Staff Stories Check OUt These Posts:
Teenagers are a Lightning Rod to Show us How we Are as a Society
If teenagers are truly a lightning rod or a barometer to show us how our society is doing, then we know we have plenty of work to do, but we knew that anyway. Doesn’t it feel like our society is more polarized and maybe angrier than we have been in a long time? It feels…
Read MoreLearning from disappointment and frustration When a camper wants to call home after only being there for a few days, they usually ask their parents to come and get them. They are tired from walking; they don’t love the rustic camping lifestyle; they miss their cell phones or all of the above. Usually, parents reluctantly…
Read MoreI asked my wife while we were walking our dogs the other day why I didn’t make OTC a non-profit years ago, and she said, “you were always so busy planning for summer.” I thought, “oh, yeah, I remember that,” but if I knew then what I know now, I would have focused more on…
Read More20 years ago, when I started Odyssey Teen Camp, I could not have imagined the impact this camp would have on my life as well as thousands of other people’s lives. A safe space The concept was simple – create a summer camp for teenagers where they were safe from bullying and emotional abuse. A…
Read MoreFrom a Feeling of Malice to Hope: One Camper’s Personal Odyssey
Odyssey Teen Camp means different things to different campers, but one thing they all can agree on is that OTC changed their life. Kendall was a camper at OTC starting in 2014. His life was transformed as he built friendships, discovered a new sense of belonging and regained his confidence. Here Kendall shares his story…
Read MoreWhat’s It Like to Run a Summer Camp with Many Transgender and Gender-Expansive Teens?
Twenty years ago, I was a middle-aged guy with a corporate job that never felt like a good fit for me. Today, I run an unconventional summer camp where up to one in four teens identifies as transgender or gender non-conforming. The journey has been an unexpected one. An idea of a camp for teens…
Read MoreLet the Little Moments Happen – Staff Culture at Odyssey
This blog post comes from one of our first-time counselors, Allie. While Allie had many years of camp experience, this was her first time at Odyssey Teen Camp—and as she describes, it totally changed her view of what camp could really be for campers and staff alike. Allie’s story At first, I didn’t know what…
Read MoreMAKE MORE BAD ART! Fearlessness and Confidence-building at Odyssey Teen Camp
This next post comes to you from one of our devoted staff members, Schu! She has been coming to camp for the past four years and now writes about her favorite intensive to teach: Fearless Art-Making—also known as MAKE MORE BAD ART! Shu’s story The first time I picked up a marker, I was not…
Read MoreFrom Studying in Brazil to Summer Job in The U.S: One Counselor’s Story of Late Nights, Love, and Laughter
The following story comes from Cydnii, a terrific counselor of ours that came straight to Odyssey Teen Camp from studying abroad in Brazil, and fit right into our teen camp family. Enjoy! Cydnii’s story I had never attended the camp as a camper, nor was I connected with any of the other staff members, save…
Read MoreIn 2002, our first year running OTC, a 15-year-old boy named Georgios showed up. He was a unique, intelligent, free-spirited, inspirational young man. Georgios has been coming back to camp for the past thirteen years, leading some of the most interesting and vital activities and discussions for teenagers from all walks of life. He has…
Read MoreRecent Posts
- Building Confidence and Resilience in Teens August 30, 2023
- Odyssey Teen Camp’s First Ever Benefit Gala April 27, 2023
- Teenagers are a Lightning Rod to Show us How we Are as a Society November 2, 2022

Find Out About Odyssey Teen Camp
A Non-Profit Overnight Summer Camp For Teens Ages 13-18
Located in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.
