Meet this year’s Grinch: The Supply Chain

There aren’t many days at camp the phrase “supply chain” comes up. Sure – we have to order a ton of stuff in bulk like chicken nuggets, confetti, face paint, and t-shirts, but the campers would never know there’s a process to getting all their camp essentials since it’s all just magically there for them. As the world shifts ‘back-to-normal,’ we’re slowly realizing that some aspects of life may take a little longer to recover from the last 18 months. If you haven’t had a close pulse on the news the last few weeks, one of those things the U.S. trying to still figure out is the supply chain. Thankfully camp is several months away and *hopefully* all those shipping issues will be resolved long before the days get warmer and longer. However, as we head into November and begin thinking about Christmas, supply chain issues could potentially be The Grinch that Stole Christmas this year. That means you may not be able to find all the things on the lists of those people you care about.

While gift-giving has become a huge part of our Christmas tradition, we know that “things” aren’t the reason we celebrate Christmas. Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas. As “things” may be less available in the coming months, we have an incredible opportunity to point our kids and our family back to remembering what’s most important about ‘fa-la-la-la-la’ season. 🎄

The less-than-ideal shelf stock situation not only gives us a chance to remind our families about the meaning of Christmas, but it also gives us a chance to redefine what it means to give a great Christmas gift. While there’s something awesome about seeing a kid’s eyes light up at the wrapped goodies under the tree, we believe the best gift doesn’t need to be shipped or require double-A batteries. The best gift is actually giving your kids memories that will last a lifetime.  

Experiences Over Every “Thing”

The reality is that in today’s world, the last thing we or our kids need is more stuff. We have closets full of stuff that we never touch. It’s no different with kids! According to the Wellness Mama blog, the average kid has 200 toys but only plays with 12 of them. Chances are your kid isn’t happy with all their toys either. There’s always something more they (or let’s be real — we) want. At the end of the day, even getting that “one-more-thing” never results in filling our happiness tank. So instead of things, might we suggest you consider experiences? We might be a little biased, but we have high regard for experiences over every “thing” you could give. 

Experiences can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. One of the best ways to impact your family is investing in experiences that everyone gets to do together. Research has shown that kids who spend time doing things together with family tend to do better in school and in social situations. Whether it’s going to a play, a sports event, a trampoline park or something else – being together, outside the house, and experiencing something new is a win-win for all families. Another option for the whole family this year is giving the gift of Family Camp! WinShape launched a 3-night, 2-day summertime family experience last summer and it was so popular that we’re bringing it back in 2022 for 4 sessions. Registration opens in December and it makes a great gift for the whole family.  

While togetherness has major benefits for everyone involved, so does a little independence. Of course, one of the best gifts we believe you can give your kids this Christmas is a session of camp! Year after year, parents tell us their kids get the same main benefits from camp: making new friends, experiencing new things, growing in their faith, increasing their independence for the little things (like brushing their teeth without being asked 😱), and of course, having non-stop fun.  

Not only is sending your kid away for a week at one of our Overnight Camps good for them, but it’s good for you! Many parents use the week or two their kids are away to go on a vacation with their spouse or have a little “me-time”. It really is the gift that keeps on giving! And we’ve got camps for kids of all ages! 

Give Camp this Christmas 

We’ve got some good news about giving camp this Christmas! If you’ve never sent your kid to one of our kid-only Overnight Camps, we’re paying 50% of the cost for them to go*. That means a savings of over $350 for a week of camp! Not only is it a great deal, but we offer an incredible pay-as-you-go plan. That means you can secure your camper’s spot as a part of their Christmas with just a deposit and make payments each month leading up to camp.  

But wait, there’s more…. 

Secure your camper’s spot at WinShape Camps by registering and at least paying a deposit for this summer between November 15th and December 17th and we’ll send you a little something to put under the tree for your camper! Just let us know you’ve completed your registration with this form and we’ll send you a limited edition “Bobo” lunchbox for your campers to unwrap on Christmas morning for free!

Don’t let the supply chain Grinch steal Christmas. Give camp this Christmas!

*50% gift is for first-time, overnight campers at our kid-only experiences. Does not apply to Family Camp sessions.