9 Famous Celebrities Who Attended Summer Camp

Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen was a legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. Although you might not immediately recognise his name, his song "Hallelujah" has become a timeless anthem. Before achieving global fame, Cohen spent a summer in 1956 as a counsellor at Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa, a Jewish summer camp in Canada with a rich history dating back decades.

Natalie Portman

Best known for her role in the Star Wars prequels, Natalie Portman is another Hollywood star with a summer camp background. Portman attended Stagedoor Manor, a prestigious theatre camp in the Catskills, New York. This camp is renowned for launching the careers of many young actors, with casting directors often attending to scout for the next big star.

Justin Bieber

Before becoming a global pop sensation, fellow Canadian Justin spent his summers as a camper at the Christian summer camp Hidden Acres located in Ontario, Canada.

Adam Sandler

Comedic genius, Adam Sandler is said to have attended a Jewish summer camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. There is some debate about if he attended or not, but it's widely believed that he spent summers at URJ Eisner Camp as a child. After 'camp', he went on to star in many well known films such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and The Wedding Singer.

Lady Gaga

Talented singer and actress, Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, has summer camp roots. She attended Camp Hi-Rock in Massachusetts, USA as a camper. Her Camp Counsellor, Brooke said that Gaga ‘loved camp and always wanted to be a counsellor.” As well as camp being a home away from home for her, “Camp was a pretty special place for her growing up, it was a relief for her to come out here and be a different person for the summer. She always wanted to stay longer.” Which is something that every camper and camp counsellor can 100% relate to.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Renowned for her roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including films like The Avengers and Iron Man, and her wellness brand Goop, Gwyneth spent her summers as a camper at all-girls camp Brown Ledge in Vermont. She fondly recalls her time at camp, stating on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, "It was fantastic, I loved it."

Emma Roberts

Following in the footsteps of her famous aunt, Julia Roberts, who famously said, “All the coolest things I know how to do, I learned to do at camp" her niece Emma attended Camp Birchwood in Minnesota for five summers. There, she developed a love for sailing and tennis. Emma is known for her roles in films like "Scream 4," "We're the Millers," and TV series "American Horror Story.

Zooey Deschanel

Who would have thought that the all-singing, all-dancing Zooey Deschanel is a camp person? Known for her roles in 500 Days of Summer and the classic Christmas movie Elf, she attended French Woods, a performing arts camp in upstate New York. This summer camp has nurtured generations of talent, with alumni going on to achieve success in fields such as theatre, music, film, and television. As Deschanel once said, "I hate camping, but I love summer camp."

Seth Rogan

Actor and comedian Seth Rogen is another celebrity who spent many summers at camp. He attended Camp Miriam in British Columbia and even starred in the camp's promotional video to encourage others to join in with all of the camp fun! Post-camp, he is known for his work in films like Superbad, Knocked Up, and This Is the End.

And there you have it! From Academy Award winners to global pop sensations, there's a place for everyone at camp whether you’re a counsellor or a camper. You never know, you could be shaping the worlds next big star.

Ready to experience summer camp just like these celebrities? Apply to work at a Canadian summer camp 'here'.