A first timers honest guide

Let’s be honest, for many of us, going camping means a little more than pitching a tent in the woods. (Pun absolutely intended.)

We’re not just looking to spend a quiet weekend staring at the stars. We want to meet new people, make new friends, maybe even have a little extra fun… who knows?

But above all else, we want to feel accepted.

That’s what this article is about.

Is Campit right for you?

It’s a question I hear all the time, and the answer might surprise you.

Because I remember a time when the answer for me, was no and it actually had nothing to do with Campit, and everything to do with me. 

At that point in my life, I wasn’t comfortable enough with who I was to walk through those gates. The idea of spending a weekend surrounded by hundreds of other LGBTQ+ people was exciting… but it was also terrifying. I had convinced myself I wouldn’t fit in. That everyone would already know each other. That somehow I’d be the odd one out. It’s easy to convince yourself of those things when you’re looking from the outside in.

Looking back, I know I was scared of being me, the for real me. I was afraid of being seen. Of being out. 

Over the years, I’ve realized I’m far from the only person who’s felt that way.

I’ve met thousands of guests during my time here. Some arrive with a group of lifelong friends. Others pull through the gate completely alone. Some have been out for decades. Others are taking one of the biggest steps of their lives just by making a reservation.

Nearly all of them have one thing in common:

They wonder if they’ll fit in. And if you’re reading this article, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve asked yourself the very same question.

So let’s answer the question honestly.

Is Campit right for you?

The short answer? Probably. But maybe not, and that’s okay.

One of the things I love most about Campit is that it doesn’t expect everyone to experience it the same way.

For some people, it’s a weekend at the pool, dancing in Westwood, or making friends they’ll keep for years.

For many others it may marshmallows by the fire and some quiet coffee in the morning. 

Some people come to celebrate.

Some come to heal.

Some come because they know everyone here.

Others come because they don’t know a single soul.

And somehow… it all works.

Campit is kind of what you make of it.

There are so many personalities, ages, backgrounds, perspectives, and stories here that it’s impossible to define the “typical” guest.

The only thing most of us seem to have in common is that, for one reason or another, we were all looking for a place where we could simply be ourselves.

You get to be social.

You get to be quiet.

You get to make lifelong friends.

Or you get to keep to yourself.

Most importantly…

You get to just exist.

So…

Is Campit right for you?

Only time will answer that, but what I do know is this: 

Every single person who has ever pulled through these gates has a story.

Some couldn’t wait to meet everyone.

Others sat in their car for a few extra minutes before checking in, wondering if they’d made the right decision.

Some were celebrating a new chapter.

Others were quietly trying to close an old one. No two stories are ever the same.

And that’s exactly what makes this place special.

Over the years, I’ve learned that Campit isn’t defined by its campsites, cabins, pool, or events. It’s defined by the thousands of stories that have unfolded here, stories of laughter, friendships, celebrations, and memories that somehow stick with you long after you’ve packed up and headed home.

Maybe your story starts here, Maybe it doesn’t.

But if you do decide to visit, I hope you give yourself the chance to write a chapter worth remembering.

And who knows…

Maybe one day, you’ll be the one telling someone else, “I remember the first time I came to Campit…”