Enticed with fierce fire-making challenges and brutal lip sync battles, outdoor enthusiasts prepared for a weekend that would test their mettle.
Similar to the TV show “Survivor,” OUTVIVOR : Camp Carnage made its return to Camp Geneva in Fruitland Park for a weekend of exciting twists. The grueling four-day, three-night competition camp, which started Friday and runs through Monday, was hosted by OUT Sports League – Orlando, an LGBTQ sports team.
Around 50 campers registered for the competition, now in its third year. About half of those at this year’s camp were returning contestants.
Colin Clark, an Orlando resident and returning Outvivor participant, said he hopes to do better this year. He had learned from his mistakes the last time around and he had picked up some tips from a video on the camp’s social media page.
The event is designed to test an individual’s competitive drive, social skills and strategic-thinking ability with physical challenges, puzzles and trivia games.
“We found a great way to build community,” said Jeff Fusco, event lead and host. “The game forces you to talk to each other and work together. It brought together people who have slightly similar interests but may not have ever hung out in the same groups. People make deep connections.”
Fusco said the event coordinators to their best to replicate popular games off of “Survivor” with a limited budget and less experience.
“We didn’t really know what it was before, but now we know,” Fusco said. “We were able to plan for more activities after seeing the appetite for the event. We were able to look at what worked and amp it up to a whole new level.”
Fusco said while last year’s event presented nine challenges for participants to work through, while this year’s camp brings 14 total tasks.
“We have been able to construct some audacious challenges,” Fusco said.
The camp’s theme is “See No Evil,” which is meant to inspire the mood of a camp horror story or summer camp gone wrong, Fusco said.
“Last year’s theme was ‘Divas,'” he said. “We like to have very different themes because it creates juxtaposition.”
He said that the theme for the next camp has yet to be decided, hinting at the quote “When they wanted me to go left, I went right.”
This year, the slogan for this year’s camp is that it is to “See who will outgay, outslay and outsport their competition.”
Throughout the weekend, campers are eliminated after each challenge until there is one person left standing. The winner will be announced after the games Monday.
“People have the chance to have a hero moment,” Fusco said. “Even if you are eliminated throughout the game, you can still participate. We want to keep people engaged throughout.”
One of the challenges is the “Work or Twerk” challenge. It allows players to choose if they want to do a physical challenge or lip sync for a chance to get back into the game.
People who aren’t participating in the camp can follow along at home on @Outvivor on Instagram.
“It’s crazy to think that something that had such a humble beginning, with two friends saying ‘Lets go camping’ turned into this,” Fusco said. “We wanted to come together and create spaces and experiences for LGBTQ outside of a dating app or online, and we did.”
For more information about OUTVIVOR: Camp Carnage, visit outevents.leagueapps.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
