Hot on the heels of my last post, which was also about joy, comes this one.
Some scene setting first if I may. I have been thinking about my time at camp a fair bit lately. There are a few reasons for this:
I haven’t written a Camp Summit related article since 2011, but it’s now time to write another one thanks to my interactions with Erica and her Madame Buki business.
I am a member of the Camp Summit Alumni Group on Facebook, and it was through that group's news feed that I became aware of Erica’s efforts to help Alumni members remember and re-celebrate their time on Camp.
Erica has produced a range of Summit themed goods marketed through her Madame Buki store.
I visited the store - https://madamebuki.myshopify.com/ - to see the tee shirts, caps, mugs etc. and, inspired by what I saw I reached out to Erica to ask about the art of the possible.
Back in my camp days, I inherited a Summit baseball cap from a young David Merkur. I kept that cap for the next 20 years or more before it went missing (in the last house move I think). I asked Erica if it was possible to recreate it, and it turned out that was very much doable.
What followed was:
The Summit Mountaineers cap design for example was a direct result of our interaction.
As a marketing manager, I take an active interest in design and branding. As an ex-Summit counsellor, the nostalgic value of these things is high. And for anyone that knows me, or indeed this site, nostalgia is a common theme.
Having placed an order, the items were manufactured, and they were delivered quickly into the UK; I was delighted with everything too. Over time, as more items are added to the store, I expect to buy some more.
If you read this, visit the site, or are thinking about placing an order, I absolutely recommend buying from Madame Buki.
When I am in the States later in the year, I will be wearing my new Summit gear with pride.
Some scene setting first if I may. I have been thinking about my time at camp a fair bit lately. There are a few reasons for this:
- I am going to New York for a few days in November. I haven’t been back since camp ended in 1995. I have been talking to my family about my previous visits to the city, which were all associated with the before/during/after camp experience.
- It occurred to me that I could maybe meet up with some old Summit friends in New York and so some dialogue has started. A big shout out to Rommel Vigne in particular here. He was Summit royalty as far as I was concerned.
- The heartbreaking news about Camp Mystic in Texas prompted much introspection
- And then I became aware of Erica Buki…
I haven’t written a Camp Summit related article since 2011, but it’s now time to write another one thanks to my interactions with Erica and her Madame Buki business.
I am a member of the Camp Summit Alumni Group on Facebook, and it was through that group's news feed that I became aware of Erica’s efforts to help Alumni members remember and re-celebrate their time on Camp.
Erica has produced a range of Summit themed goods marketed through her Madame Buki store.
I visited the store - https://madamebuki.myshopify.com/ - to see the tee shirts, caps, mugs etc. and, inspired by what I saw I reached out to Erica to ask about the art of the possible.
Back in my camp days, I inherited a Summit baseball cap from a young David Merkur. I kept that cap for the next 20 years or more before it went missing (in the last house move I think). I asked Erica if it was possible to recreate it, and it turned out that was very much doable.
What followed was:
- A delightful exchange of emails, ideas and Summit related visual assets from my time on camp
- Some new designs and store updates from Erica
- An order from me for a tee shirt and three different caps
The Summit Mountaineers cap design for example was a direct result of our interaction.
As a marketing manager, I take an active interest in design and branding. As an ex-Summit counsellor, the nostalgic value of these things is high. And for anyone that knows me, or indeed this site, nostalgia is a common theme.
Having placed an order, the items were manufactured, and they were delivered quickly into the UK; I was delighted with everything too. Over time, as more items are added to the store, I expect to buy some more.
If you read this, visit the site, or are thinking about placing an order, I absolutely recommend buying from Madame Buki.
When I am in the States later in the year, I will be wearing my new Summit gear with pride.
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