Chevy Chase.
Albert Einstein.
George W. Bush.
Each of these people have different backgrounds and personalities. But they all share one thing in common: They attended summer camp.
Many lives have been forever changed by positive experiences at a children's summer camp. By providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere, summer camps allow children to pursue talents and passions that in many cases, shape the rest of their lives.
Below are just a few recognizable names whose summer camp experience had a lasting impact:
Denzel Washington
In 1975, Denzel Washington was at a point of indecision about his future. He was attending the prestigious Fordham University in New York City, but was unsure about what he wanted to do with his life. So he decided to take a semester off and took a job as a counselor at a YMCA over night summer camp in Connecticut.
While at camp, Washington participated in a staff talent show and received a warmed reception for his performance. This response persuaded Denzel to return to Fordham to study acting.
Shortly after graduating, he made his professional debut in a made-for-TV movie. Today, Denzel Washington is one of the most recognized and respected actors in the world, winning two Oscars and several other awards for his performances.
Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
"That I'm a woman... Jewish... grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and I went to summer camp in the Adirondacks, all these things are part of me."
This is what Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsberg said when interviewed by a New York Times reporter in 2009. Following her stint as "camp rabbi" at a Jewish summer camp at age 13, she would eventually pursue a career in law. During her career, she has served as a professor at Columbia Law School, general counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 1993, she was appointed to U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the second woman and first Jewish judge to sit on the court.
Michael Eisner
For 20 years, Michael Eisner held the reigns of The Walt Disney Corporation. During his tenure as CEO, Eisner revitalized Disney by expanding its international theme park presence and producing better quality movies. The company saw its value jump from $ 3 billion to $ 60 billion in the two decades Eisner spent at Disney's helm.
More than any other internationally recognized figure, Eisner is very passionate and open in discussing his time as a camper and counselor at a summer camp in Vermont. In his book "Camp," Eisner elaborates on how his summer camp experience played a major role in the development of his life. He even wrote a book about it, simply titled "Camp."
"If you are an active adult you are always out of your comfort zone whether you are in business or politics, playing tennis or canoeing," Eisner said in an interview with the American Camp Association (ACA). "But those foundations at camp help you to stay focused and move in the right direction. It's a world that you take with you wherever you go."
Through their fame and fortune, celebrities are able to share their stories to a large audience of how summer camp helped build the confidence and social skills that have proven vital to their success. However, they are not the only ones with such stories to share; as thousands of adults have benefited from the long-term friendships and confidence they built during their summer camp experiences.
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