Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Seth T. Kannarr, Ph.D. Graduate in Geography, University of Tennessee

Summer camps remain a battleground over what it means to be American

A camper blows a bugle at Camp Nathan Hale in upstate New York in 1943. Gordon Parks/Heritage Images/via Getty Images

Imagine tall trees across the lake, a calm breeze, children laughing in the distance, the scent of your old canvas tent – there’s no forgetting the sights, sounds, smells and feel of summer camp.

Even if you’ve never gone to an overnight summer camp, you can still conjure visions of these iconic American outdoor places, thanks to books like “Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great,” TV shows like “Salute Your Shorts,” and films like “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Friday the 13th” and “The Parent Trap.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.