Are you nervous that summer is slipping away? Want to celebrate queer pride and joy in the months beyond just June?
Then it sounds like you need to book a trip to camp. Camp OUT caters to all 21-year-old-plus members of the expansive LGBTQ+ community as a premier spot for all kinds queer people visiting the Poconos.
Celebrating its fifth year, Camp OUT remains a trusted slice of queer paradise nestled in the tree-laden hills of eastern Pennsylvania. It’s a quick getaway for city dwellers and truly drops you into a forest of gay whimsy.
This place is great for meeting new queer people from all walks of life. Solo travelers and kind couples share stories around the campfire, offer advice about growing up gay and just generate a great vibe. You can experience camp alone or embrace the community Camp OUT has spent years cultivating. Many longtime visitors have signs inviting new guests to stop by and chat; there is no shortage of fresh friends.
Forgot something at home? No problem.
The abundant gift shop offers everything from Poconos paraphernalia to toys for the bedroom Harnesses and collars are available for purchase, too. Whether you’re a regular in the BDSM community or are looking to try something frisky for the first time, Camp OUT is ready to accommodate your pleasurable stay.
Being so far from town, make sure to pack snacks. There is a food truck, which even splits the menu with options for tops and bottoms. It really feels like you’ve died and made it to gay heaven.
There are plenty of destinations for queer people to head to this summer, but there’s something special about Camp OUT. Everyone waves when driving past on golf carts, inclusive flag-covered cabins glitter in the sunlight, and a rainbow even appeared overhead during my stay. It almost showed the entire arc, and it was something everyone at camp could look up and see. The gay gods were smiling down on us, and it was beautiful.
“I came here after the first weekend, and the next week I had a campsite,” said Guest Services employee David “David Camperson” Decker. “The vibe pulling through the gate just changed everything. It’s just such a good community, and we’re all about potlucks, group dinners. It’s a family.”
Day passes run just under 50 bucks, giving folks the chance to tap a toe into the Camp OUT lifestyle rather than diving all-in headfirst (though diving is prohibited at the huge pool!). The refreshing pool becomes a central spot for making new buds, finding potential play partners and just checking out eye candy.
There are several types of campsites for all your nearby nature needs. Some folks have simple tents surrounding fire pits; others come equipped with full cabins or high-tech RVs. If you’re planning on using a cabin or RV, the camp can set everything up for you to make your transition as smooth as possible.
We need to talk about the optional RV rental experience. Deluxe Cabin Studio is a new option available all summer long. One could (and did) spend several minutes being mesmerized by the number of features and special switches before even exploring the spacious home on wheels. The polished shower and refreshing cooling system on the RV made sure the summer sweat was kept out of the way, making more time for fun together.
Everybody has a place to Camp OUT. Most of the guests walk around naked, fully liberated and enjoying the sunlight on their skin. Body types of all kinds are all around the campground, proving that the diversity here is something to behold. I wish I could share more photos, but many of them show too much. I definitely recommend renting a golf cart because the incline can be a bit tiring. Plus, having the breeze blowing your hair as you drive past naked cuties is a magic that’s tough to find elsewhere.
Everybody waves when you drive past their place. You get invites to after parties from gracious gay men who have stories that will blow your mind. You don’t leave Camp OUT without making memories, and that’s something you really can’t put a price tag on. Anyone in the New Jersey, Philly and New York area who needs to reconnect with nature and explore their queer identity could use a weekend getaway to Camp OUT.weekend getaway to Camp OUT.
