**Identity Swap at Camp: The Summer Adventure**

Eli could hardly believe it—school was finally out, and summer was about to really begin! For months, he’d circled the dates of Camp Maple Trail on his calendar, dreaming about late-night campfires, canoe races, and maybe even making some new friends. He’d carefully packed his backpack the night before: bug spray, flashlight, plenty of socks, and, of course, the new baseball cap he hoped would become his lucky charm. When his mom dropped him off, he barely had time to say goodbye before tossing his bag onto the pile marked “E. Morgan” and racing to the assembly area. He could already hear the counselors shouting out names and directing campers to the bus lines. “Eli Morgan!” someone called. He whipped his head up, barely able to contain his excitement. That’s me! he thought, grabbing his water bottle and jogging over to the blue bus. He boarded, nervous but thrilled, scanning the other faces for anyone he knew. Inside, the air buzzed with conversation, the smell of sunscreen lingering. A few other kids looked his age, and a handful of counselors in bright shirts shepherded everyone into seats. Eli barely noticed that a girl across the aisle clutched a camp confirmation packet also addressed to “E. Morgan.” He was too busy staring out the window as the bus rumbled away. A couple of hours—and one winding mountain road—later, the bus screeched to a stop in front of a sun-drenched sign: “Camp Mapletale!” Eli blinked. He was sure the registration form said “Maple Trail,” but maybe his eyes were just playing tricks on him. At the baggage claim area, he found the duffel labeled “E. Morgan.” It was pastel purple, with a shimmering unicorn stitched on the side—a far cry from his navy blue sports bag, but the label didn’t lie. Shrugging, he hefted it over his shoulder just as a group of girls his age called out, “This way! Cabin Four!” A counselor with a whistle and clipboard smiled, “Cabin Four, over here! Get changed for your swim test, girls, and meet by the lake.” Eli’s stomach flipped. Girls? He followed anyway, cheeks burning. In the cabin, the girls all grabbed their bags, and Eli gingerly unzipped his own. Inside, beneath a layer of sparkly shirts, was a bright purple bikini. For a brief moment, he considered telling the counselor about the mistake—but then he glanced at his camp bracelet: “E. Morgan, Cabin 4.” That was his name, after all. Taking a deep breath, Eli put on the bikini bottoms and top. At least he had long hair—it’d never bothered him much, but now he hoped it let him blend in. One of the girls, Anna, grinned and offered, “Want me to braid your hair?” With nothing to lose, he nodded, feeling the rush of nervous excitement return. That first week was a blur of newness—singing camp songs, making lanyards, and learning to swim in Lake Loon. He answered to “Emily” when the counselors called roll, figuring it was too late to correct them. He even borrowed a pair of flip-flops and shared ghost stories at night. But as days passed, Eli realized something unsettling: if the other E. Morgan was now at Camp Maple Trail, and they had each other’s bags, how would he get his things back? When he finally confessed to Anna what had happened, she just laughed and said, “I think you’re braver than any of us, Emily.” Eli smiled, thinking about how summer camp had turned out even stranger—and more wonderful—than he could have imagined. He had a month to figure out who he was, unicorn duffel bag and all.

Once upon a time, there was an adventurous teenage boy named Alex who eagerly awaited summer camp every year. This summer was no different. He had packed all his essentials, triple-checking his list and dreaming of all the new friends he would make and the adventures he would have. On the day of departure, Alex arrived at the bus terminal buzzing with excitement. He dropped his bag, emblazoned with a simple “Alex” tag, at the designated spot and joined the large group of kids waiting for their names to be called. The area was a jumble of excitement and noise, filled with campers and their families. "Alex!" a camp leader's voice rang out, and Alex quickly hustled towards the bus. He was so eager that he didn't notice the camp's name on the sign in front of the bus was slightly different from what he remembered. He boarded the bus and plopped into an empty seat, ready for his summer adventures. Soon, the bus pulled up to a different camp than Alex had expected: Camp Glitter Gala. Confused, but attributing the odd name to a possible rebranding, Alex grabbed his bag once they’d unloaded and followed the counselor's instructions. However, as soon as he saw the bag, he noticed something was off. It had a large, sparkling unicorn embroidered on it. As he joined a group of girls his age being shown to their cabin, Alex felt an odd mix of curiosity and apprehension. The girls chatted excitedly, introducing themselves and expressing their excitement to start camp. Alex couldn’t help but feel out of place but decided to go with the flow, thinking there must have been some mix-up that would soon resolve. Once in the cabin, their counselor, Melanie, announced they should get changed for their swim test. Alex unzipped the unicorn bag and froze; the clothes inside were unmistakably for a girl. At the top of the pile was a purple bikini. He then realized his mistake: he had boarded the wrong bus. The bag marked "Alex" belonged to a girl who was now likely heading to his intended camp. With no other option, Alex decided he would have to ride out the mistake until he could notify someone who could help. Swallowing his pride, he put on the purple bikini and slid into the flip-flops. One of the girls, Emma, who had a friendly smile, offered to braid his hair. Alex’s sandy blonde hair was long enough to be braided, and he figured playing along would make his situation less awkward. Surprisingly, Alex began to find his new persona oddly liberating. He adapted to the girls' routines and activities, learning to enjoy arts and crafts, nature walks, and other camp activities from a different perspective. Emma and the other girls quickly became good friends, and Alex found himself actually enjoying the experience. About a week into camp, Alex began to worry about his clothes and belongings. He approached the camp director tentatively, explaining the mix-up. However, the director informed him that their primary goal was the campers' safety and fun, not logistical issues, subtly brushing off his concerns. Realizing he might just have to accept that his own clothes and belongings were untraceable for now, Alex accepted his fate. He decided to fully embrace this summer adventure, adopting a girl's camp experience for a unique twist on his summer. By the time camp ended, Alex had learned a lot about adaptability and acceptance. He had grown close to his new friends and had countless stories to share from his somewhat unorthodox summer. When the bus took him back to the terminal, he was both relieved and sad to part with his friends. At home, Alex's family was amused and supportive when they heard his tale. All his things were eventually sorted out, and he learned that mishaps were just part of life’s unpredictable adventure. That summer became the most memorable one yet, teaching Alex that stepping into someone else’s shoes, however unexpectedly, could lead to growth and unexpected friendships.