Ep. 315: I Survived Gay Summer Camp (And I'm Still Traumatized) | The Gay Bit
In this week's Gay Bit, Zach finally unpacks a story he's been sitting on since 2004: the time his husband Andrew talked him and their friend Tony into a week at "Camp Camp," an adult LGBTQ+ sleepaway camp in rural Maine.
What followed was less "magical queer retreat" and more survival horror — rusty sink water, a shower shared with granddaddy long-legs spiders, a toilet that wasn't bolted to the floor, zero cell service, and a camera-happy stranger who wouldn't stop photographing Zach and Tony. Add in mandatory "rainbow group" sharing circles, a camper who burst into tears on day one, a total power outage on the last night, and Tony vanishing into the woods with the camp director — and Zach's week goes from awkward to unforgettable.
Between forced square dancing, a chaotic last-minute drag show, a near-fainting incident in a pitch-black hot tub, and Andrew's sudden leather-daddy era, Zach details exactly why this was not his scene — while still giving credit to the people for whom Camp Camp is a beloved yearly tradition.
It's chaotic, it's messy, it's very gay, and it's finally off Zach's chest.
In this episode:
- The backstory: moving from Brooklyn to Miami with husband Andrew
- Getting talked into "Camp Camp," an adult LGBTQ+ sleepaway camp in Maine
- Cabin conditions: rusty water, no shower on-site, a toilet that isn't bolted down
- The spider-shower incident
- A mysterious camera guy who won't stop taking photos
- "Rainbow groups," a crying camper, and forced daily sharing circles
- Tony disappears into the woods with camp director Jan
- Day trips that were actually fun: Mount Washington, kayaking, pottery
- The last-night drag show and Andrew's new leather band
- A total power outage and a very dark hot tub scare
- Why Camp Camp works for some people — just not for Zach
Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ
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