SPW East Recap
On thefirst weekend in June,Snow Peakers from all different cities (east,midand west) were treated to a weekend of retreat, away from the distractions ofcity-life.WeconvenedinEquinuk, Pennsylvania to enjoyan abundance of nature-filled views at every angle and sharedmoments of community throughout the weekend.
Friday:
The weather was sunny with warm temps, offering a glimpse of a perfect East Coast summer weekend in rural Pennsylvania.
The location (Soaring Eagle Campground) was perfectly nestled along the Upper Delaware River, and campers enjoyed access and views of pristine flowing water, abundant with trout and other aquatic life. The community of Snow Peakers quickly put together their own campsites, then moved on to help their fellow campers put up their tents, some who were new to the experience. New friends were made in the process, and many were reunited with familiar faces. In the evening, we held our traditional Welcome Ceremony & Kanpai, introducing each Snow Peak & Campfield staff member, as well as our workshop partners
Friday night was not without distractions. The NY Knicks made it to the NBA Finals and were playing their second finals game that evening while on a winning streak. It was a historic moment that the majority of the campers did not want to miss. One camper group set up a projector to live stream the game, and the cheers could be heard throughout the campground signaling the result of the game. The celebratory and jovial atmosphere permeated throughout the weekend.
Saturday:
The second day was filled with excitement for the activities for the day. Some campers got up before sunrise to fish in the river or enjoy a pre-dawn birding session. Early risers were also treated to a coffee bar station hosted by Smells Like Outside café and HOSE, with specialty tea drinks on offer. After a refreshing yoga session by the river, workshops were underway with basketweaving, sashiko mending, knot-tying, bird watching, fly fishing, cooking sessions, cider tasting and coffee brewing classes all on offer for an activity-filled day.
As the day progressed and temps climbed to the high 80’s, children and adults could be seen playing and splashing in the creek or sitting in rock pools by the river to cool off from the heat. The heat of the day led to a short window of rain in the late afternoon, providing some relief from the humidity. It created conditions for one of the most beautiful moments of the weekend, a gathering of people admiring a fantastic sunset with orange and purple streaked clouds reflecting off the Upper Delaware River. After that, Takibi Time kicked off with our partners from Rivian making popcorn snacks for the campers.
Special Thanks to our partners for the programming support: Craft Society, Kathrine Khorassani, Carbon Stories, HOSE NY, Occam Cider Co., Athletic Brewing Co., Cabi Foods, Swavroski, Rivian and Brandi Sky.
Sunday:
We began the process of packing up camp and the slow ritual that seemed more deliberate this time around as campers delayed the inevitable ending of a memorable weekend. The contentment of the campers could be felt throughout the event, and it always feels bittersweet to end a Snow Peak Way. Meeting new friends, connecting with old friends, sharing meals, experiencing all the different parts of the environment- these are moments that make us realize the power of community and restoring our humanity in nature.
The final special moment of the weekend was spotting a bald eagle soaring overhead and above the river - an appropriate show for the namesake campground. The event concluded with the Paper Airplane Contest and the Closing Ceremony. We want to again thank our workshop partners for their support and the Snow Peak community for being a part of another wonderful Snow Peak Way.
