It’s been a while since I’ve been on a girls’ trip, so I thought why not spend a weekend in the mountains with a group of women I had never met a day in my life? Sounds like a plan for a normal Tuesday haha.
As much as I’d like to call myself a nature person, my version of nature usually includes a beach, an all-inclusive resort and taking in the scenery from somewhere comfortable but I knew that this experience was going to be very different.
Coming to Camp Social immediately brought out the nostalgia of The Parent Trap (1998). Staying in a log cabin, spending the day on the water, tie-dyeing shirts, tackling ropes courses and everything in between brought back a sense of childhood and freedom I didn’t realize I had been missing.
There’s also something about being surrounded by nature for three days that really does wonders for the soul. I felt like my cortisol levels finally had a chance to settle, I woke up happier and calmer than during the usual week, my skin started clearing up and my overall mood just felt lighter and more joyful.
It hit every mark it needed to for me. More than that, I was genuinely impressed by how thoughtful and intentional the entire experience felt. Every detail seemed to take into consideration the different women who came to camp and what they might need to feel comfortable, included and able to simply enjoy being there.
FRIDAY
I’m not going to leave you in the dark about a single detail, so bear with me. We were staying in the Poconos Mountains for three days and two nights. They even gave you the option to take a bus to the camp site (convenience is my best friend so of course I was on that bus). It gave me the perfect opportunity to start making connections before we got into our busy schedules.
They ended up partnering with Carrot Express who provided us with meals before arriving at camp. There were options that catered to different dietary needs, so everyone could fuel up before starting what would be a very eventful weekend.
When we arrived at the campsite, the views were breathtaking. We were right next to the lake for perfect views of the sunrise and sunset.
After settling into our cabins and unpacking, we headed off for our first activities: archery (my favorite activity after being able to channel my inner Katniss Everdeen) and tie-dyeing shirts (currently being washed as I write this article).
From there we made our way to cocktail hour before heading straight into dinner. The spread was amazing and incredibly vibrant. Remember when I mentioned they were accommodating? They had a whole other station for anyone with a gluten allergy.
We ended Friday night cozied up for a showing of The Princess Diaries (2001) with popcorn and a late night snack of fries and chicken tenders. Between the lake, the activities, good food and a nostalgic movie to close out the night, it was the perfect introduction to our weekend at camp.
SATURDAY
I’ve never been a morning person, but waking up for an 8 a.m. trail hike was surprisingly one of the best ways to start my day. It was cool and misty, with dew covering the grass and a light fog hovering over the lake. There was something so peaceful about getting outside that early, clearing my mind and easing into the day.
Since I came to camp not knowing anyone, quieter moments like the hike also gave me a chance to really talk to the other women. Starting a conversation with someone new can always be a little nerve racking, but once we got past the small talk, we started sharing our backstories and what we hoped to take away from the weekend.
After the hike and breakfast, I headed to the ropes and rock climbing course. The last time I rock climbed was probably in middle school, so needless to say, it was a little rough. I didn’t make it all the way to the top (my arms almost gave out) but I was proud of myself for making it halfway. I have a slight fear of heights, so this definitely wasn’t my favorite activity, but that was also the point. I wanted to challenge myself to do things I would never normally do at home.
Next up was an activity that I had never tried: AquaVida stand up paddle board yoga. I’ve done yoga and paddle boarding separately but never together. The amount of core strength our instructor had while demonstrating those poses was insane. No one in my session fell into the water and even when some of us couldn’t quite get into a pose, everyone was incredibly supportive and encouraging.
That energy was something I noticed throughout the entire weekend. Camp Social is open to women 21 and older with no upper age limit, so there were women at so many different stages of life sharing the same experience. Seeing how naturally girlhood transitions into womanhood, and how supportive and accepting we can still be of one another, made the environment that much more special.
Besides archery, another favorite session of mine was astrology. Our astrologer walked us through how the stars, planets and even solar and lunar eclipses can play a role in our birth charts and the different seasons of our lives. For Taurus, she mentioned that financial success could be particularly strong over the next six to twelve months (music to my ears).
Of course, I can interpret that however it fits into my own life. I currently work in corporate America, but I’ve always wanted to take something I’m passionate about and find a way to turn it into something greater. She also mentioned a major family or home life change on the horizon. For me, my mind immediately went to moving out of my parents’ home, starting fresh and hopefully making my way to my dream city: New York City.
Some might consider a reading like that too vague/generic to be considered real, but maybe that’s part of the fun. But I’ve always felt spiritual and connected to the universe so I’m choosing to see what unfolds and keep a positive mind.
We rounded out the afternoon and evening with the Camp Olympics (#PinkTeam), a pool party, karaoke and a disco party. Unfortunately, the blue team took the win, but the pink team definitely brought the spirit. A few of my cabin mates and I even took the stage for Say My Name by Destiny’s Child (our tour dates will be released shortly).
By the end of the night, we had packed what felt like three days’ worth of activities into one. Most of us eventually made our way back to the cabin, exhausted, happy and more than ready to turn in for the night.
SUNDAY
To close out such a spectacular weekend, I decided to take Sunday morning slow and started my day with my very first sound bath. The different frequencies sent goosebumps across my body, and I could feel the vibrations resonating through my chest. After such a busy weekend, it gave me a quiet moment to reflect on everything that had happened over the last few days, center myself and be present.
I also have to give a special shoutout to my cabin: VASSAR! It had been a while since I’d done any arts and crafts, but before leaving, I wanted to create a little memento of the new friendships and memories I was taking home with me.
Overall, this experience was exactly what I needed. I had the chance to step outside of my comfort zone, try things I wouldn’t normally do, create amazing new connections and find a little piece of myself again.
I came to the mountains surrounded by women I had never met before, and I left feeling refreshed, more grounded and grateful for the community we created in just three days. Sometimes getting away from your everyday routine is enough to remind you of parts of yourself you may have been neglecting. Camp Social gave me that reminder and I’m glad I said yes to something completely outside of my norm.
Do you think you’d be open to attending Camp Social next year?
amanda pamela