((PKG))  NERD CAMP 

((Banner:  Nerd Camp))

((Reporter/Camera:  Deborah Block))
((Adapted by:  Philip Alexiou))

((Map:  Darlington, Maryland)) 


((Pop-Up Banner:  Fantasy and Fun at a Summer Nerd Camp for Adults))


((NATS)) 

((Chris Mceligot, Camper))  

Being a merman sounded like a lot of fun.  So, I thought I'd just try it out. 


((Camper))

I like how fast I can go as a mermaid.  


((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))

You would have to hate fun to not want to do this. 


((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))

There's something for everybody here. 


((Camper))

No cookies for me.


((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))

A nerd is anybody who is really passionate about something.  It doesn't really matter so much what that something is for the people who are passionate about the sort of fandoms and activities that we do here.  Axe throwing and mermaids and, you know, sort of fantasy and sci-fi.  They find a really good experience and a group of friends. 


((NATS))

((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))

We have nothing here they could possibly want, except those cookies we were talking about for after dinner.   


((Camp player))

The oreos?


((Rommie Duckworth, Camper))
There's a number of different pursuits and nerdy things that everybody can enjoy, from board games to laser tag to all sorts of silly stuff, and everybody is open and friendly about it. 


((NATS)) 

((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
I think some of it goes back to, you know, being in high school and always feeling like an outcast, and so, you get used to being kind of the weird one and then you find, when you come here, everybody is the weird one. 


((Gretchen Walther, New Camper))

I always feel a bit out of place in the everyday world.  I'm very much into nerdy things, and even though it's generally becoming a bit more accepted, people who are very involved in it, tend to be a bit on their own.  I was looking for people to connect with. 


((NATS))

((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))

How do you get more friends as an adult?  It's kind of hard.  So, when you have to share space with other people, immediately it's more strange to not talk to them than it is to talk to them.  So, things like that, where you're put in a situation where the natural thing to do is to be social with the people around you.  

((NATS)) If any of your swimmers meet the dolphin thing, it's the same thing.  


((Kim Kjessler, Founder, Epic Nerd Camp))

Colorado, we see a lot of people from.  California, Texas, Washington state.  I mean, it's really from everywhere.  Now that we're closer to airports, it's made it a lot easier for people to get here from far away. 


((NATS)) 

((Julie Chapa, Camp Volunteer))
There are people here I know I'm going to be friends with them for life. 
((NATS))