Camp Grasshopper
An adult summer camp, inspired by Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day
Summer 2027 (Dates TBA) near Portland, OR
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
Camp Grasshopper is for adult readers who could use a weekend with nowhere else to be. Three days of books, bonfires, wandering, making things, and remembering what it feels like to be amazed.
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When was the last time you let yourself be amazed?
In The Summer Day, Mary Oliver starts with a grasshopper and ends with a much bigger question about how we spend our lives. It's a reminder to pay attention to the small, wonderful things we so often rush past. We thought that sounded like a pretty good reason to go to summer camp.
Welcome to Camp Grasshopper: a weekend of books, bonfires, crafts, wandering, and good company.
Join a literary discussion, try something new, or spend the afternoon reading in a hammock. We'll have plenty planned, but how you spend your time is entirely up to you.
One Poem. Many Ways to Wonder.
Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day will be our starting point and a thread we’ll return to throughout the weekend.
What does it mean to really notice the world?
Where do we find wonder in ordinary life?
And how do we make room for more of the things that make us feel alive?
These aren’t questions we expect to answer by Sunday. They’re invitations to explore through stories, conversation, time outdoors, and our own experiences.
What Camp Looks Like
Think the best parts of childhood summer camp, with a few grown-up upgrades: better food, good books, sauna time, and the freedom to skip an activity whenever you feel like it.
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Our signature Overleaf Lit Salons bring people together around a shared question rather than a shared reading assignment. Through engaging prompts and open-ended discussion, we’ll explore ideas sparked by Mary Oliver’s poem and other works of literature. No preparation needed, just an appetite for conversation. We’re also planning a guest conversation with a local author, with more details to come.
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Join an optional book club, swap recommendations with fellow campers, or find a quiet corner and read entirely on your own terms. We’ll curate a small selection of books connected to our themes of awe, attention, nature, and the joy of being alive.
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Remember making things just for the fun of it? We’re bringing that back. Expect hands-on crafts, playful writing prompts, journaling, and opportunities to experiment with something new. No talent or experience required, and absolutely no masterpieces expected.
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We’ll make time to explore the woods and meadows around us, with gentle invitations to notice things we might otherwise overlook. Follow a trail, stop to investigate something curious, or stretch out under the trees and watch the clouds. Sometimes there’s no better activity than doing very little.
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Start the morning with optional movement or yoga, settle into a meditation, or head to the outdoor bathhouse for a sauna, soak, and cold plunge. Take what you need from the weekend, whether that’s movement, quiet, or a long afternoon nap.
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What’s summer camp without a little silliness? Think campfire stories, shared meals, and plenty of time to get to know your fellow campers. We hope you’ll leave with some new friends.
Our Setting
20 ACRES OF NATURAL BEAUTY
We'll gather at a 20 acre, private retreat property about an hour outside Portland, surrounded by old-growth cedar, meadow, and forest. The setting has a cozy cabin vibe: rustic, beautiful, communal, and intentionally removed from everyday life.
OUTDOOR BATHHOUSE
Perched at the edge of the property with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, the Bathhouse is a serene place to slow down, soak, and reconnect. Enjoy the cedar sauna and cold plunge, spacious soaking tubs and showers, and cozy spaces designed for lingering and unwinding.
CABINS, BUNKS, AND CAMPING
Choose your own summer camp experience. Settle into a private cabin, share a room, claim a bunk, or bring your tent and sleep under the stars. We’ll offer a range of lodging options and price points, so you can find what works for you.
COZY GATHERING SPACES
Between the cozy main house, spacious barn, and outdoor gathering areas, there’s room for all kinds of camp moments: lively literary discussions, craft projects spread across a table, communal dinners, or a quiet conversation by the fire.
Summer camp is better when everyone feels part of it.
We’ll enjoy delicious catered meals together, with plenty of time to sit around the table, linger over coffee, and trade stories.
And in the spirit of camp, we’ll invite anyone who’s interested to join the Camp Crew.
Camp Crew members can receive a discount on registration in exchange for signing up for a scheduled shift helping with meal setup or cleanup. It’s a simple way to make camp more affordable, share the work of creating a welcoming space, and bring a little of that communal camp spirit to the weekend.
Prefer to leave the chores behind? That’s fine, too. Crew shifts are entirely optional.
Food, Friendship & a Little Pitching In
Your Camp Counselors
Camp Grasshopper is hosted by Meghan and Maggie, co-founders of Overleaf Retreats.
We started Overleaf to bring people together through literature, curiosity, creativity, and the conversations that stay with us long after we’ve put down a book.
Camp Grasshopper is a chance to bring a little more play into that mix. We’ll be leading literary conversations, sharing creative invitations, and making sure there’s plenty of room for spontaneous adventures and unplanned connections.
When: Summer 2027, dates to be announced
Where: A private, 20-acre forest retreat about an hour from Portland, Oregon
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Accommodations: Private cabins, shared rooms, bunks, and camping options
Your registration will include your selected accommodations, catered meals from Friday dinner through Sunday brunch, facilitated literary conversations, creative activities, and access to the property’s bathhouse and trails.
Optional book clubs and Camp Crew discounted registration opportunities will be available. Full pricing and scheduling details are coming soon.