POETRY CAMP

Poetry Camp is an annual, age-inclusive, five-day, four-night summer camp for poets, dreamers, and wild creatives at the bucolic Outlier Inn.

Why Poetry Camp?

The world is loud. Deadlines. Rent. Doomscrolling. Existential dread. It’s enough to make anyone want to pull a Thoreau and disappear into the trees.

Enter Poetry Camp—a fully immersive summer writing retreat for poets, writers, and creatives of all kinds. It’s where craft, community, and wild imagination take center stage.

Poetry Camp is a life-affirming, soul-nourishing, creativity-reawakening experience. For four days and five nights, you’ll step outside of time and into a world made for poetry—where workshops unfold under the sky, generative sessions spark at picnic tables, and campfire readings stretch late into the stars.

What to Expect

Mornings

  • Yoga or movement to ground your body

  • Small-group workshops, electives, & seminars

Afternoons

  • Headliner-led seminars with poets like Chen Chen, Stephanie Berger, and Jackie Braje

  • Lake dips, foraging walks, and wildcrafting sessions

Evenings

  • Campfire readings, open mics, star-gazing

  • Hot tub hangs, talent shows, spontaneous magic

Need a break? There’s a swimming pond! A sauna! Hammocks! Alpacas!

Who Is PoCamp For?

Poetry Camp is for anyone who longs to:

  • Unplug from the noise

  • Rewild their creativity

  • Connect deeply—with others, with language, with the land

Whether you’re a seasoned poet or simply poetry-curious, this is a space to play, experiment, and grow. Unlike traditional retreats focused on achievement and solitude, Poetry Camp invites you to let poetry live in your body, your voice, the trees, and the people around you.

Housing for Every Kind of Camper

Sleep under the stars or nest in a cozy cottage—your vibe, your choice.
Options include:

  • BYO tent

  • Geodesic domes

  • Airstream trailers

  • Rustic bungalows

  • Cottages with clawfoot tubs

No matter where you stay, all campers come together to share meals, stories, and space in a creativity-fueled environment.

Accessibility FAQ

  • Accessibility & Financial Access

    We believe poetry should be accessible—to every voice and every budget.

    All campers receive:

    3 delicious meals per day (dietary needs accommodated)

    Access to all workshops, seminars & activities

    A weekend of connection, creation, and community

    Admission Levels:

    $450 — Work-Study

    $675 — General Admission

    $875 — VIP
    (Payment plans available!)

  • Yes! The venue is wheelchair accessible, including entrances, exits, and pathways. We also offer accessible parking spaces close to the entrance and designated drop-off zones for mobility needs.

  • Yes, please! If you have specific needs—such as seating, mobility assistance, dietary accommodations, or anything else—contact us at tova@poetrysocietyny.org. The sooner we know, the better we can support you.

  • Yes! All food items will be clearly labeled with allergens and dietary information, and we aim to offer inclusive meal and snack options.

  • Absolutely. Service animals are welcome, and there will be designated relief areas available.