Recreating Summer Camp

1) Recreating the Scene

Hold off on looking for the perfect marshmallow roasting stick and making nature scenes out of assorted pasta, because first, it’s important to set the scene. I think it would be fun to have a camp-themed bedroom, but I imagine sleeping in a tent, bunk bed and/or sleeping bag may get old. Nonetheless, let’s get to it.

2) Revisit Summer Camp Movies and TV Shows

Man, there are a lot of them! Most of the films depicting the quintessential American activity of summer camp are, unfortunately, bad. But then again, camp sucks for a lot of kids too, so it’s only fitting that the films do too.

• Ernest Goes to Camp-I’d rather not waste my precious intelligence on analyzing the cinematic quality of any Ernest movies
• Wet Hot American Summer-I hate the name and haven’t seen it!
• Meatballs-a bad Bill Murray film I’m afraid, but I’d take him as my camp counselor any day.
• Poison Ivy-nope, not the one with Drew Barrymore but the one with Michael J. Fox as a camp counselor. I was strangely into this movie, even though rolling around in poison ivy totally grosses me out. 
• Camp Nowhere-perhaps that can be the name of your faux summer camp? 

3) Homemade Camp Food Options

I prefer camp food to that of summer camp food since the latter probably resembles school cafeteria grub in taste and quality. No thank you! But, s’mores, hot dogs, what my family calls “doughboys” and all things grilled? Yes, please! If you forego the drastic suggestions in this guide, such as buying bunk beds and camping out in Manhattan, at the very least, reminisce with tasty camp food!

How to Make a Doughboy

I’m not sure where they originated or who in my family started the tradition at our cook-outs and campfires, but we always made doughboys filled with jelly. How do you make one? It sounds simple, but it’s a great art to make one perfectly without charring it badly. In other words, it requires patience and a good 10-15 minutes of roasting over the flame. My dad is the absolute best doughboy maker.
Ingredients
1 can of refrigerated  Pillsbury biscuit doughbutterjelly
You also need a roasting stick and some foil.
“Recipe”

1. Wrap 4 inches of foil around one end of the stick.
2. Take out 1 or 2 biscuit blobs and wrap around the stick to almost the end of the foil. It should be sealed up at the top. 
3. PATIENTLY roast over fire, turning, until evenly golden brown. 
4. Carefully remove the hot doughboy from stick and fill with butter and jelly. 

4) Restaurant Camp Food Options

I’ve done the s’more thing at home but it lacks a certain…luster? If I use the microwave or go the truly lame route and “roast” the marshmallow on a fork over the burner, it doesn’t quite achieve the camp food feel. Luckily, there are restaurants in town who will do the work for you! Well, actually, a lot of the s’more-making places will bring out a little flame and supplies, and you still make the marshmallow sandwiches yourself. Fun!!!!

5) Top it Off with a Song

When you’re not busy in the arts and crafts cabin or jumping through tires or learning “team-building skills,” you’re probably singing ridiculous songs. That will FOREVER be ingrained in your mind. A little Koombuya, anyone? Singing in a circle around a campfire is highly recommended, but maybe not in your apartment. But using all those craft skills you learned at camp, you can make a pretend fire out of construction paper and sticks. Now let’s all join hands…