Since she first stepped foot at Trail’s End Camp in 2008, wearing the traditional green and white, guitar in tow, Sydney Kayne has amazed us with her singing and songwriting ability. Now in her 2nd Year of Varsity, she has begun performing around the tri-state area, uploading YouTube videos and continually impressing all of those who choose to hit “play.” We recently asked her a few questions about summer camp and her music career thus far.
Nickname: Squidney, Squid, and Syd
Favorite Camp Activity: Arts & Crafts!
Favorite Book: The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Favorite Camp Food: The banana bread is just too good!
Favorite Evening Activity: I think my favorite evening activity is the hypnotist.
Favorite Olympic Break: My favorite Olympic break was Disney because I just loved the clues!
Favorite Quote: “We learned more in a three minute record than we ever learned in school”- Bruce Springsteen, No Surrender
Favorite Album: I have so many, but I really love Brandi Carlile’s Bear Creek right now – every song is so awesome and that’s rare!
When Did You Start Playing Guitar: I started playing guitar when I was 6 years old.
When Did You Start Writing Music: I’ve been making my own songs since I can talk, but I think actually writing them down started when I was almost 7 when I wrote a song about my brother called “I can’t stand you.” LOL.
Since then I have been writing music non-stop
and have multiple songs that I am waiting to release.
How did you know Trail’s End was the Right Camp for You: Actually, I looked at a lot of places. Once I went on a tour of Trail’s End and I said I played guitar, everyone thought it was so cool, and that I should definitely bring my guitar. I loved the camp, as well as the people, and decided it was the right summer home for me! I was definitely right!
Favorite Camp Memory: 
There are so many. Last summer, one of my favorite memories was when Varsity had a rainy day. All of the Varsity girls stayed inside the lounge and sang. There was also this time when all of my First Years, now Second Years, got into a circle and all sang “Wonderwall” by Oasis. Lastly, near the end of camp, all the First Year girls circled around the fire pit by the lake and said what camp meant to them. All those are special memories for me.
What Camp Means to Me: Camp is a place to be my best self, free of judgment. I think what I look forward to the most every summer is a chance to escape from my town, and all the drama that comes with being a 14-year-old girl.
Favorite Camp Performance: Singing as an Upper Buddy with my bunk in the camper talent show to a song I wrote called Trail’s End. We were so cute! Below are the lyrics:
I wake up in the morning and I know it’s a special day
I’m going to camp in Beach Lake, PA
As soon as we got there, we went in the pool
It wasn’t warm, it was cool
Next we played soccer, it was fun
Kicking the ball high, into the sun
Next we went to the lake
I looked at all the friends I made, and SAID
Trail’s End, Trail’s End I don’t have just one –
I have lots of friends
Trail’s End, Trail’s End, one great big summer we’ll spend-
It is raining; we don’t know what to do.
We go inside our bunk, and take off our shoes.
We turn the music really loud
Before we know it we got a whole crowd singing
It is raining; we don’t know what to do.
We go inside our bunk, and take off our shoes.
We turn the music really loud
Before we know it we got a whole crowd singing
Trail’s End, Trail’s End, I don’t have just one –
I have lots of friends
Trail’s End, Trail’s End one great big summer we’ll spend
Your camp family is proud of you Sydney and we cannot wait to see what you come up with next!
Check out Sydney’s web page at http://sydneykayne.com/home/ and her brand new YouTube video here:
