Winter Gay Spirit Camp ‘25

About the Community Share

On Saturday and Sunday morning, we will gather in groups to discuss a topic. (The topics are listed at the end of this schedule). The group leader will introduce the topic, and each member will have a few minutes to share their thoughts and feelings about it. We encourage everyone to participate, as this activity fosters bonds among participants and provides an opportunity to explore and learn about topics that may not typically be discussed in our daily lives. If you are unable to attend, please inform your group leader. Your group number and leader's name will be announced during the opening circle, along with the meeting location.

Friday, February 14th

5:00 pm - Welcome Reception: A Day in 1986 of Love and Friendship - Great Room
Soft drinks and a fondue table will be served.

6:50 pm - Dinner Circle

7:00 pm - Dinner

8:15 pm - Opening Circle - Great Room

9:30 pm - Tender Loving Touch - Temple, with Jose Austin
There is no denying the power of human touch, especially when offered in a loving, intimate way. In this workshop we will all experience the pleasure of touching and being touched, with loving intention, in a group setting. We will start with an undressing ceremony as an introduction to each others bodies. Feathers and blindfolds will then be used to guide the group into progressively intimate and erotic touch. The workshop will be open ended, allowing everyone interested to initiate and enjoy, intentional, loving erotic touch while enjoying the warm embracing ambience of the temple.

The workshop will be open ended, allowing everyone interested to initiate and enjoy, intentional, loving erotic touch while enjoying the warm embracing ambience of the temple.

OR “Paris is Burning” Movie Viewing - Great Room
“Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it.

Critics consider the film to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, and a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning_(film))

Saturday, February 15th

7:30 am - Yoga with Tim - Great Room, with Tim Cooley

OR 12 Step Meeting - Temple (Hunter Reynolds Room)

8:30 am - Breakfast

9:45 am- Community Share - Various Locations
Topic TBA

11:00 am - “We Go Together” Dance Workshop - Great Room, with Mark Anthony Lord
Ready to channel your inner T-Bird or Pink Lady? Whether you’re a total Danny, a hopelessly devoted Sandy, or a Frenchy in need of a dance makeover, this workshop is your time to shine! Join us for a fun dance session where you’ll learn a choreographed number to the iconic “We Go Together” from Grease. No dance experience required—just bring your best 80’s energy, a sense of humor, and a willingness to shake, shimmy, and hand-jive ....hand-job ... whatever!

OR We Have Always F**ked Gender, with Kell Arbor
Join Kell arbor (fae/faer) in this group dialogue and mapping reflection on Gender, Fashion and Queerness through the 1980's and the decades prior. The 80's androgynous look and clothing uni-sex cuts were in direct opposition to the Reagan led moral Christian uprising. We will have a large group dialogue unpacking what was going on in Gender, Fashion, and Queerness during and up till the 1980's as well as what has been happening the last 40 recent years.

1:00 pm - Lunch

2:15 pm - Let’s Get Physical! Aerobics Celebration - Great Room, with Anthony Dissen
It’s time to sweat! Let the music of the 80s get our hearts pumping and our bodies moving as we get together for a gay aerobics party. Bring your sweat bands, your leg warmers, and your neon shorts and get ready to move, laugh, and sweat. Let’s celebrate our beautiful bodies together with joy and music. Open to all levels of experience and ability status. 

OR The Facts of Life: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Emotional Intelligence - Temple, with Daniel Tomé
In this interactive and introspective workshop, we’ll explore the importance of emotional intelligence, reflection, and self-awareness. We’ll explore how these elements contribute to a more fulfilling and authentic life, particularly within the context of our queer identities. By incorporating 80s nostalgia and engaging activities, we’ll create a fun and supportive environment for personal growth. The goals of this workshop are to enhance participants' emotional intelligence by understanding and managing their emotions effectively, cultivate self-awareness and humility, and develop practical tools for ongoing personal growth.

4:00 pm - Pride Rewind: Transform Your 80’s Story and Celebrating the Hero/Shero Within! - Great Room, with Mark Anthony Lord
What if you could rewrite your past so your present and future stood on a foundation of greater confidence, resilience, and personal power? What if you could look back at the ‘80s—not through the lens of regret, shame, or loss—but with real PRIDE, honoring the courageous, world-changing soul you were. Here’s the truth: Your story isn’t set in stone—it’s ready to be reimagined. By the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with a renewed sense of pride, seeing how your journey helped shape a better, more loving world. You were always a hero—it’s time to see it clearly, celebrate it boldly, and become someone your past self would be proud of. Through the healing power of the chakras and the vibrant colors of the PRIDE flag, we’ll revisit your 80’s story, transforming wounds into wisdom and struggle into strength. The past is yours to rewrite—let’s make it legendary!

OR Envision Life’s Journey - Temple, with Logan Grant
Our time is precious. How do you spend your time? Are you working, building your career or retired and tackling that bucket list?

My life’s journey has been varied and unpredictable. From network news studios in New York to movie studios in Hollywood; from small business entrepreneur to international events producer; from chop shops in the Bronx to dance palaces in Manhattan; from the Hood to the Pines, I’ve lived a life of highs and lows, always reinventing myself as life’s next challenge appears.

In this workshop we’ll identify our likes and dislikes, our needs, desires and hard limits to envision our life’s next journey. As so often happens, unexpected doors may open. That happened for me. It’s taken me from Corporate America executive to adult performer on OnlyFans and JustForFans. 

Come walk with me. 

6:20 pm - Dinner Circle

6:30 pm - Dinner

7:30 pm - Body Electric Experience - Great Room, with Craig Cullinane
Join facilitator Craig Cullinane as he guides you through an experience of touch, breathwork, and pleasure as offered by the Body Electric School. In this experience we will establish clear agreements about touch, consent, and mutual respect. You will be invited to shed clothing and share a beautiful, intimate space where you will give and receive full-bodied and erotic touch. This is an opportunity to awaken your senses, learn new skills about how to pleasure yourself and others, and explore connection and intimacy.

OR “It Was The Best of Times; It Was The Worst of Times”: The AIDS Epidemic in The 1980s - Temple, with Les K. Wright
In this workshop long-term AIDS survivor Les K. Wright will recount the history of the AIDS epidemic and how it profoundly changed the gay community in the 1980s. He will also share his perspective as a gay man infected with HIV in 1981 and living at Ground Zero in San Francisco. His presentation will be followed with a Q&A and open discussion.

Sunday, February 16th

7:30 am - Yoga with Tim - Great Room, with Tim Cooley

OR 12 Step Meeting - Temple (Hunter Reynolds Room)

8:30 am - Breakfast

9:45 am- Community Share - Various Locations
Topic TBA

11:00 am - Queer Soul Retrieval Meditation - Temple, with Anthony Dissen
The 80s were a time of great sorrow for the LGBTQ+ community. The beginning of the HIV epidemic, the Reagan administration, and rampant homophobia brought about ripples of pain and harm that we are still feeling in our community to this very day. One of the ways in which this impacts us is a sense of fragmentation and splintering that leaves us uncertain, afraid, and disconnected with ourselves, each other, and our larger wholeness. This session will work to guide us through the shamanic practice of soul retrieval - bringing back what was taken from us to help us be whole, powerful, and strong. We will connect with our queer ancestors to draw strength from those who fought so hard, and we will give strength to those who are in need of protection and healing. Lastly, we will end with a communal meditation to strengthen our connection with each other and all within our queer family.

OR Sex, Drugs, & Harm Reduction Trivia - Great Room, with Kell Arbor
Join Kell Arbor (fae/faer) for an edu-taining gayme of trivia. Topics will cover a range within Sex, Drugs, & Harm Reduction information and players will play as individuals. Come test your knowledge and take away hot new tips. There will be prizes for the top winners.

12:30 pm - Lunch

2 pm - Voguing Workshop - Great Room, with London Jae Precise

OR The Care of Aging Parents - Temple, with Harry Faddis
These days many members of the Easton Community are involved in the care of their aging parents. It also often happens that, in larger families, the gay or queer child becomes the primary caretaker.

Given the emotional, physical, spiritual challenges of this role, it seems a good idea to take some time and energy to discuss our different situations regarding this role in our lives. The focus of this workshop is taking care of parents.

This workshop will involve a panel discussion with participants who are or have been the caretakers of parents. We will also have the opportunity in small groups to talk about our own experiences. Sometimes it’s a relief to just talk about it with another.

We will also have some time to share, in a group, what we’ve learned and what some practical steps might be in giving our care to the people who brought us into this world.

4:00 pm - Winter Camp Reception - Great Room
Includes 80’s Karaoke and sing alongs!

5:50 pm - Dinner Circle

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:15 pm - Ballroom Extravaganza - Great Room, with London Jae Precise
Includes a special presentation by Mark Anthony Lord and the Winter Camp Dancers: “Let’s Go Together!”

9:30 pm - 1984 New York City Dance - Great Room, with DJ Sean

Monday, February 17th

7:30 am - Yoga with Tim - Great Room, with Tim Cooley

OR 12 Step Meeting - Temple (Hunter Reynolds Room)

8:30 am - Breakfast

9:30 am - Past, Present, and Future - Celebrating Our Queer Journey - Great Room, with Carlos Quintanilla

Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt exploration of our queer experiences. Together, we'll immerse ourselves in our personal histories, celebrating the triumphs and navigating the challenges that have defined us as queer individuals. Through creative writing, open dialogue, and expressive activities, we’ll bring together the stories of our past, present, and future.

As a community, we’ll reflect on our shared journey, drawing strength and resilience from our collective stories. Come with an open mind and heart, ready to connect, uplift, and support one another. Our lived experiences are powerful catalysts for shaping brighter futures—not just for ourselves, but for others.

Let’s honor our queerness, amplify our voices, and envision the men we aspire to be, together.

11:00 am - Closing Circle

12:00 pm - Brunch

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!

________________________________________________________________________________

• The Sauna will be available each night at 10 pm Saturday and Sunday nights.

• Each night, the Play Space will be available after 10 pm in the Temple loft.

• We have a full closet of games in the Great Room that folks can play together. 

• You can book an individual massage with River for 1 hr. at $120. See the the signup sheet for sign up. He will be using hot stones and cold towels.