Jocelyn Benson formed strong bonds with fellow campers during various activities and socializing, even staying up late chatting and making plans to keep in touch after camp.
Camps are not exclusive to children.
Two years ago, Benson, aged 31, began going to Camp Social, a three-day camp for women in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. She intends to go back in September.
“When you have lived in a house for 20 or 30 years, you don’t make friends easily unless you are involved in activities that bring you together,” she explained.
Jocelyn Benson has a circle of friends she goes on trips with, and one of them even let her stay at their place in Provo, Utah for a year. The camaraderie among them was likely fostered by their shared experiences, such as using war paint for team spirit and supporting each other during relays. Benson emphasized the importance of their shared laughter.
Camps for grown-ups
Camps have traditionally provided a means for children to unplug, have fun, and form lasting friendships.
Liv Schreiber, the founder of Camp Social, believed that with the rise of social networks and remote work, adults were also looking for similar connections and experiences.
Schreiber, a 28-year-old New Yorker who established Camp Social in 2023, designed the camp to address the need for adult companionship without rigid structures.
Adult camps like Camp Social, Club Getaway, ‘Camp’ Camp, and Camp No Counselors have observed a rise in new campers in recent years. Due to high demand, Camp Social has expanded to accommodate 400 women per session and Camp No Counselors is soon opening a new location in Texas.
The camp directors mention that in the past, campers used to arrive in big groups with friends. However, nowadays, new campers are attending alone, with 92% of Camp Social participants arriving solo according to Schreiber.
Anyone who has experience with camps knows the strong bond that forms among people there, which is hard to replicate elsewhere, according to Liam Macleod, marketing director of Camp No Counselors.
After completing her studies at the University of Wisconsin in 2018, Schreiber relocated to Manhattan where she experienced feelings of loneliness. Despite visiting the Hamptons and Martha’s Vineyard, she discovered a strong desire for more meaningful connections.
In 2023, she leased a camp in the Poconos and utilized social media, including members of a group she established in 2021 named Hot and Social, to publicize her concept.
Camp Social emphasizes the importance of building connections among campers, who are grouped by age (20 to 60 years) and accommodated in chalets with eight to 10 individuals.
Each chalet is assigned a trained counselor who serves as a camping concierge and relationship builder, also in charge of adding a unique touch to the chalet.
Campers can choose from a variety of traditional activities to plan their own schedules during the day, such as boat trips, archery, tree climbing, crafting, hiking, tie-dye, and tennis.
Adults can participate in painting sessions with beverages and a mixology workshop as part of the activities offered.
The camp, which is priced at $883.51 for a two-night, three-day stay, has been profitable since its first summer, thanks in part to partnerships with brands, as stated by Schreiber.
This summer, Dunkin’ is sponsoring two trucks that will provide coffee at the campground. Other sponsors include La Croix beverages, Essie, and Jones Road. Amazon Prime was a sponsor last summer, featuring the movie “My I of the Future” and offering towels and popcorn.
Participants say that unlike all-inclusive holidays that do not encourage guest connections and wellness retreats centered on specific activities like yoga or meditation, the overnight camp blends nature and diverse activities with new acquaintances to foster meaningful connections.
“I engaged in activities that I hadn’t participated in for more than 15 years,” mentioned Maddie Martino, a 29-year-old sports complex director based in Chicago, who joined Camp Social after viewing a video on Instagram.
Upon reaching the camp, everyone assembled by the pole for a review of the schedule and assignment of cabins. Later that evening, they enjoyed a barbecue, icebreaker activities like charades, and a party.
Over the next three days, she participated in activities such as tree climbing, hiking, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding on the lake. Martino expressed feeling relieved and carefree, realizing the importance of taking a break from the busy work routine.
Attending the camp provides the opportunity to try new things that may be outside of one’s comfort zone in everyday life, according to Jaime Gullotti, a 43-year-old office manager from Dover, New Hampshire, who joins ‘Camp’ Camp, a week-long camp for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Maine.
People return.
Magic is also found in the individuals who come back annually. According to Kerry Riffle, the camp has a 75% return rate for attendees, with almost 40% having been part of it for over five years.
Gullotti mentioned that while friendships formed on Facebook after meeting during the holidays often fade away, the friendships created at the place she mentioned are enduring, as evidenced by her long-lasting relationship with her girlfriend, whom she met there in the first summer.
“It feels like a large family gathering each summer, but even that can become dull,” Gullotti shared, as they prepare to return to “Camp” Camp by the end of the week. “Each year, new individuals join, revitalizing the atmosphere with extra energy.”
Translated by InvestNews.
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