𖡼.𖤣𖥧 Camp Yogurt 𖡼.𖤣𖥧
A week later and I am still riding the high from this incredible weekend.
A heart overflowing with love for the beautiful moments shared, a sore body reflecting our effort and perseverance and one hell of a groovy camping playlist.
I orchestrated this trip with the intention of having a safe space for women to come together, laze in the sun, and enjoy the abundantly diverse flora of North Carolina. Having been raised 23 years on flat topography, there was rarity in experiencing the mountains like I do now. In my time being here, it’s become a form of sanctuary; an escape that leaves me feeling restored and deeply grounded, rich in gratitude. I want to be able to share those feelings of joy and wonder with others.
Often times paralyzed by the burdens of life, it has become harder and harder to form a sense of connection and community. Coming from someone who heavily relies on routine (and still failing at best), community unfortunately disrupts this system. Myself and so many others are struggling to even survive, sacrificing our inherent need for socialization, feeling more isolated than ever. I find myself constantly choosing routine over spending time with friends and that troubles me. As I continue embracing the divine woman within me, the realization has come that I want community to be a significant and meaningful part of my life moving forward.
~I long for the days of exploring new ventures with others. Expanding our perspective as we push ourselves to a new curiosity. There’s so much to see and we do have the time to see it. You dance with time when you decide time is your partner and not your master.
~Days integrating community with routine such as cooking, chores or even errands. We all know the strain that comes with daily life tasks, but having a friend or even a group of friends to share that load makes life a little more bearable. This feeling we all crave is primal. Over the years we’ve strayed from community into a pandemic of solitude and it’s time we create a village where life doesn’t have to be lonely. There are so many interesting people around you, invest time with them. Get to know your neighbors, the workers at the coffee shop you frequent, the people at local events! I fall victim to my shyness and social anxiety but I no longer want that to be the case. Even something as simple as a compliment can change the trajectory of life.
~Days frolicking in the evening breeze and days being still, doing nothing but staring at the trees. Existence does not want you to be serious! Laugh loudly and be silly. Let your guard down. Who cares what you look like?
~Days moving and healing our bodies intentionally. Engage in activities that stimulate your brain such as hiking, a sports league, or dancing. There’s so much tension in our bodies that we need to discover a healthy release. I’ve found all types of dancing have provided relief in my life. A place where I can make mistakes yet feel good in my body. I encourage you to explore what makes you feel good. Begin somewhere new.
“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”
This is my attempt at creating community and holding myself accountable. It’s not perfect, it’s not as consistent as I would like it to be, but it’s a start.
I would love for us to embark on this journey together.
Woven from the Heart
The girls had brought a bag of colored string, tape, and scissors. We sat and wove bracelets together, chatting and encouraging those brave enough to jump off the cliffs into the chill water. The inner child in me lit up. I hadn’t made these since my elementary days and anything that reminded me of those precious, carefree times was a priority on my list. After a much need refresher and a few tangled knots later, my creation now sits on my ankle, a sweet reminder of that moment.
I think one of the main things I loved was how each of us captured the day in our way. It created a unique tapestry of perspectives, allowing us to see moments through different lenses. The excitement of snapping candid shots, brought us closer together, and later, as we shared our images, we relived those beautiful moments from varied viewpoints.
Annie’s gnarly cut from an encounter with a fallen tree trunk. She took it like a champ, but now she’ll have a souvenir from her time here.
Every interaction felt like a movie scene in a way. Chandler (to the left), an avid juggler, shared his secrets on achieving the art of juggling, while also performing a poem he created. He was such a cool person to meet in this day, where few dare to be unorthodox.
For the majority of the year, it’s been fun expanding my presence and skill behind the camera lens. The feeling of being in front felt a bit foreign but I admire how Rebecca is able to capture me in the most loveliest ways.
Photo credit: Rebecca
One of my favorites photos of all. It truly shows you how INSANE this hike was.
Photo credit: Rebecca
Only 2 days in of a 3-day water fast, Rebecca was motivation for all of us. She is so strong for enduring the day, without any source of fuel except water. At this point, it wasn’t even a hike but mountain scaling and one of the hardest treks I’ve made thus far (even if it was only 0.5 miles). To go the day and night without any food… I’m impressed, proud, and extremely inspired.
I just adore Max in this shot. Dogs sticking their little heads out the window is the cutest thing to me. In another life, I’m him.
In the spirit of adventure, I also wanted Subaru to be incorporated into our day. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d be this passionate about a car, but it truly fits my desire to explore and camp all in one—all while looking cute. I stood outside the sunroof for the shot on the right ;P Is it my best shot? No, but it sure was an exhilarating moment!
8pm vs 8am at the campsite
Following the set up of camp, with me inside my car and Annie and Rebecca in their tents, we took a few extra steps to make our campsite feel cozier, stringing lights up on the wooden posts and starting a fire. Almost too exhausted for food, Annie and I pushed through the fatigue to cook some delicious mushroom and veggie tacos on the portable stove. We sat and sipped on glasses of wine, enjoying our fruits of labor to the sounds of the fire crackling softly in the cool air. There’s something special behind the notion of camping food— the simplicity of ingredients, the blending of creativity & collaboration and the connection to nature, that create such rewarding flavors.
Meanwhile, Rebecca had brought along a deck of woodland themed tarot cards, providing intricate illustrations accompanied by insightful words. The three of us spent the night reading our chosen cards to each other, giving a voice to problems currently taking up space in our brains and dissecting what blockages may be preventing us from moving forward. I wasn’t even aware before planning this trip, but this day happened to align on a New Moon! New moons are for new beginnings. A perfect time to set goals and intentions for the forthcoming cycle, and a time to turn inwards and replenish. In honor of this, we performed a ritual to harness the energy of the moon, each taking a moment to write down what we wished to let go of, then tossing the papers into the fire, watching as they disappeared into the flames. The experience felt transcendental and undeniably powerful. I’m proud of us for embracing vulnerability, courageously opening up our fears and dreams to be fully seen and understood by one another.
Sharing our goodnights, we dozed off peacefully, lulled by the soothing sounds of the crickets and the gentle flowing of the creek water nearby.
Day 2 ꩜
Fresh eggs, peaches and pears straight from the source. A good morning indeed.
A slow morning of yoga in the sun; this is how every day should start off.
Our campsite was charming as ever. Chickens running about, a private creek, and a bathhouse were just a few of my favorite amenities. If I find myself in this area in the future, I will definitely be staying here again.
Can you believe these were sitting pretty right on the side of the road? Had to make a quick stop and pick a few
We ended the day sprawled underneath a weeping willow tree, soaking up the last minutes of our magical trip and reflecting on the unforgettable weekend we had shared together.
I thank Rebecca and Annie. This meant the world to me. To be able to manifest a thought of bringing women together to explore this beautiful earth and transforming that vision into an actual reality is something that has exceeded my wildest expectations. Camp Yogurt (Annie is the brains behind the name) embodies the sentiment for what is being thoughtfully created here: playfulness, intention, wonder & connection. I’m already looking forward to our next adventure, and welcoming new people to join. ✧₊⁺❤︎
