Would Oakland Feather River Family Camp be hard on the socially anxious?
My family is considering doing 4 or 5 days at Oakland Feather River Camp. It sounds great for the kids and so forth, but as someone who suffers from intense social anxiety with strangers, I wonder if I would just spend the whole time feeling incredibly awkward & uncomfortable around all those friendly folks who are excited to meet new people (which is what it sounds like).
If you've spent time there was there a lot of social mixer type things where you're thrown in with new people? I tend to be okay when there's something to do (so a class is okay for me). It's more of the small talk/chit chat that sends me running for cover. Thanks!
Mar 7, 2017
Parent Replies
I hear you! My family's been going to Oakland Feather River Camp for quite a while, mostly because my kids keep insisting. I'm not socially uncomfortable but I'm socially awkward, and I've struggled with the social aspects of camp at mealtimes and evenings. (During the day there are plenty of options for solo activities -- hiking, swimming, reading...) To be honest, it's not too different from the rest of the world: the social adept find each other, and they tend to leave the socially awkward alone. I think this has gotten somewhat more pronounced over the past couple years since the Berkeley folks started coming up after the Berkeley camp burned down. (Nothing wrong with the Berkeley folks! They just bring a slightly different vibe, at least to my eyes.) That said, there are many lovely, interesting, quiet people at camp on the staff and among the longtime campers, and no one will look askance if you bring a book to a meal or don't show up for the evening activities. Many people do keep to themselves. Also, some weeks are quieter than others -- I'd advise you to avoid music or folk dance week just because the evening activities are so central, and look for a cabin that's not in the center of things. There's a new director this year and a more active board, so there may be more planned social mixing activities this year. On balance, I'd say it's probably worth trying for you, especially if your kids are small. It's a beautiful location and a relaxed way to spend time with your family, and there's enough space that you can run for cover if you need to. Good luck with your decision.
Let me start by saying that I do not suffer from intense social anxiety, so you can take this for what it's worth... but I don't think the staff/fellow campers at Oakland Feather River Camp are that intrusive. Everyone is pretty friendly, for sure, but we've gone to camp for a few years now, and I always note that it's obvious that the camp is full of city folk. Because people definitely give each other plenty of space! Or they come with friends and pretty much stick with their friends. Just because you are standing next to someone in the chow line, that doesn't mean you have to chat with them! There is also zero pressure to participate in group activities. They are there, but they are totally optional, and I have never felt out of it for not participating. (Line dancing? Not my thing.) The only place where I think you wouldn't be able to avoid mixing with others a bit would be at mealtimes, where everyone congregates at the chow hall at the same time to eat. (Kind of like a college dorm cafeteria.) You stand in line with everyone, get your food, and then go to your table with whoever your people are. I've never seen any kind of formal encouraging/forcing people to sit with people they don't know or anything like that. The rec staff will ask newly arrived campers to stand up and be welcomed on their first day there. But other than that, it's not too hard to avoid strangers, even at mealtimes, if you do not care to interact.
That said, you should call the office and ask about when it would be best to go, because as I understand it, different theme weeks attract different crowds of folks. Like, I think there is a folk-dancing week or a music week that has a devoted following of very regular campers, and that might have a different feel to it than what I'm describing. I've found the OFRC staff to all be really kind and thoughtful, so if you can get someone one the phone at the office, they will give you the scoop, rather than just trying to sell you something. The first year we went, we went during the short week they have at the end of July (camp is closed for a special event, so camp is only open 5 days that week, instead of 7.) It was VERY uncrowded the year we went. Maybe that would be a good time to go?
I'd also suggest choosing your tent and/or cabin location carefully. Some tents/cabins will feel more private and/or be more distant from the center of camp. Again, I bet the office staff would give you some good advice in that regard.
Best of luck with it! We love OFRC!