For countless reasons, it’s hard not to fall in love with Odyssey Teen Camp. If you enjoy nature (which I didn’t before spending time at OTC), it’s easy to relax while living on the campgrounds in Tolland, Massachusetts, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Sights like the towering trees and the clear waters of a vast lake quickly become commonplace, but it’s hard to lose the awe you feel while observing them. If you’re more outgoing, you’ll, without a doubt, leave this camp with at least one new friend, if not several. This applies even to the most introverted campers—after all, I was one of them when I spent my first summer at OTC in June 2022. When I arrived, all I had was my luggage, sweaty hands, and the immense fear that my choice to attend this sleepaway camp would be a huge mistake. When I left, not only did I have several new friends, but I also knew my life had been irrevocably changed. I would never again be the person I was before arriving there, and to me, this meant gaining a love for my identity that had never existed before.
My experience at OTC is far from unique. Ask any counselors or campers, and they will tell you how the camp changed their lives for the better, whether through their time as a camper or by existing within this community as an adult. More than the beautiful nature that makes up the campgrounds, the sense of solidarity woven into every activity and conversation at OTC is remarkable. That’s not to say that anyone attending the camp is perfect. What makes it unique is the genuine desire of those you interact with to engage in ‘difficult’ conversations and improve their awareness of the adversities fellow campers of varying identities face, along with how they can better support them. This is a community of teenagers who want to grow and change for the better, alongside counselors who encourage them every step of the way while also being on their own journey of growth.
Given the many prejudices in our society, it’s unfortunate that every summer I’ve attended OTC, this level of kindness and respect is unfamiliar to me outside of my time there. However, it’s a welcome change from the communities I’m used to interacting with, and the joy OTC has given me is undoubtedly shared by other campers. I remember interviewing various campers for a documentary-style film that a few other campers and I planned to make during the short filmmaking intensive (a week-long activity) we had signed up for, and no one could run out of positive things to say. The food, the counselors, and the activities were just a few of the aspects they mentioned that make OTC such a special environment. With events like silent discos, movie nights, renaissance fairs, and even the occasional line-dancing night, there is truly something for everyone.
Since I’ve attended OTC, the end of each session has culminated with a drag show. With the assistance of counselors, campers participate in this well-loved tradition—whether by performing, assisting with lights, sound, and set design as part of the stage crew, or creating props for the performers. Even just being in the audience is exciting, as you’re guaranteed to have a great time watching your fellow campers embrace their identity and show off their confidence in a way they might never have done before. Although I’ve experienced an OTC drag show four times, they never fail to make me emotional. Even without the thunderous applause and cheers from the audience, this event has always made it clear just how much campers love and support each other, and how much the counselors are rooting for their campers to showcase their talents and the characteristics that make them who they are. For this community, being your authentic self is the most important thing, and getting this valuable opportunity to do so is truly magical.
On their website, Odyssey Teen Camp has a donation section where you can contribute any amount to help “Sponsor a Smile,” which goes toward their scholarship fund to provide campers with scholarships so they can attend camp. If you’re looking for a way to contribute to a valuable cause this holiday season, I would greatly appreciate it if you considered this one, as many teens—just like me—could deeply benefit from the experiences gained by attending even one summer at OTC.
