Top summer camp books, movies and songs

Jul 21, 2010 8:32 AM by Jill Tipograph

Posted in Parenting / Age by Age

Camp Chatter:
Camp Nostalgia

When parents who are camp alumni return home from visiting their kids at camp, they are typically overwhelmed with intense feelings of camp nostalgia and wonderful lifetime memories. Each summer I happily experience this when I visit camps. Here are some great books, movies and songs that tell the great story of camp, its traditions, friendships, lessons and fun!

(page 2 of 2)

Summer Camp Movies

Ok, I have hours of slide shows and movie reels of my camp memories. But for those who want to relish the camp experience on the screen with others playing the camper and staff roles, watch these classic camp movies, pop some popcorn, put your feet up and take a trip down memory lane:

Indian Summer (1993): A comedy about eight friends who reunite for a week-long reunion at a summer camp in Ontario they used to attend for the best summer of their lives. Starring Alan Arkin, Diane Lane, Elizabeth Perkins, and others.
Camp (2003): A comedy about songwriter Bert Hanley, who after a series of Broadway flops, goes to work at a musical camp for young performers. Inspired by the kids, he finds an opportunity to regain success by staging an altogether new production. Starring Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air), Robin de Jesus (In the Heights, Broadway), a guest performance by Stephen Sondheim himself, and others.
Parent Trap (1998 remake of the 1961 classic ):A comedy about identical twins Hallie and Annie separated at birth when their parents divorced. After the two meet at summer camp, they begin plotting to reunite their estranged parents. Starring Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and others.
Meatballs (1979): A wacky hijinks of counselors and campers at a less-than-average summer camp. Ivan Reitman, the director, also wrote the forward to Camp Camp (the book); starring Bill Murray, and others.

Classic Camp Songs

Sing these classics and you will want to get in the car, or on a bus, to camp!

Tip: Ask your kids for their favorite camp songs; save their Color War or 'Sing' songs/lyrics as keepsakes.

Ready to reconnect with your camp and bunk mates? Check out www.campalumni.com, and visit your old camps online today to remember and reminisce!

Happy Camping!

Do you have a question for our camp expert?

Do you have a question for our summer camp expert, Jill Tipograph? Go to our camp message boards here and post your question.

For more tips from Jill, check out her site EverythingSummer.com and read her Everything Summer blog here. You can also connect with her on Twitter or Facebook.