You may have noticed an influx of business conferences masquerading as vacations over the past few years. Some call themselves “think tanks” or “melting pots for thought leaders,” and others simply use the phrase “entrepreneurial communities.” Although the names are largely a mash-up of hipster cliches, this new regime of crowd-sourced learning has basically saved our lives, and Unique Camp is leading the way.
Not that long ago, networking meant hundreds of ill-fitting suit-clad execs zoning out to monotone presentations in boozy convention centers. Companies happily paid nominal fees for the continued education of their staff and the promise of valuable contacts. Thankfully, it appears these formulaic events and their ubiquitous promotional tote bags have gone extinct.
People are still meeting and greeting, of course, but the formula has changed. Among the new leaders, the Unique Camp stands out from the crowd by offering annual weekend salons. Founded in Los Angeles by creative community influencer Sonja Rasula, Unique aims to connect peer groups professionally and personally without feeling bored.
This year, Sonja’s event packed 200 adults in school buses and headed up to a YMCA in Big Bear, California. It’s hard not to be open-minded when you’re at a breathtaking 7,000 feet, but meeting new people in this environment felt authentic and easy. Prior to the camp kickoff, guests were invited to share an “I’m going off the grid” message to followers on social platforms, a move designed to comfort people who rarely disconnect. The group’s commitment to ditch all phones increased attention spans and encouraged us to meet new people. What else were we going to do?
The four-day offline experience included crafting, carving, singing, climbing, hiking, dancing and learning through various organized workshops. All this at a wooded 120-acre little kids’ summer camp complete with modern day glamping amenities. The bevy of comforts included on-site baristas from Sightglass, gluten and dairy-free menu options, morning yoga accompanied by hugging breaks, and swag from TOMS and Teva, amenities that eased the transition into the emotional and physical wild.
As we travel through adulthood, moments where it’s socially acceptable to make new connections in person are less and less. Deep into careers and family, we tend to share our limited facetime with those we already know. A getaway for like-minded creatives is appealing because it isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but puts us back in touch with a process we have relegated to the virtual world. It helps when it feels more like a vacation than a planned networking event.
The Unique Camp has created a space of availability where there isn’t one, demanding attention and delivering quality conversation and content through a state of consciousness.
This article was originally published in RANGE Magazine Issue Three.
Images courtesy of Unique CAMP.