July 4th at Camp Weequahic is fantastic. We’ve got the carnival, great food, a super-fun parade, contests, MTV Night… and then—BOOM!—the fireworks show! The colorful explosions light up the sky, and you can hear everyone gasping, “Ooh!” and “Aah!” as they watch with their friends.
It’s a night we all love, but fireworks only happen once (maybe twice) a year. They burst into the sky, shine bright for a moment, and then—poof!—they’re gone.
Bonfires
Bonfires, though? They’re a whole different experience. Building a bonfire takes a little time. Some of us rush in with tons of excitement but forget to plan and it takes a while to get going. Others build it just right, and it roars to life fast. Either way, once it’s burning, it lasts a long time.
How long? Well, a few years ago, we cleaned up our “Burn the Rope” bonfires and found the ashes still smoldering 12 hours later. Those sneaky little ashes even tried to start a mini-fire until we dumped a bunch of water on them. Lesson learned!
Are bonfires as flashy as fireworks? Maybe not. But they give us something fireworks cannot: warmth to cozy up to, light to see by, a spot to cook marshmallows, and the perfect place to hang out with friends and family, share stories, and laugh together.
A the Little Bonfires
We like to think of Camp Weequahic as a collection of bonfires, not fireworks. We’re all about building friendships and memories that last way beyond the summer. Picture those small groups of kids who’ve been coming for 3, 4, or more summers together—cool kids on their own, but when they team up? Whoosh! It’s like a bonfire that keeps everyone warm and happy.
How do we keep the bonfire burning? By feeding it with care and effort! Have you been missing your camp buddies from last summer? No worries—the ashes are still warm! With a little nudge (like a text or a call), you can get that fire blazing again in no time.
This summer, we can’t wait to welcome back our awesome returning campers and staff. They’ll help us kick off the fun and bring in all our new friends. Let’s make this year’s bonfire the brightest yet!
