Base Camp: Bend, Oregon — October 2023

Base Camp is a week-long co-living experience for rising creatives to collaborate and develop their latest projects.

We brought together filmmakers, writers, designers, musicians, and founders in Bend, Oregon for a focused week of building — away from the noise of the internet, but surrounded by people who live on it.

Between workshops and co-working sessions, everyone had time to explore the forests, lakes, and little corners of Bend together, with plenty of late-night hangs, shared meals, and spontaneous shoots woven in.

“Why I Create” — A Film by Sky Cowans

During Week 1, creator and filmmaker Sky Cowans captured the heart of Base Camp in her film “Why I Create.”

“I had the time of my life at Base Camp. I built such special lifelong friendships and connections and finally found my tribe of creators where I can be 100% myself.”
— Sky Cowans (@skycowans)

The film follows conversations and moments from camp, exploring why people choose to put their work online, what keeps them going, and how it feels to create in community instead of alone.

Conversations from Week 2 — by Jack Sheridan

Week 2 was documented by Jack Sheridan, who put together a collection of conversations from throughout the week.

“I met a group of dreamers recently… young, ambitious, maybe a little bit delusional — in the best way. We spent a special week together in Bend, Oregon.”
— Jack Sheridan

His reflections highlight the mix of deep talks, creative breakthroughs, and the small in-between moments that made the week feel like a turning point for so many people there.

What Creators Said About Base Camp

We asked the Bend cohort what the week meant to them:

• @bykatiemai – “I came in with no expectations and left with lifelong friendships. The pacing of the week felt great and the workshops were really fun.”

• @laurensbigadventure – “I knew nobody going in and was anxious entering a big group, but it became an incredibly inspiring and motivating week.”

• @elliotchoy – “I’ve never been to a creator event that made it this easy to connect with other creators on a deeper level.”

• @anniedxng – “The people I met that week are now family. There was an immediate sense of trust and love with like-hearted people.”

• @okpopofficial – “There’s an instant connection because everyone shares the same drive to create. That connection deepened every day.”

• @gracewellsphoto – “It’s truly made by creators, for creators, and that mission was present in every moment of the weekend.”

• @dannymiranda – “The warmth and love from so many talented people was really special.”

Stay in the Loop

Base Camp: Bend was one chapter in an ongoing series of gatherings designed to support thoughtful, internet-native work.

If you want to hear about future camps and events, keep an eye on Creator Camp’s main site and newsletter, where new dates, locations, and applications are announced.