Finding Friendship at Adult Summer Camp: Jess Storiale’s Story

2023-09-05 12:45:31

Jess Storiale at camp as a child with her best friend Lauren (left). Jess Storiale takes a selfie at Camp Hot and Social, age 31 (right). Jess Storiale

Jess Storiale, a 31-year-old career counselor, attended a women’s summer camp to meet new people.

She slept in a cabin with nine roommates and made friends who she will see back home in New York City.

This is her story as told to author Kim Schewitz.

This is a machine translation of an article by our US colleagues at Insider. It was automatically translated and checked by a real editor. We welcome feedback at the end of the article.

Last month I attended a women-only summer camp for a weekend with 200 strangers in their 20s and 30s in rural Pennsylvania, USA. I was hoping to meet some cool people and get out of New York City. But I ended up reliving some of the joys of my childhood and realizing that you’re never too old to make new friends.

I’m 31 and run a coaching business called Reflect Your Light. I moved to New York City from Denver with my husband in 2020 and while I’ve made a few good friends, many of them have since moved out of town and I’d like to have more.

I enjoy organizing activities for my circle of friends and am an outgoing person, but it’s hard to meet people in the city and the conversations are often superficial and work-related.

When I advertised this Camp Hot and Social on social media I spontaneously signed up thinking it would be fun and a good opportunity to make new friends. The camp ran from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning and was held at a real-life Pennsylvania summer camp called Camp Starlight. It was aimed at women in their 20s and 30s who wanted to make new friends, have fun and spend some time off the grid.

I went to an all-girls camp in Asheville, North Carolina for five or six summers as a kid, and I remember it being one of the happiest moments of my childhood.

My time at Camp Hot and Social was packed with activities, from pickleball games to cocktail hour and a cooking class, and the time away from the screens made it easier to connect with people.

My time at summer camp reminded me of my childhood

Historical Jess

People took pictures of us getting on the bus to adult camp

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Historical Jess

The camp supervisors waved us onto the pitch

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Historical Jess

I shared a bunk with nine other girls

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Historical Jess

I spent Friday night playing games and chatting

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Historical Jess

Saturday was packed with activities

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Historical Jess

There were Olympic Games as a surprise

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Historical Jess

We wore matching friendship bracelets to dinner

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Historical Jess

We said goodbye on Sunday

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Historical Jess

Making friends as an adult is entirely possible

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Read the original article in English here.

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