.
Hugs that fix everything
Homesick? Lost a game? Just feeling all the feelings? Camp hugs – from friends, from counselors, from someone you just met – are instant comfort.
Falling asleep knowing you can’t wait for tomorrow
Camp days are full, but it’s the nights that make you pause. As you drift off to the sound of crickets and whispers, you’re already dreaming about what tomorrow might hold. That’s camp magic.
Camp is more than a place. It’s a feeling. A forever kind of love. We hope your February is filled with the kind of joy that only camp can bring.
About the contributor:
Summer 365 is the leading consulting service created by and for parents, driven by a customized, holistic approach to finding the best summer experience for each child and family. Through in-person visits and meetings with camps and programs, our momboss team of experts have insider knowledge on more than 500 top sleepaway camps and summer programs for children and teens ages 7–18. Our service makes it easy for parents to find whatever they’re looking for – whether it’s traditional or specialty sleepaway camp, community service, performing arts, enrichment, wilderness, or language immersion programs.