This is Nick Edwards' home away from home. An escape from everyday life.

“When you pull into the gate here at Camp Out, it's like the rest of the world just stays at the gate,” said Nick Edwards of New Jersey.

Nick became a seasonal camper at Camp Out Poconos, an LGBTQ+ membership and adults-only campground open April through October.

He added, “from the minute the trailer pulled up, there were multiple staff members unloading my camper and getting it leveled for me without me even asking. Then from there, everyone was offering to help and asking if I wanted to come to dinner that night. I think the first night, I had four dinner invites, which is just unbelievable!”

Karl Hunter first came to Camp Out as a guest and now works here.

“This really felt like community, and it felt like something new and fresh that wasn't out there. I wanted to be part of that,” smiled Karl Hunter, guest experience coordinator, Camp Out Poconos.

Camp Out opened in 2022 and has expanded overtime. Pitch a tent, bring the RV, rent a rustic cottage, or a premium cabin. The Love Shack is another popular rental, with a heart shaped tub, round bed, and sauna resembling the Poconos’ honeymoon era. Karl says guests come from the tri-state and beyond.

He explained, “we have a local population who comes to enjoy our pool, but we also have guests coming from as far as Washington D.C., Boston, Florida, all over the country.”

Camp Out hosts a variety of events and entertainment throughout the season.

“When you have a safe space where you can just be yourself and be authentic, it allows you to grow closer to the people that you're celebrating that with,” Karl added.

Not far from Camp Out, on the first Sunday of every June, the LGBTQ+ community is celebrated during Pocono Pride Festival in downtown Stroudsburg, featuring multiple stages with live entertainment, over 150 vendors, and a family fun zone making this an event for all.

“As a gay man, a Latino man, the Poconos didn't seem like it had a place for me. Turns out, I was very wrong. When we started our first Pride Fest in downtown Stroudsburg, the showing was enormous and has only grown year over year,” smiled Mike Moreno, co-organizer/founder, Pocono Pride Festival.

Michael Moreno is the former mayor of Stroudsburg and now serves as downtown manager.
He co-founded Pocono Pride Festival in 2020 and helps bring over 100 Pride flags to Main Street every Pride Month.

“I would like to think that Camp Out is here today because of the work we've started initially with Pocono Pride Festival, which was showcasing that people are welcome in downtown Stroudsburg and the Pocono region. And now we have so many businesses, like Camp Out, that are supporting our downtown Stroudsburg as well,” Moreno added.

Back at camp, Frankie Van Vucht remembers coming here for the first time alone and leaving with family. She says everyone keeps in touch, even in the off-season.

“I was greeted with so much love. Everyone asked, ‘who are you?’ and ‘where are you from?’ It was fantastic and ever since that day, I’ve been here almost every weekend,” says Frankie Van Vucht of Henryville.

She added, “it’s not the CEO or the nurse or the ballet teacher. Everyone is one here. Nobody cares where you're from, what walk of life you are or what you believe in. You're here, family.”

Not just camp, but community.