Camp

Camp is a unique one-season American comedic drama series from NBC aired in 2013. The creators of this refreshing show are Liz Heldens ("Friday Night Lights") and Peter Elkoff. The heartwarming drama features a warm, humorous, and often unexpected world of campers and counselors who bind together their energy, struggles, and experiences through the power of summer camp. This series perfectly encapsulates the exhilarating freedom of summer, when adults and kids alike can enjoy activities without the restrictions of their normal lives and indulge in a little innocent fun and experiences.

The show revolves around Little Otter Family Camp, a charming and somewhat dilapidated summer camp. The camp typically sees an influx of children and their parents each summer, specifically for the season of delectable barbecues, sun-soaked afternoons, and vibrant campfires. Far from their routine city life, families come to indulge in fresh air, stunning natural beauty, fun activities, and a chance to bond with their kids and amongst each other.

The central character of the series is Mackenzie 'Mack' Granger played by Rachel Griffiths, known for her performance on "Six Feet Under." Mack is a recently divorced mother who is not only running the camp, but also dealing with the complexities of her personal life. To ensure the venture's financial stability after her divorce, she faces her own set of challenges and dilemmas from investing her own money to dealing with her teenage son’s escapades. Mackenzie’s strengths and warmth shine through as she manages the camp along with the help of a diverse, eccentric crew of counselors.

Throughout the series, Mack's struggle to keep her life and camp together is met by many potential setbacks and incentives to sell the camp, not least of which is the upscale, chic and competitive Camp Ridgefield across the lake run by the wealthy and arrogant Roger Shepard, played by Rodger Corser. Shepard never misses an opportunity to try and put Mack out of business while dealing with his own set of problems that come with running the elite camp. Despite the fierce competition, an undeniable spark of attraction remains between Mack and Roger that is hard to ignore.

Camp beautifully conjures young love, secret crushes, separated couples and competitive spirit through various characters like the city-kid Kip Wampler (Thom Green) trying to fit in or Sarah Brennen (Dena Kaplan) who is secretly in love. The camp counselors are themselves a mix of personalities who are trying to navigate this chaos while sustaining a sense of responsibility. Many entertaining subplots simmer beneath the surface and often involve forbidden romance, rivalry, and unexpected conflict.

The eccentricity of the show’s characters balanced with their day-to-day dilemmas and entangled relationships bring about a unique charm to Camp. Though the series briefly touches on serious issues such as divorce, broken families, and societal pressures, it does so without overshadowing the light-hearted spirit of the show. It creates a vivid, engaging setting where each encounter holds promise—of adventure, romance, or simply getting away from it all.

One standout characteristic of this engaging drama is its genuine take on the joy, heartache, and transformation that come with the summer camp experience. Viewers will connect with the familiar feeling of adolescent anxiety, the thrill of a new crush, and the pressures accompanying parenthood. It reminds the audience of the spirited adventures and unfiltered moments of childhood in the outdoors, and leaves them reminiscing about their own camp stories.

Camp surprises audiences with its compelling blend of humor, deeper-life questions, and unintentional fun. It offers a sense of nostalgia that has the possibility of transporting people back to their own simpler times by capturing the essence of childhood experiences of summer camp and adventures, the magic of first love and the untamed spirit of adolescence. Though the series only lasted for a single season, Camp left its audience with memorable moments, laughter, and heart touching stories. The show is likely to resonate with anyone who enjoys warm, well-rounded, comedic dramas with a sentimental undertone.