I Take Camp With Me Wherever I Go – By Danny New

It’s been 11 years since I set foot in Camp, and yet I still dream about it once a week. Isn’t that weird? Well, to be honest: It’s probably only weird to people who didn’t go there.

I wish I could have visited – I’ve just spent the last 7 of those years chasing my television dreams up and down the East Coast. From Miami to Springfield to Florida again: I now host a nationally-syndicated morning talk show for NBC in Tampa, where I would guess many of my fellow Harlamites’ grandparents watch me after a round of golf.

And although I haven’t been able to visit, I would argue that I take Camp with me wherever I go – since some of the seminal explorations of my career came in Kunkletown.

It started during my second year, in Sharon, when my best friend Aaron and I would stay up late whispering between our beds. I would repeat my favorite jokes from the stand-up comedian Brian Regan, and we would giggle all night. The power of being able to make somebody laugh felt special, even with a modest crowd.

The following summer, Aaron and I were feeling pretty funny ourselves (along with our friend Scott), and we decided to write a song about how we wanted Color War to finally be cereal-themed. It felt like a vital cause, and required a chorus where we chanted, “Ms. Raisin Bran for Captain Color War! Ms. Raisin Bran for Captain Color War!”

We sang it in the camp talent show, and the entire Arava unit got up and screamed it with us. It still lives on YouTube today, where I occasionally still visit to soak in the glory of our 87 views. If cereal finally gets declared the theme, I’m coming back to dress up like a giant sun with shades and a bowl of flakes. Mark my words, Lisa David.

And then, in Galil, I was ready to graduate to the next step in performing. I tried out for the camp play, where I was lucky enough to be given the part of Peter Pan. I had never had a starring role before, and this was a huge boost in my confidence as an entertainer.

My favorite part was: As our version of special effects, we had a counselor dress in all-black clothes and carry me on his shoulders around the stage – so I could technically “fly.” We’ll count it. I even still have the golden-glitter sword that we made in the art shack.

I guess what I’m saying is: Many of my first times grappling with the power of comedy and performance came at Camp, and I never really thought about it until now. The truth is: When you send your kid off to camp, you’re sending them to a place where they can explore who they are, and what they maybe didn’t realize they wanted to do.

In other words, maybe I still dream about camp once a week because it’s what helped me chase my own in the first place.

Danny New is an alum of Camp Harlam and is the host a nationally-syndicated morning talk show for NBC in Tampa. Check out his recent segment about his time at camp.