Camp Crucible - Reviews of The Grand Parlay

And this absolutely fabulous report from "Cargo Weasel", who came to camp as a "Little" and found so very much much more:

Feeling a little nervous, I arrived at the site, Camp Ramblewood in northern Maryland around 3:30 pm. At the gate is registration and badging, and a photo waiver - a black badge lanyard means it's okay for the camp photographer to take your picture, a red lanyard/wristband means they cannot. Apart from the official photographer, there is a strict no-cameras policy at Camp.

After registration I unpacked my gear into the Littles Cabin, cabin ABCD - four cabins surrounding a central bathroom and entryway in one wooden building. The beds are boxsprings and plastic-lined double-size mattresses on frames, six or seven to a room. We pushed our beds together and put a queen size air mattress on top. The cabins are fairly rustic, mesh windows, flappy wooden doors, wooden floors, ceiling fans, no heat or AC but they have electricity and the bathrooms were fine, although two showers for twenty people was a little busy some mornings. The cabin assignments are arranged beforehand on the Camp website, and you can invite people to your cabin or have an open invite cabin like we did. Everyone in there was at least comfortable with seeing people in diapers, that was about the only rule.

The cabins are in a rough U shape around a HQ building, where there's a mess hall, pool, spa, dealers room and con-com. There's also three public dungeons, Heaven, Hell, and Limbo, for various levels of BDSM play, with suspension equipment, racks, harnesses, all the gear. There's also some gathering areas with seats and cushions with pavilion type shelters for hanging out in.

Roaming the grounds on the paved paths are golf cart taxis to take you anywhere you want on the grounds. There is little or no reason to leave the campgrounds once camp has started. Your entry fee pays for your bed and all meals and drinks. Meals are served at fixed times, cafeteria style, with PBJs if you hate whatever's on offer. The food was decent, and in some cases quite good, your basic chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, etc. Drinks are free, walk up to HQ and request a soda or water anytime you want. Also, you're expected to put in a couple hours on chores, like driving a taxi or manning a post at HQ or dishing up food or massaging people in the spa. The chores are fun, not odious in any way and you get a good chance to meet people. The base fee is a bit cheaper if you bring a tent and camp on the lawn wherever you like. Extra fees could get you a private room with AC, or get you out of chores (I did that to keep my schedule flexible, but in retrospect it wasn't necessary).

That's the structure - within that you're whatever you wanna do or be for the rest of the time and environment. There's an open parklike area, woods around the edges, three big clean playspaces, Oasis areas for small groups with cushions, the pool and the main HQ area. The rules are: genitals and nipples (and diapers) must be covered inside the dining area (this could be as simple as a thong or a onesie), and if you walk around naked, bring a towel to sit on. But any kind of scene you might wanna do is fair game, just use common sense - don't block traffic or make a total nuisance of yourself. It's very like a real life version of Taps, in effect.

Walking around naked is fine. Vanilla sexy time out in the open is totally fine. Walking around diapered or in full sissy/cub/baby gear is totally great. Re-enacting my "Saturday in the Park" comic is absolutely doable. The general rule is if you see something going on you don't care for, not to look at it! Imagine!

Stuff I saw other people doing while at camp: A man and a woman set up a portable shelter/pavilion with folding chairs inside, and the woman proceeded to give the guy a BJ after some snuggling. I saw someone getting whipped with a riding crop. I also saw someone getting wrapped up in a cocoon of saran wrap against the leg of a playground slide. That was just on one random day, and stuff that I noticed. Usually if it's not your scene and you're not involved, you're just part of the background scenery.

There's also a dealers room and panels and seminars and the basic convention-like stuff, and whatever scenes people come up with inside or outside of the various playspaces and dungeons.

In our section of the Littles Cabin was: me and Foxchild, Baby Ella, Chrissy, and Thumper. Chrissy, an older male AB, had brought a SLEW of dresses and three big high chairs, one of which got used at mealtimes in the dining area. Not by me though - they were cool but would have been a trifle too small for me. Baby Ella is a supercute AB girl in her mid twenties, and Thumper is a furry-ish guy with an interest in petplay among other things.

Other denizens of the littles cabin included Mako and Missy, Baby Rachel, Spacey and Marie, Will, Raquel and Tracy, Maya and Justin, a couple others I didn't see that much, and Baby Richard, who is a total character. Baby Richard seemed almost like the mascot of camp, or the representative little, any time there was a comedy sketch that required a baby character he was there, he was the ring bearer at a (real) at-camp wedding, you name it. He is quick with a joke and is always in a sunny cub mode.

