Summer camp 2024
The campsite for GayCamp 2024 is located in the heart of Bergslagen. It offers nature and tranquillity with modern facilities. The camp has it's own swimming area, canoes, large grassy meadow, cosy walking paths and beautiful forest nearby. All gay, bisexual and transgender men from the age of 18 are welcome to attend. Along with natural beauty, the site has outdoor activities such as lawn bowling, field hockey, football and table tennis. The campsite also have indoor activities such as board games, opportunities for team building, a sound system for music and lectures and a dry sauna. Triple and quadruple rooms are available with modern bathroom facilities. Wi-Fi is also available.
The camp will be held from 21 – 28 July 2024.
Base groups, what is it?
Throughout the years, a form for the camp week has emerged, that is based on the confidence and security of being part of a base group. Between breakfast and lunch the base group meets. The beauty of GayCamp is the connection and trust that is being built up during a whole week. When you sign up for GayCamp, you sign up for participating the whole week. In the afternoons and evenings there are various activities to participate in, which vary from year to year, such as salsa dance, yoga, badminton, board games, seminars and of course sunbathing and sauna.A base group consists of 6-8 people. Each group includes a participant from the camp organisation. In the base group you introduce yourself and share various aspects of experience with your sexual identity, for instance entering the gay scene, coming out and living as open as gay/bisexual/transgender or just as a sexual man.
Other topics that can be shared in the base group are the experience of coming from a country where one’s sexuality is forbidden, as bisexual coming out to one’s female partner, coming out to one’s children, alcohol and drugs, loneliness, fidelity/infidelity, safer sex, living as HIV-positive and to unfold one’s sexuality and ability to love and be loved in return. The confidence level of the conversations in these basic groups becomes surprisingly fast and deeply personal. It is not unusual for participants to share things they have never dared to tell anyone before.
International participation
Every year the camp has international participants. In previous years we have had participants from Colombia, England, Finland, France, Holland, Italy, Latvia, New Zealand, Iraq, Iran, Ireland, South America, Pakistan, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Uganda and the United States. The camp is bilingual with the opportunity to participate in Swedish or English speaking base groups. All information and dialogue in a large group is translated into Swedish and English.Activities
During the week there are some mandatory parts: participating in base groups, seminars about safer sex and information from doctors about STI diseases. Other than that, there is plenty of time to do what you wish. You are more than welcome to initiate new activities. We have had yoga, massage, salsa dancing, games, magic, painting, improvised theatre, games, karaoke, badminton, cinnamon bun baking, vocal performances, morning gymnastics, sightseeing to nearby attractions and much more. Which activity would you like to contribute to?
Party and visiting nights
Two nights are party nights with a barbeque or some other party food, music and dance. One of the party nights is also a visiting night. For this day and night you can invite a friend who is curious about what it's like to be on GayCamp.