Summer “Camp” Memories
Summer “Camp” Memories
A feature revealing some of the actual summer camps that doubled as your favorite camp movie settings.
The notion of the summer camp experience is a nostalgic thing for many Americans - whether you went to camp as a kid, always dreamed of going to camp, or simply watched the summer camp antics in movies and television shows, the experience is romanticized in the minds of many and often portrayed as a seminal youth experience in popular culture. Disney Channel’s original movie “Camp Rock” is the latest camp-themed movie to capture the imaginations of millions (its premiere drew even higher ratings than that of the original “High School Musical”). Since it is summertime, and it gets us all dreaming of those summer camp days, why not take a look at the real camps that stood in for the settings of your favorite camp movies and shows?
2008’s “Camp Rock,” starring the Jonas Brothers and introducing Demi Lovato, was filmed in Canada (Haliburton, Ontario) at YMCA Wanakita (outdoor scenes) and Kilcoo Camp (indoor scenes). Camp Kilcoo is a boys’ camp with tons of activities, from windsurfing and rock climbing to arts and crafts. Camp Wanakita proves you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy camp - they offer weekend getaways for adults too! You spend the days doing indoor and outdoor activities as well as mingling with other adult campers at social events. (They also have packages for families, so gather your loved ones and go live the “Camp Rock” experience!)
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen filled the tween idol shoes before Demi Lovato did, and in 1995 they starred in “It Takes Two,” a family comedy a la “The Parent Trap” in which two identical strangers meet, swap places and plot to romantically unite their parental units. “It Takes Two” also starred Kirstie Alley and Steve Guttenberg, and was filmed at Camp Mini-Yo-We, also in Ontario, Canada.
Fellow tabloid starlet Lindsay Lohan’s “Parent Trap” was filmed at Griffith Park at the Seely camp. Adults 13 and up can pay $35 per person for a 2-day, 1-night weekend outing (younger children are charged $20-27 each).
The ultimate, classic camp flick has to be 1979’s “Meatballs,” starring the always-hilarious Bill Murray as an apathetic camp counselor named Tripper. Haliburton, Ontario seems to be the summer camp capitol of the world; “Meatballs” was filmed there at Camp Towhee and Camp White Pine. Camp Towhee boasts Adventure-Based Learning programs, while White Pine offers a plethora of outdoor activities, on land and in the water, and can be rented by groups.
Also a hilarious summer camp ball-buster, 2001’s “Wet Hot American Summer” was set in Maine but was filmed in Honesdale, Pennsylvania at Camp Towanda, a co-ed sleep away camp in the Pocono Mountains.
If you grew up in the 90s, you surely loved Nickelodeon’s kid series, “Salute Your Shorts”… in fact, we’re willing to bet you still know the words to the theme song. (We run, we jump, we swim and play, we row and go on trips…) Who didn’t want to go to Camp Anawanna?! This camp folly was actually filmed in Griffith Park in Los Angeles!
You probably also saw the film “Heavy Weights,” starring Ben Stiller and a few “Mighty Ducks” alums. The movie, set at a camp for chubby young dudes which was taken over by fitness nut Stiller, was filmed at Camp Pinnacle and Camp Ton-a-Wondah, both in Hendersonville, North Carolina. (Psst… did you know that current mega-producer Judd Apatow co-wrote “Heavy Weights” back in 1995?) A final 90s camp classic, “Camp Nowhere,” was shot at Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, CA, a property owned by Disney. In fact, many other films used the ranch as well, including “Back to the Future,” “Cry-Baby,” and “The Majestic.”
And for a “real” dose of camp life, the show “Bug Juice” was aired. One of the show’s filming locations was Camp Waziyatah in Waterford, Maine, which has seemingly every possible camp-related activity, from outdoor sports to performing and visual arts. It’s no wonder this camp was chosen to air, as it has such a rich range of summer camp must-haves.
Rent a few of these movies, reminisce about your own summer camp days, or send your little ones off to one of these celluloid summer camps. Either way, the sun is shining and camp days are here - head to the mess hall for a sloppy Joe and we’ll see you in the bunk after the swimming test!
- Christina LeBlanc, Executive Editor
[...] Bug Juice (1998): Feature. [...]
[...] Camp Nowhere (1994): Feature. [...]
Hi. I found that some of the movies you mentioned reminded me of my own camping experiences growing up. I went to a residential camp in upstate New York and they would have movie nights. I remember the atmosphere as it was usually held outdoors on a huge vinyl drape to project the film while campers would sit on towels on the grass and/or in seats near the canteen. One movie I remember specifically seeing was “American Flyers” with Kevin Coster and David Marshall Grant. I remember that night so well (July 17, 1987) because it was where I became friends with my closest friend and still is to this day. True, some great camp movies are there to make people laugh and smile. Others like this drama may actually bring people closer together. Thank you for this fantastic post and have a good weekend.
To me, some of my favorite movies of the era included Back To The Future, One Crazy Summer, Groundhog Day, and a surprisingly funny movie from the 60’s called It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World. The last one made me laugh so much during it much like Groundhog Day when I first saw it. When you think about it, the memories cherished in such settings honestly last a lifetime. I don’t see how it didn’t directly influence who I have become today. Have a good one!