I didn't really know my cabinmates (apart from Foxchild and Mako) before camp but we quickly became well acquainted and fast friends.

Thursday was mostly unpacking and Foxchild's arrival - with a quick sneak off to the edge of the woods for a mutual paw off in the forest at dusk - something I like to do now and then when circumstances allow. :3 After dinner that night was a casual mixer and drinks with the Leatherhearts and some swimming in the nice warm pool, catching frogs that hung out in the pool filters. The Leatherhearts is an informal family type organization run by Uncle Ed, who was kind enough to induct Patrick and Mako and me as the first littles in his large leather family - i was quite honored to be invited to join. I was in shortalls, Abenas and a onesie at this point, I was in some form of cub rig or naked pretty much for the rest of camp. Thursday was also Casino Night so there was some fun games of blackjack and poker and roulette for camp money, a form of scrip that could be used for the slave auction on Saturday.

Bedtime was a little after midnight, and the next morning (after a little more fooling around), it was time for the box fort.

Prior to camp, Mako had suggested we build something with Mr. McGroovy's Rivets (mcgroovys.com) and some refrigerator boxes. We scavenged some fridge boxes from various places, got some rivets, some housepaint in primary colors, and I ordered 75 cardboard sheets from ULine for delivery at camp. The fort was promptly christened Fort Awesome - a 20 foot square enclosure with an entrance tunnel and a secret door and brightly colored walls with painted handprints. It was architected and engineered by Mako and I originally, but Foxchild especially and almost every one of the littles helped out at some point - from helping with painting to slapping on handprints to cutting out shapes in the walls to help wind resistance. It was truly a team effort and looked fantastic when it was done.

Unfortunately just as we were putting the finishing touches on it is when it started to rain. I had terrible visions of it collapsing or getting soaked and unusable, but it held up and saw quite a bit of use over the course of camp, also acting as a great landmark, even if it needed help when the wind caught it. I even got my diaper changed in the fort by Foxchild that afternoon - a nice experience looking up at trees and sky while being diapered.

The fort took most of the day, and I regrettably missed some of the organized littles activities and the erotic-hypnosis panel, but Fort Awesome had to go up! That evening after dinner was the Kidnappers meeting, and the Naked Men's and Naked Women's cocktail parties.

First the kidnappings. Before camp on the website you can fill out your kidnapping forms - basically your preferences and hard limits and scene wishes. Think a wixxx/cinfo for real life. You can be a kidnapper or a kidnappee or both - I was both. The kidnapping team, led by PyrateGrrl, evaluates everyone's forms and matches up victims to kidnappers, and at some unspecified time during camp you get abducted. You can request a hard or soft takedown, and whatever you put on your form is likely to happen. You can specify specific people who you do or do not want to participate in your kidnapping. Each kidnappee gets a kidnap lead who orchestrates the people and equipment needed to carry out the scene. Out of 218 attendees at camp, some 26 signed up for kidnapping.

The first kidnap meeting involved matching up a few forms to people and some general conspiracy. I was only on one kidnapping crew, but as a novice I sort of kept to the back. I'll know more next time through.

The Naked Men's/Women's cocktail parties took place after dinner. Wearing my footed weasel PJs (which were a little warm in the 80-degree humid evening) I had volunteered for footrub duty for the naked women's. It was great, I gave out like four or five footrubs to various ladies. One thing about camp compared to a furry con is that there's LOTS more females there - the gender balance is about 50-50, maybe even slight female majority. Another thing is that the age range is pretty wide. I saw everything from people in their early 20s to folks in their mid seventies. The average age seemed to be in the late thirties or low forties. But the geekiness is pretty comparable to furry - it was on par with LARPs and SCA and other geek-culture pursuits. Lots of monty python quoting, you know the deal. Maybe a little less of a gamer culture though, I didn't see a single DS or game console or boardgame the entire camp. I think the straight-gay-bi ratio was about 50% straight, the rest some mixture of bi and gay.

I was only on footrub detail for a little while and then I bopped over to the Naked Men's party. The mood of both parties could not have been more different. Naked Women's party was not all that naked, even, it was clothing optional and lots of women had kept on their lingerie or light clothing. It had snacks and decor and light music and was very laid back and chatty.

