In Newsweekly, New England's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newspaper. August 8, 2006.

"Not your typical summer ‘Camp’"

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AND UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, ‘CAMP’ CAMP CONTINUES TO THRIVE

By William Henderson

'Camp' Camp will celebrate its 10th birthday this year with cake, gifts to campers celebrating their 5- or 10-year attendance anniversaries, and appearances by Kim Cea, the headlining comedienne at Gotham Comedy Club's monthly "Homo Comicus," and Josh Zuckerman, a gay singer-songwriter from New Jersey.

There will also be a slide show documentary of the first 10 years of 'Camp,' and opportunities for campers to share their favorite 'Camp' stories.

"Of course, we'll play a few of those silly games that remind us all of childhood - some version of pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs," explained Kerry Riffle, 'Camp' Camp co-director, "but bringing in some outside talent, that's something we've never done before."

It's a big step, allowing the outside world to intrude on a world seemingly secluded from any last traces of real life. Located about 45 minutes from the nearest airport, bus, and train stations, two-and-a-half hours from Boston, and seven hours from Manhattan, Riffle and Susan Clinkenbeard, the other co-director, expect the live entertainment to go over well.

"Since Susan and I are part of the new owners of Camp, we thought that to go along with the regime change, we'd try something new," said Riffle. "We've sort of been saying that the live entertainment will be just this year at the birthday party, but I wouldn't rule it out as an annual thing if the Campers enjoy it."

Though this is the first year where Riffle and Clinkenbeard are officially running the show, each has been brought up in founder Bill Cole's way of thinking. Riffle has been coming to Camp since it opened; Clinkenbeard half as long. Last year, they ran Camp, and it was after that when Cole asked if they would take over. He needed time for other projects, but didn't want to see Camp close.

"And of course we said yes," said Riffle. "Obviously he has turned this into a semi-thriving community, so we were very honored that he wanted to turn it over to us."

Neither plan to tinker too much with Cole's proven formula for camping success. The live entertainment is as far as they're willing to go this year, though next year may see mini Camp reunions planned in New York City and Boston - the two cities where the most number of campers live - as well as the annual post-holiday trip to the Berkshires.

This, said Clinkenbeard, may help extend the connections made at camp, one of the primary reasons why Cole first founded the camp in 1996.

That year, there were some 80 campers, of which Riffle was one. Last year, there were 205, about 10 percent of whom celebrated their 5-year anniversary in attendance.

"Almost 60 percent of the people who attend Camp, did so as a child. The other 40 percent are people who have always wondered what summer camp would have been like," said Riffle. "A lot of people come to Camp to re-experience their happiest days of childhood, except now as GLBT adults."

But 'Camp' Camp is not your average children's sleep-away summer camp.

While there is a full program of outdoor, athletic, arts and crafts activities, and a variety of entertaining evening social events planned, there is also a ropes course, gourmet meals, Starbucks every morning, and no one monitoring nocturnal activities.

Registration fees for a week's stay may not compare with what you remember camp costing when you were a child. This year, Camp cost $850 if paid before March 1 and $950 after. The fees cover all activities, meals, and accommodations, though campers beware (and be warned) - there are no on-site laundry facilities.

With a wide variety of activities such as mountain biking, pottery, hiking, lake swimming, sailing, stained glass, tennis, softball, theater, volleyball, yoga, and an adventure course and climbing wall, rediscovering your inner child and making friends along the way is what Camp is all about, said Clinkenbeard.

"I can't imagine a summer without Camp," she said. "It's become part of how I see and plan my summer."

Riffle separately agreed.

"For me, my year doesn't end at midnight on December 31. It ends when Camp ends," said Riffle. "By the time that first week of September comes, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle a new year." 

For more information connect to www.campcamp.com.

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