Summer Camp for Queer Adults Offers Unique Community-Focused Vacation
For 27 years, ‘Camp’ Camp has been more than just America’s premier summer camp for LGBTQ+ adults: it’s been a transformative experience for queer adults seeking community, connection, and joy. This year’s season will take place from August 14 to 21 at its serene and scenic location in central Maine.
Founded to provide a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages, gender identities, and sexual orientations, ‘Camp’ Camp has built a reputation as a vibrant, inclusive community. Unlike traditional vacations, ‘Camp’ Camp fosters genuine connections through shared experiences and diverse activities — all without the pressures inherent in the usual alcohol- or sex-focused events so often offered up to the queer community.
“It’s a place where you can be yourself in every sense,” shares Camp’s Outreach Manager, Kat Torres Radisic (they/them) from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. “From the moment you arrive, you’re surrounded by people who celebrate you for who you are. The sense of belonging and the incredible variety of activities are unmatched. Camp offers something for everyone, and the community is so welcoming. You meet people who become family.”
With its second season at its upgraded central Maine site that features over a mile of waterfront, air-conditioned communal cabins, and an expanded offering of summer camp activities, ‘Camp’ Camp promises more than ever before. The daily schedule runs from 7 AM to 12:30 AM, offering a mix of outdoor adventure, creative workshops, and unique activities explicitly designed for LGBTQ+ adults.
Highlights of a week at ‘Camp’ Camp include outdoor and sporting activities like canoeing & kayaking, bowling, and pickleball; creative activities like stained glass, figure drawing, and Broadway Dance; and a different fun Evening Social Event – including a lively Barn Dance with live fiddlers and a beloved Talent/No Talent Show – each night. Opportunities for relaxation are also plentiful, whether along the beautiful waterfront, in a meditation class, or any number of other quiet spaces perfect for rest and recharging.
Camp’s Associate Director, Michelle Rediker (she/her) from Boston, Massachusetts, explains that it’s not just the robust schedule of activities that makes ‘Camp’ Camp an annual destination for so many of their Campers. “We’re lucky enough to have a nearly 75% return rate each season,” Rediker says. “And when we ask our first-year Campers what surprised them most about Camp, we almost always get the same answer that returning Campers give as to why they keep coming back – and all of the activities on tap at Camp is rarely the reason. The most common answer by far is: the people.”
Kerry Riffle (he/him) of Woodville, Ohio has attended Camp every season since their inaugural year in 1997 and served as Camp’s Owner/Director since 2006. “When we say Camp is “all-inclusive,” it doesn’t just refer to our registration fees. The culture that has developed at Camp over the past 25+ years fosters one of the most welcoming and supportive inter-generational queer communities that you’ll encounter. Being a part of this LGBTQ+ community, you connect with others and you’re encouraged in every way. That’s really the biggest value of a week at Camp, and one you’d be hard-pressed to find to this degree with another queer vacation.”
Camp’s all-inclusive fee of $1975 covers everything: climate-controlled communal cabin lodging, restaurant-quality meals, over 30 activities daily, and round-trip transportation from Portland, Maine. Additionally, Camp’s unique Staff program offers rates starting at just $475 for the week, with limited spots available.
Chris Dupuis (he/him) of Arlington, Massachusetts has already registered for his fifth season at ‘Camp’ Camp. “Camp, for me, is the most special place, the most special time, and the most special community of people anywhere on this planet that I’ve been exposed to,” says Dupuis. “It’s magical in all the right and real ways. I love the people and the community, the culture and the fun, and all the strength and inspiration it gives to us. ‘Camp’ Camp charges my batteries to go out into the world and fight the good fight like nothing else does.”
Space is still available for both Campers and Staff for Camp’s 2025 season. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the joy, laughter, and lifelong friendships that define the ‘Camp’ Camp experience. Registration information and more information about the Staff program are available at campcamp.com.
Come discover what makes ‘Camp’ Camp the ultimate summer destination for LGBTQ+ adults – and why their Campers have proclaimed their week at Camp the best time ever for over two decades. Adventure, connection, and unforgettable memories await!
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