The naked MEN'S party was held in Limbo, the "edge play" dungeon where normally, things like blood play and fisting and seriously hardcore scenes (live crucifixions, etc) take place. At the entrance, I got off the cab wearing my footed weasel PJs with the tail and ears and some drunk dudes out front were like "What's this, a TEDDY BEAR? Jim, you ever fucked a TEDDY BEAR before!?" I was all like "Eep!". Nakedness was MANDATORY at the naked men's party and the pecker checker at the door validated that I was, in fact, in possession of a penis and allowed to go in. The room decor was a boombox, racks and bondage gear stacked up on the walls, a shelf of liquor (free drinks was the order of the day the whole camp) and a couple dozen naked men in various states of intoxication. It was simultaneously one of the most manly and the most gay things I've ever been at - I expected everyone either to start wrestling or to go kill a mastodon at any moment. Think "This is SPARTAA!"

Eventually someone at the men's party got the idea to go raid the women's party, so we trooped down in search of 'wenches' and invaded en masse, eating all the women's party snacks and much ribaldry ensued. By this point it was a little after midnight and after some nice chats with folks it was bedtime.

"Such a dirty boy! Look, he's in DIAPERS, everyone! What a dirty little boy!" came the taunting calls from four curvy, topless females and the diapered sissyish boys and girls arranged around me. I couldn't possibly blush any hotter as my clothing was removed, leaving me only in diapers and toe socks, and I was marched through the main gathering area with my diaper down to my knees and my dick in my hand. People snickered and pointed, and all I could muster was whimpering little "shuuush!" and "no fairs!". It was about to get a lot worse. Kimby, a lovely, curvy blond girl a year or so older than me and her cohorts were kidnapping me. It was Saturday morning, just after breakfast.

I was marched through HQ and plunked down onto the lawn where the taxis were running past, in full view of what seemed like half the camp, a hot (almost too hot) splorp of oatmeal down the back of my diaper. "Such a dirty boy with a LOAD in his diaper, and he's WET!" "I'm not wet!" as Kimby yanked her own skirt up and crouched over my opened diaper.. and peed over my belly and crotch, soaking me! Mmmf.

I was laid down on my back, legs spread and my hardon being stroked by Kimby's boyfriend RS, and being teased with the stockinged feet of Kimby, Aimee, LadyCyanide and some other girls I didn't even know, AND suckling Kimby's boobs, and along came a random passersby, a heavyset male who I later learned was named Gazer. "Excuse me, is this a public restroom?" he asked casually and then HE peed on me too, further soaking my diaper, then departed, as I squirmed all the more..

I reflected on my life and how it had led to this moment, publically humiliated by about a dozen people at my own request in the midst of bondage camp. This was something I had thought impossible. Only at someplace like Camp Crucible could this ever actually happen in real life without people getting arrested. I had been given almost verbatim what was on my kidnap forms. Public humiliation, diaper play, light watersports, messy feedings ... I wrote a long list of things I was into on the assumption that they would pick a few elements from it and go with those, but instead they went with almost EVERYTHING.

And it was so overwhelming and chaotic and I was frankly so terrified and amazed that they DID all this, in full public, that I couldn't actually orgasm. So, there you go, if this was a Cargoweasel story I'd have exploded all over everything. I loved it, I did, but the climax was not to be. Oops. It wasn't their fault that things ended up fizzling a bit.

"Is he cooked? He's cooked." I was in a strange headspace, everything felt vaguely unreal. I was beyond embarrassed, beyond humiliated, but when the scene was over everyone was super nice. Things felt disconnected as I staggered back up to my feet and thanked everyone and wobbled back up to the cabin.. got showered and changed and spent the rest of the morning swimming in the pool and recuperating. By lunchtime it was all good.

I learned a lot from this scene. I learned that requesting a couple things to focus on is more useful than requesting a ton of things. I also learned that fantasizing about humiliation and public scenes is different from actually getting it. And I also learned that boobies are nice. :3

After lunch was the Scavenger Hunt, one of the official Littles Camp activities run by two staffers. Two teams of littles were given a list of items to collect and we ran off to get them. Items included a hair from a specific person's head, dead bugs, condoms, and things like singletail whip marks and medical staples. I gotta say this so I'll say it here - I wasn't crazy about it. The items were kind of gross (a bottle of pee? Bite marks? A specific person's jock strap?) and then they didn't even have any way to evaluate the winners, not having kept a copy for themselves to know what we were supposed to come back with. It felt, well, kinda half assed.

Apart from one activity per day, we never really SAW the official littles camp counselors, they never ate any meals with us or interacted with us in any way outside the official activity times once per day. I guess it's like any other con - the fun stuff at camp is what WE brought to it ourselves, like the movie nights, the box fort, various toys and games, even the story time on Sunday. I wanted to do stuff like hide and seek, tag, red light green light. Or fingerpainting. Or stories. Or jumping rope. Or dodgeball. Something kidlike and fun, not tracking down specific people to wound teammates.

