(More: )Ĭelebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Chiltern started when its founder placed an ad in a newspaper looking for gay men and lesbians with whom to share a hike up Mt. A sliding work/play fee scale allows payment via sweat equity, so there’s an option for every budget. Throw in evening campfire parties, a barn dance, and even a sanctioned skinny-dipping outing (didn’t have that as a teenager), and it equals a perfect summer vacation. Camp’s cabins are even named for famous LGBT people, so after a day of swimming you may dry off in Greg Louganis-or you could hit the hay in Ellen Degeneres after wowing the talent show audience. It attracts over 200 diverse LGBT people annually-this year from August 18-25-with all the activities you did as a kid: adventure courses, hikes, canoeing, tie dying, pottery-oh my! But the community-building environment is worlds apart from intimidating adolescent experiences.
Looking like the set of an All-American summer camp movie (though not the type with hockey masks) is ‘Camp’ Camp, tucked away in southwestern Maine. So we found ten queer-friendly spots throughout beautiful New England that are perfect for tossing up a tent or curling up in a cabin, turning off the iPhone, and getting back to nature with fellow gay campers. Any bad run-in with a backwoods hick can attest to that. (Grizzly or otherwise.) The thing is, campsites and woodsy getaways aren’t always among the most inclusive spots. Yes, world, we love the great outdoors too: not just the bears. But despite stereotypes to the contrary, not all LGBT folks want to book some fabulous far-flung vacation-or even lay towel-to-towel with all the usual suspects in P’town. Summer’s here and the itch for a weekend (or longer) escape gets stronger with each passing sunny day.
Note: This story is adapted from the July/August 2013 issue of Boston Spirit magazine. GO Gay Outdoors (photo: courtesy GO Gay Outdoors)Ĭamping 'out' in the great outdoors this summer