Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25232
IN FRONT:: No wedgies allowed, and no turning your towel into a rattail. Beyond that, there aren't many more rules for the laid-off dot-commers in San Francisco's Bay Area who are determined to keep each jobless day as lively as a ten-year-old Cub Scout's in summer. In June, 2001, out-of-work techies Andy Brenner and Michael Feldman, 32 and 33, launched recession- camp.com, a website dedicated to helping the downsized continue to live large. With daily activities ranging from mountain biking, hiking, horseback rid ing and tra il running to museum and amusement park visits (for the sort of for- mer campers who used to find worms and shampoo in their sneakers), the site has attracted more than 25,000 visi- tors, with a few hundred of them now eager-beaver camp-song-singers (you already know the tune; the chorus goes, "Bye, Bye Webvan Delivery Guy"). "We went on our first hike in July and only six people came," says Head Counselor Andy, whose company profile details sixteen years as a summer camper long before mentioning his law degree. "Now we get a few dozen. So I'm amazed at how quickly we've grown. We've really struck a nerve, which is that while you're looking for a job, you can work on the other part of your life." Co-head Counselor Michael, whose outdoor experience includes climbing glaciers in Ecuador, helicopter ski ing in British Columbia, and run- ning, swimming and mountain biking in triathlons closer to home, says, "People in Silicon Val ley keep asking about our revenue model and how we're going to make a profit. Well, that's why we're a success. Because people here have forgotten they're allowed to do things just for fun . So we're doing things in the spiri t of summer. And we're going to keep this up even when it's no longer summer." Charging as little as possible (and often nothing), recessioncamp.com lists three events per week, and maintains a loose summertime feel by never requiring campers to sign up for anything in advance. "Volunteer Counselors" are also urged to submit ideas for activities, although to keep their campsite safe for A RECESSION CAMP IN ACTION mere junior marksmen and beginning swimmers alike, Andy and Michael have thus far declined requests to host swingers' parties. Campers beware: streaking will not be to lerated. " I'm just very high-energy, driven, extremely motivated, happy and optimisti c," explains Michael, who also attributes the camp's success to keeping a positive attitude. "I like to have fun, and I like to help other peo- ple have fun." "We don't make any money doing this," Andy adds. "We just want to keep meeting new people who real- ize that before they find new jobs, there's time to remember that the fiery ball in the sky is called 'the sun.' So we're holding our first Camper Happy Hour this weekend. No passing out resumes. And no free pens with the names of career counselors on them- we promise. It'll just be about kicking back and having fun . The only thing is we're ask- ing campers to bring their employed friends, too. To pay for the drinks and the nachos." Naturally, campers are asked to bring waivers signed by their parents acknowledging that pitchers of bug juice have been spiked.-James Sturz