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Stories from around the campfire.

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A Very Sweet Donor Gift

Our campers enjoyed hundreds of Fudgsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and all sorts of cool treats during our summer season, thanks to a generous donation from Hatch Stamping Company. Along with supplying a season’s worth of ice cream treats, Hatch Stamping Company donated a new ice cream cart. Whether served from the classic push cart (above) or by our staff, during surprise delivery trips around camp on hot afternoons (below), the snacks were a big hit with campers.

The funds were raised by Hatch Stamping Company during its annual Honda Week of Service in June. This North America-wide effort of community-based activity brings together Honda associates, dealers and suppliers like Hatch Stamping Company to help those in need. Our sincerest thanks to Hatch Stamping Company for the wonderful donation.

“At Hatch Stamping Company we make it important to involve our company and our employees in giving and being involved in our communities,” said Hatch Stamp Company President and COO Daniel Craig, who is also North Star Reach Board Treasurer. “We felt having ice cream in conjunction with camp was a great idea and a fun way to give back to the kids.”

“Learning more about what the camp has to offer to all these children–it was so inspiring to see everything that they provide for them,” added Danielle Bamm, a sales administrator at Hatch Stamping Company. “I was eager to do my part to support the cause.”

Be sure to check out the video below to hear more about our new ice cream cart and Hatch Stamping Company’s generous giving partnership with Honda.

 

Audio Campfire | Essential Insider’s Guide

To welcome new campers to our 2017 summer season, we’ve assembled a collection of audio stories we call “The Essential Insider’s Guide to North Star Reach.” From sharing camp traditions, like kissing fish and eating without any hands, to practical tips, like advice for getting to sleep at night, our campers and counselors offer advice to newcomers. We hope you enjoy their insights!

Episode 2: Strange Sightings (July)

As we get ready to host more than 100 campers during our Sickle Cell/Hematology/Pain Management Week, including 55 kids from the Chicago area, we’re delighted to share two audio stories from last year’s campers, Nylah and Jerimiah. The theme: strange camp sightings. (One of our all-star Seasonal Activity Staff counselors, Nick, shows off champion fish-kissing form. Our kiss-and-release style of fishing tops many campers’ lists as one of the strangest–and “coolest”–traditions at North Star Reach.)

 

Episode 1: From Kissing Fish to Slurping Food (June)

In our first audio episode, campers offer tips on how to catch and kiss fish, handle bugs, eat without any hands, and get to sleep. The voices, recorded during our 2016 summer season, belong to campers Nylah, McKenzie, Jackson and Nadir. (Jordon, also a 2016 camper, is featured in our photo showing off excellent no-hands dinner form.)