Ep. 009: I went on a camp with 400+ strangers- Here’s what happened…
Picture it: 400+ strangers, dressed head to toe in dinosaur costumes, on a field in rural Devon. What could go wrong?
It was two years ago that my friend came to me with the idea of going for a weekend away, camping near the seaside. It sounded idyllic to say the least, having a much needed R&R without the extended limb of my phone. The catch? Hundreds of random people in dino gear.
As an introvert who had very much enjoyed the escape of lockdown, this did not sound like the restful weekend I had pictured. “It’s organised by this group called The Travel Squad,” my friend explained. “A group designed for people to network and meet people also into traveling.”
The word “network” instantly sparked in my brain. The self growth obsessed part of me won against my introverted side, and I said yes. This was something I’d been looking for. No one tells you just how difficult it is to make friends in your twenties. As someone with a long term partner, I felt relieved that I had escaped the horrible dating landscape of today, but finding friends follows a similar pattern. I was desperate to network (what a lovely, productive sounding word!), and so I bought my ticket.
That was a year ago. So when the time came for Jurassic Camp 2024, I couldn’t say no.
We packed up our bags in the scorching July sun (one of the rare occasions it actually was sunny this year, luckily) and headed down to the coast of no signal and overpriced ice creams.
On arrival, we dumped our bags, took an obligatory tequila shot for courage and headed into the throng of people playing games, chatting, dancing and having fun. I will say, having someone you know is a great comfort in these types of events. However, half of the people I spoke to came on their own. And it was easy to see why! Everyone was instantly friendly, as I even recognised friends I had made the previous year.
With TTS, there really is something for everyone. Whether you’re a party animal or prefer your morning mindfulness, the Jurassic Camp truly had it all.
Plus, the beauty of the campsite is as soon as your social battery dies, you can tuck into your sleeping bag, chuck some ear plugs in, hassle free.
I would highly recommend joining TTS. I’ve made so many friends for life through the open armed community, and even joined my local branch for the occasional paddleboarding evening!
If travel and adventure isn’t really your thing, find a networking group that suits you! I love the Gals Who community on Instagram, who regularly host networking events for girls in their twenties looking to make new friends. If you’re nervous, go with a friend the first time, but try not to stick to them the entire time! (Disclaimer: Please make sure the group you’re meeting with is authentic and not a scam, especially if you’re going alone!!).
Network Network Network. Who you know is always powerful. If you need more motivation than friendship, one of the people you meet up with might be a friend of a friend who works with your dream company. You never know.
xoxo,
She Wrote Her Twenties
