Movies and Books Recall Summer Camp Memories

I came across this interesting list of movies and books that all use the summer camp theme for the basis of their storytelling. I have to admit I haven’t read any of the books yet but I have seen most of the movies. There are not very many Academy Awards type performances in any of them but they are all quite a bit of fun. You might think about renting a couple if you are thinking of sending your kids to camp … maybe break the ice and get them talking about it and looking forward to the experience:

Recall the fun and fantasies of summer camp with these favorites
By Alexa Hinton, ahinton@nashvillecitypaper.com
March 06, 2006

Whether you are preparing to send your youngster off to camp or just want to relive memories of your bunk bed monkey business, here are some summer camp-themed page-turners and big silver screen favorites to help you get in the spirit.

Movies:
Space Camp PG-13
Starring a stellar cast (circa 1986) of Joaquin Phoenix , Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Tate Donovan, Tom Skerritt and Kate Capshaw, Space Camp is the story of aspiring young astronauts training at the United States Space Camp. When their test craft is accidentally launched into the universe, the teenagers must use their newly learned skills to get back to earth.

Camp Nowhere PG-13
This 1994 camp comedy is Jessica Alba’s movie debut. Camp Nowhere is about four teens who are about to be shipped off to nightmare-ish summer camps, from military to fat camp, and bribe an out-of-work drama teacher (Christopher Lloyd) to pose as the owner/operator of a fake summer camp. Young love and high jinx ensue as the kids party away their time on the grounds of a defunct camp site.

Ernest Goes to Camp PG
Before there was Seinfeld’s Kramer, there was the clumsy and lanky Ernest P. Worrell. Proving you are never too old for camp, Ernest becomes camp counselor to a group of juvenile delinquents from the Midstate Boys Detention Center. Together, the boys and boy-man Ernest save the Kamp Kikakee from the fate of an evil mining corporation.

Indian Summer PG-13
Indian Summer is the summer camp version of the Big Chill. Starring Diane Lane and Bill Paxton, this comedic drama is about seven friends who reunite for a week at the lakeside summer camp they all attended as kids. While reminiscing about their old camp days, they solve the problems of their adult lives.

Read the full story including the list of books