‘We Get Weird in the Woods’: Minnesota’s Queer Camp Creates Space for Joy, Healing, and Authentic Connection

Madelyn Steen, a private therapist who owns her own practice, recently started a retreat business on the side called softwildjoy. Although she has planned events in the past, Steen launched her first Queer Summer Camp this past summer at Long Lake Conservation Center.

Alongside Steen is her Co-Camp Counselor, Kenen Heggernes, a former coach, current tutor and parent to a 5-year-old. Steen and Heggernes found the summer camp to be so successful that they decided to launch their inaugural Queer Winter Camp, which will take place Feb. 6-8 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minn.

One of the main reasons they chose Eagle Bluff is its ADA accessibility. The learning center features bunk-style lodging with 3-4 campers per dorm room. Each dorm room has its own bathroom, shower and sinks, although campers will need to bring their own linens or sleeping bag. 

The location also features indoor and outdoor activities including indoor rock climbing and snowshoeing. The experience evokes a nostalgic sense of childhood camp, but tailored specifically for adults.

“The idea is to have a space for 30-plus year-olds to go and nerd out in the woods and have a place where they can be safe to show up as their authentic selves, have queer joy and build community together,” Steen says.

“Our tagline is ‘We get weird in the woods,’ and we have outdoor activities and workshops inside and outside that will help everyone feel connected,” Heggernes shares. “The workshops focus less on mastering things and more so on exposing yourself to new things whether it be art, nature or music.”

“It’s a wonderful space where all your meals and responsibilities are taken care of and you can just be, and it’s magical,” he adds.

Looking back, Heggernes believes her favorite part of last summer’s camp was the bog walk where campers could walk along a boardwalk and see carnivorous plants.

“All the summer campers participated, and it was an eerie place and experience, but it was my favorite part,” Heggernes says.

Steen’s experience, on the other hand, was the talent show.

“I was surprised by how many people participated,” she says. “So many people were vulnerable and authentic and poured their soul into that experience, and it was very special. We will have another talent show at the winter camp that we are looking forward to.”

“Creating a space where everyone can show up in their full authentic self is something that a lot of us haven’t experienced, ever,” Steen continues. “At the end of summer camp, we did a connection circle, and it was evident in that moment that people got a lot of healing when they weren’t even trying to heal.”

Steen considers it a roundabout way of healing, in a sense.

“You’re not showing up to a wellness retreat,” Steen says. “It’s more of a ‘Let’s go play in the woods and have fun’ sort of thing, and the healing was a byproduct of that.”

The theme of the winter camp is Queer Joy, and it will feature a variety of activities that lend itself to that. In addition to the talent show, there will be a flash memoir writing workshop, queeraoke, arts and crafts, and an intro to vulvar pleasure workshop. The pair also hopes to have a sound bath and yoga session, both led by experts.

The past summer camp had 25 attendees. Following the experience, several of the campers have stayed in contact through WhatsApp. The group has done everything from create an audio book club, birdwatching and gone out dancing together.

“They’ve created a community of support,” Steen says.

Heggernes explained that quite a bit of time was spent pre-camp discussing how they were going to set up the camp and deciding what the camp norms would be and how everyone would treat each other.

“From that conversation, it was pretty apparent everyone wanted an inclusive space with positive intent,” Heggernes says. “Even if someone were to misspeak or use the wrong pronoun, it’s coming from a place of learning, compassion and understanding.”

Steens stresses the importance of future camps to have ADA spaces, visual aids, both indoor and outdoor activities, as well as quiet spaces for sensory needs.

“We’ve thought a lot about how to get staff and workshop leaders who from a variety of backgrounds because we want to make sure everyone is included,” Steens says.

The organization’s second summer camp will take place Aug. 19-23.

“I hope it continues to be a safe and exclusive space, and more people learn about it, because the more safe spaces we have for the queer communities, the better,” Steen says.

“It’s shifting the paradigms in our minds that we are allowed to take up space which hasn’t been a thing,” Heggernes says. “My goal is for when people leave our camps, they realize that they can take up space everywhere.”

softwildjoy.com/queerwintercamp