Summer camp holds a sacred place in the hearts and minds of many Queer people, especially in the Pacific Northwest. For many in the LGBTQIA+ community, it was the first experience with freedom, a chance to explore identities, and a week to slow down, enjoy nature, do some crafting, and make lifelong memories.
Unfortunately, for many, the magic of summer camp ends with childhood. However, one community organizer and craft enthusiast is working to recreate the magic for adults across the West Coast.
Natalie Kelley has spent years making a safe online space for the Queer community. On TikTok, she has created an environment where Queer people of all ages can find others like them and share their experiences.
“I love creating community online,” she said, “and [have] seen the huge benefit for myself and others in sharing about my queerness and coming out on social media. But over the past year or so, I’ve felt the tug in my soul to start going offline more and building Queer community in real life, because we need it now more than ever.”
That was how Kelley got the idea for “Coming Home to You,” a DIY adult summer camp on Whidbey Island. “[This] is the merriment of everything I love most: Queer friendship, nature, self-exploration through journaling, and crafting,” Kelley said. She got the idea from other influencers who hosted LGBTQIA+ group trips to build an offline community. “[I] felt immensely inspired, but I also never quite saw myself in them,” she admitted.
While it may come as a bit of a shock, not all influencers are extroverted. Kelley sees herself as a natural homebody and prefers a more laid-back travel experience. “I wanted to create something that could speak to others like me,” she said.
Initially, Kelley tried planning a trip abroad with a travel company but ultimately found that the adventure just didn’t feel right to her: “I decided to branch off on my own, so I had full control over the itinerary and details, and asked myself, ‘If I could have a big group of Queer friends together for a week, what would I most want to do with them?’ Right away, I knew it had to be a crafty Queer retreat that felt like an adult summer camp.”
The perfect location
When considering where to hold her first retreat, Whidbey Island felt like a no-brainer. This location, home to the cult classic (and Sapphic-coded) Practical Magic, is also one of the most spectacular in Washington state. “I grew up in Washington and frequented Whidbey Island almost every weekend with my family,” Kelley said. During the pandemic, Kelley’s parents decided to move to the island full-time. “It quickly became the place I considered ‘home’ more than the town or house I actually grew up in,” she said.
Kelley experienced many Queer firsts on Whidbey Island. “It’s the place I came out to my family, the place I grieved my first WLW relationship, the place where I was long distance with my now girlfriend, and our relationship bloomed despite the distance,” she said. “I’ve cried more times on the beaches of Whidbey than I’d like to admit, but I’ve also healed just as deeply on them as well. Whenever I get off the ferry on Whidbey, I truly feel like I can let out a breath that I didn’t even know I was holding.”
As soon as she decided on the island as the location for her retreat, Kelley knew it felt right. “There’s something about the small-town charm, gorgeous beaches, open fields, and PNW beauty that just makes me feel alive. Whidbey is truly woven into my soul like no other place is, and it is such an honor to share it with my retreat-goers,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine a better location to host my first one.”
Kelley is excited to share her happy place with other LGBTQIA+ people who might be looking for a chance to slow down, reflect, and find community.
What to expect
“Coming Home to You” will be an experience like none other. There will be plenty of crafts, plus journals for all participants. Campers should bring along a book or two for quiet morning reading. Kelley also encourages attendees to engage in self-exploration. The retreat is explicitly for Queer women and Nonbinary people, though those of all ages and crafting experience are welcome.
“The retreat’s goal is to reconnect with your authentic self through guided journaling, nature, Queer friendships, and crafts,” Kelley said. “Expect journaling on the beach, morning walks, meals by our [Queer] chef, daily crafts, games, ping pong, beach picnics, and time to just be together.”
It was very important for Kelley to plan an event that included crafting. As trivial as it may sound, it is actually an amazing practice for physical grounding, a great way to boost concentration, and a natural source of dopamine. Kelley grew up with a love of creating but ultimately gave it up in adulthood.
“When I was younger, I absolutely loved crafting, but as I got older, I got sucked into the pressure of only doing things that were seen as productive,” she said. “I found my way back to crafting through junk journaling in October of 2024, and I felt the spark of joy that crafting used to bring me.”
As someone with ADHD and anxiety, Kelley has found that junk journaling, coloring, sewing, and crocheting are great ways to quiet her loud brain. “Making something with my hands always reminds me to take life a little slower, and I can’t wait to share that with others during my retreat,” she said.
Not long after she started advertising “Coming Home to You,” the event sold out. While spots are no longer open for June’s summer camp, Kelley is excited about the high demand and already planning the next event, which will likely take place somewhere along the California coast.
Taking a chance
It can be scary to jump into something new and unknown. Kelley knows that firsthand as she navigates her first retreat. She also knows that some people might feel scared to sign up for a multiday experience, especially if they don’t know anyone else going. Kelley’s goal for the retreat is to build community and help others in the LGBTQIA+ community realize they are not alone.
“Having ADHD makes me feel alone in my head more often than not, and I used to spend my entire life masking —trying to act like the cool, calm, mature woman I thought society needed me to be,” she said. “Since accepting my most authentic self, letting myself live with childlike wonder and whimsy, releasing the pressure to be liked by all, and inserting myself in groups where I am celebrated for all of who I am, I have flourished. My biggest hope is that my retreats can be a safe space for others who may have felt like me to shed some layers, be themselves, and flourish. To laugh and frolic and connect and be accepted for it all.”
Whether you want a break from headlines, seek to explore or embrace your gender identity, or just want to connect, “Coming Home to You” offers that.
“I’m thrilled to exhale collectively with this group as we arrive for a week of laughter and Queer joy,” Kelley said.
If you’re interested in getting involved in a future retreat or joining the waitlist for “Coming Home to You,” sign up at https://bit.ly/4a58Xlp.
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