But I digress. This is a minor quibble - hunting down the stuff with pals was pretty fun and we made short work of the list. And some littles don't mind getting whip marks. :3

Dressed in shortalls or overalls as I usually was, people would often ask if I was old enough to drink, or if I had finished my vegetables, and more than a few tops wanted to deflower me. It was pretty cute and gratifying. Acceptance of littles is pretty total as far as I could see.

That afternoon was a lovely wedding, complete with Baby Richard as ringbearer and Baby Bethie as a flower girl, and then I attended the Flogging 101 Panel.

I was curious about flogging.. but mostly I wanted to know the deal with BDSM. I had always assumed that pain, needles, spanking, etc. held zero appeal for me. I was at camp for the atmosphere of freedom, for the ability to wear diapers and shortalls wherever I wanted, and for a kidnapping or two. But I was also there to leave my comfort zones and to experience new things and flogging was one of them.

The instructor was named Whitney, a serenely cheerful bearish guy in his mid forties with a loong gray beard, like a cross between a biker and a guru. We ran through what flogging is, how floggers are constructed, the difference between stingy and thuddy styles, how to hold them and swing them and importantly where to hit, spots to avoid like the neck and lower back, and how to evaluate your partner's reactions. There was a hands on demonstration and I got thwacked a few times by a girl named Gigi, and we switched around. It was educational, all well and good, but I felt myself wanting to know WHY someone would do this or have this done to them. Something Whitney said towards the end of the class intrigued me - that a good flogging is a mystical experience, that it is a spiritual practice for him as a pagan. I wanted to see what the real deal with flogging was and I resolved to have it done to me before camp concluded. Hopefully by Whitney, who seemed like a nice guy who knew what he was doing.

By this point it was dinner time and after that was Foxchild's kidnapping, for which I was on the team. He suspected something was up and bolted from the dining hall, with the team hunting him down and giving chase. Tracking him with the aid of our radio handsets he was brought to ground on the lawn outside HQ, tackled by burly men on the Brute Squad. He was frogmarched to a cabin and stripped naked, then brought up the hill towards one of the dungeons, where a ground sheet had been set up outside the dungeon in the dimming evening air, a very light rain drizzle occasionally coming down on the naked form of .. a GIRL.

Foxchild's kidnapping form had mentioned that he is a bi-curious gay boy and so his kidnapping (also arranged by RS and Kimby) involved being taught how to please a woman. The instructor, recruited by the kidnap team lead, was a GORGEOUS brown-haired, tanned, glasses-wearing girl, I'm talking super hot, who proceeded to show him how to play with nipples and lick pussy and bring a girl to orgasm, while we watched on folding chairs. It was pretty educational for me too I have to say. Foxchild was a quick study and was able to bring her to orgasm between five and ten times, either she is a world class actor or she got a lot out of it. It was charming and pleasant and certainly not what everyone suspected was going to happen to him as he was marched up that hill by burly men.

While this was going on I heard the raucous calls of the slave auction going on down the hill. I missed it, thanks to staying with the kidnapping, but so it goes. I might actually put myself up for auction next time. The way the auction works is almost like the kidnappings - you sign up with your limits and desires and people bid on you. Doms go up for auction as well as subs. The money is in the form of camp scrip, not real money, and camp money can be obtained at the Casino Night on thursday by playing poker, blackjack etc, or by doing silly things around camp in the view of staffers. Uncle Frazier would call out "Anyone who shows their butt right now gets $500!" that kind of thing. The LITTLES, in a somewhat controversial tactic, tend to pool all their money together and bid as a bloc, which has the effect of shutting out less well financed people. But it also means that a few slaves are roped into duty providing milk and cookies or reading stories to the littles - it's cute, but not what everyone wants to do. Apparently three people were purchased by the littles.

That night was a movie night and cuddle party in the littles cabin but I wanted to bounce around the rest of camp and see what I could see. I went to the Hell dungeon and enjoyed brandy and cigars to the strains of someone else's kidnapping and torment. I went to the Heaven dungeon and found my old friends RS and Kimby, Kimby being laid out for some fireplay - and I learned how to tap and brush lightly burning wands over Kimby's body - not hot enough to wound, but hot enough to be hot. Kimby likes fire. A lot. She even liked my firetruck undies and pajamas. :3

Another fire-related thing that I enjoyed that night was poi spinning. By a campfire, I found Whitney and some other folks, all naked, all with fire poi spinning on chains and creating awesome patterns and dance moves. It was tribal and powerful. Spinning actual roaring and dangerous FIRE is way different and far cooler than spinning glowsticks. I am totally going to learn how to do it, but starting with practice poi. :3

So it was pretty late when I toddled off to bed from the poi spinning, and the day had been so activity-packed and full of new things that my morning's kidnapping felt like it had happened last WEEK.

