Camp Hammer

It’s been a while since the summers I worked here. It’s been even longer since I was a camper.
I remember the drive: a friend in the backseat with me, little sister up front, and my mom navigating Big Basin Highway. I’ll never forget the weeks I spent at camp. Even though it wasn’t cheap, my parents worked hard so that they could afford to send my sister and I each for two weeks instead of just one (I believe there were three weeks of each age group). Worth every penny. I’ll never forget my summer experiences. I honestly think that this was also the time I first decided I liked to write.
I had the opportunity to write letters home and every night I sent one. Years later as a staff person, lots of campers wanted to write to me. I wrote back endless letters for years. I remember the death of a camper (not at camp) who I had been very close to. She called herself Little Frosty. (My camp name was Frosty — see my review of Wendy’s and it’ll explain my camp name :)). It was very difficult to lose a friend I felt like I’d had so much influence on.
I can’t review the camp in much detail because I’m sure it’s changed tremendously, but there were hiking trails, a «flying squirrel» zip line, a pond to fish, a pool to swim, a meadow to play… cabins, nearby bathrooms, a room for worship and a huge cafeteria hall. We played games and competed. Learned about each other, taught one another.
I’ve always wanted to return. It’d be impossible with work I think — but not one summer of my life has gone by that I have’nt thought about quitting my jobs and trying to work there for 8 weeks. I think the pay was $ 250/​wk when I was there last… perhaps less. But the rewards were everlasting. My eyes water every time I think about camp.
The most amazing people I can remember:
Thumper, and Sprocket are the two counselors I remember most from my time as a camper. Thumper was my counselor more than once. Sprocket worked with the kids who rode mountain bikes.
I remember the Bruner family all lived there and helped with cooking and maintenance. I believe they’re in Oregon now.
Soleil was a coworker when I was staff. She was from the same City as me and we had a mutual friend at home. We still keep in touch.
I remember Albacore during pool competitions. For some reason I remember his wet hair the most!
xoxxox

You Have to go to know. This place is FULL of Jesus… and steak

I went to Camp Hammer when I was a kid and loved it. I believe it was my first camp and we all arrived in big yellow buses. How fun!
There was so much to do and I was with kids my own age and my parents were not around to surpervise me. It was great.
I remember the bunks being hard, cold and uncomfortable but I was so tired by the end of the day, I just crashed out. The showers were also cold from what I remember, so I only took one in the week that I was there.
They kept us pretty busy with all of the activities and the food was also good but isn’t all camp food good? I always thought so. We could also play foosball, ping pong and shuffleboard. Not really into that but some kids were.
Highly recommended to send your kids to. It’s well supervised, safe campgrounds and fun activities. My nephew and his friends just stayed here and they said they loved it too. Glad to hear it’s still cool.

This has got to be one of the fanciest camps I’ve ever been to.
Cabins are nice and new with built in toilets, showers and sinks. No need to walk into the middle of the woods to do your bathroom thing.
Each cabin has central heating, very nice! No longer will you freeze in the middle of the night.
Facilities are kept nice and clean. Everything seems new except the main worship hall where the sound equipment was a little ancient.
Food was okay. They make tons of delicious food but many people commented that it didn’t really agree with their stomachs really well. There is always a constant supply of hot drinks in the dining hall ²⁴⁄₇ to keep your body warm and toasty. Though I didn’t spend much time in the lounge, it was fully stocked with foosball, ping pong tables, shuffle board and various board games.