“Mom… I think I lost the water bottle,” Ari said, fighting back the tears. Not only was he exhausted from the final night activities and feeling emotionally raw from the ups and downs of saying goodbye to camp, he now realized he’d lost the one thing his mom specifically told him not to lose.

The last day of camp is always a little bittersweet. Campers head home with bags full of dirty laundry, new friendships, funny stories, and memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime. While families are unpacking and settling back into their routines, camp staff begin another end-of-season tradition: sorting through Lost & Found.

Every summer, BB Camp collects a familiar assortment of forgotten belongings. The camp office gathers water bottles, sweatshirts, towels, hats, sunglasses, and every once in a while, a truly mysterious item that leaves everyone wondering, “How did this end up here?” 

If your camper has ever left something behind, you’re not alone. In fact, forgotten items are such a normal part of camp life that we expect them every year.

Before camp started, Ari borrowed his older brother’s favorite water bottle. This wasn’t just any water bottle. It was covered in stickers from family trips to Hawaii, New York, Texas, and Alaska. His mom had one clear instruction before he left for camp: “Whatever you do, don’t lose your brother’s water bottle!”  Everything seemed fine until Ari got home and started unpacking. The water bottle was nowhere to be found.

He checked his backpack. His duffel bag. The car. He checked his duffel bag again, just in case it had magically appeared. Still nothing. As you can imagine, Ari was more than a little nervous.

Would his brother be upset? Was the bottle gone forever? Had he lost all those memories along with it? Ari knew how much that water bottle meant to his brother, and he was worried he’d never see it again.

Finally, he and his mom called the camp office and nervously described the missing bottle. Before he could finish explaining all the stickers, the staff knew exactly which one he meant.

The bottle was safe in Lost & Found.

A few days later, Ari and his mom stopped by to pick it up. And when they got there, they discovered something fun: camp staff had added a BB Camp sticker to the collection.

Now the water bottle tells two stories: family adventures across the country and a memorable summer at camp.

Maybe your camper has come home missing a favorite sweatshirt, water bottle, jacket, or pair of sandals. The first thought is often, “Is it gone forever?” Sometimes parents hesitate to call because they feel embarrassed or assume there’s no chance the item will be found. Don’t sweat it!

Camp life is busy. Campers spend their days trying new activities, building confidence, making friends, and discovering more about themselves. When they’re focused on all those meaningful experiences, it’s not surprising that a few belongings occasionally get left behind. 

The good news is that Lost & Found is part of camp life, and helping families recover forgotten items is something we do every summer. We know that some items are more than just things. They’re favorites, gifts, comfort items, or reminders of special memories.

Of course, not every item gets claimed.

After a designated pickup period, unclaimed Lost & Found items are donated to charity so they can continue serving others in the community. We love that this process reflects one of BB360’s core values: community. Even when an item isn’t reunited with its original owner, it can still make a positive impact in someone else’s life.

The most important things campers bring home from BB Camp aren’t packed in a trunk. They bring home friendships, confidence, meaningful experiences, spiritual connection, and memories that last long after summer ends.

Because while water bottles and sweatshirts may occasionally get left behind, camp, community, and connection stay with us forever.

Written by Craig Gerard, BB360’s Chief Development.

Craig Gerard is a lifelong camper, Craig Gerard grew up at Jewish summer camps in California. After working around the world and co-founding Stone Soup PDX, he’s excited to fundraise for BB360 so more kids experience the magic of BB Camp.