After breakfast the first thing up was the pony show. I didn't know much about ponyplayers except that their cabin was next to ours and you'd occasionally see someone pulling a cart while in a bridle and tack. They rehearsed their shows long into the evening and kind of kept to themselves as a group. Camp Crucible is known for having a large pony contingent.

It always struck me as odd that there isn't more crossover between ponyplay and furry - especially the equine furs, you'd think they'd be right into it. But then as I thought more about it, ponyplayers and furries approach the human-animal mix from opposite directions. Furries are generally about human intelligence and personality and culture with animal bodies and physical features, while a ponyplayer is a human who is, for the purposes of the scene, MENTALLY a nonmorphic horse. It's very different from furry, even if the end result is some fantasy hybrid of animal and human. Furry characters also have more autonomy than ponyplayers, who usually need someone to be the trainer or rider although switching does occur. That said I'm sure there's more than a few ponyplayers who would get on with the equines in furry and lots of furs who'd enjoy ponyplay (or the related petplay).

The ponyplay show was very like a fursuit cabaret. People did a mix of serious performances and comedy sketches, musical numbers and traditional dressage. There were quite a few memorable and funny skits including a Rocky Horror themed skit by 'DeadPony' and a cast of 8 or 9 people. But the most arresting performance I saw was a ponygirl named Nightmare doing a traditional dressage routine. She was TOTALLY focused. Her walk, trot, canter, all perfect. You could really see her headspace as she was led through the motions and when she bowed at the end to the judging stand it was, for lack of a better word, moving. I totally bought her as a horse. She was as convincingly an animal as any furry I've ever seen. It's hard to quantify why she was so good but it was obvious while watching her perform that this was a hugely intense thing for her. Hats off to Nightmare for showing me what ponyplay was all about.

Unfortunately I couldn't stick around for the awards as the wind was picking up and the weather alert radios were going off - a tornado watch! Yipes. I quickly jogged over to Fort Awesome, which had already partly come down in the winds, so I hurriedly dismantled it with the help of a couple passersby and we stacked up the cardboard under a tarp for recycling later. Luckily the weather dodged us for the most part though, I had terrible visions of a tornado swirling through the camp and flinging ponyplayers left and right.

The rest of Sunday had pudding wrestling and some other stuff I wanted to check out but I was WIPED. I basically napped away most of Sunday afternoon, but the weather cleared up and by late afternoon I wandered down the hill to.. story time! Painboy and Chaotic_Kat had been purchased by the littles. Painboy is legendary even in these circles for his masochism, things like crucifixions and scourgings are his meat and drink. He was the chair, and Chaotic_kat sat atop him and read "Where the Wild Things Are" to the assembled littles. It was a great story! I thought about Wild Things, book and movie, several times over the course of this weekend, it's very resonant to my experiences here. Now since Painboy likes pain, on his back was some barbed mesh that Chaotic_kat was sitting on and when the story was over the more squeamish littles averted their eyes and the mesh was ripped off Painboy's back. Yeowch!

That night was a group photo and then I put on my pirate shirt and hat for the Formal Dinner. Uncle Ed had graciously invited Foxchild and me to sit at the Leatherhearts table so instead of dining with the littles we were at the big person's table! The food was prime rib, mashed potatoes and a really good cabernet - quite tasty! Toasts and conversation ensued and I chatted with my new aunts and uncles and cousins such as Catelynn from TES and a 74 year old leather slave named Hargy. RS, Kimby, Whitney and Ally were also at our table. I really felt like part of the camp at this point, everyone was so friendly and welcoming that words like 'family' don't seem like hyperbole.

Just before dinner I had asked Whitney if he would flog me that night, if he had a spare moment, so I could get an idea as to what the whole thing was really about. He happily agreed to do so and we set a date for later. That night I joined him and the poi people for some fire spinning and shortly after midnight he led me into the Heaven dungeon and brought his toolbag with him. Foxchild came along and watched, and it was good to have him there.

I was naked except for my sneakers, in a standing position (lying down was possible too but I chose to stand). Whitney took some soft rope from his bag and tied my wrists and arms loosely to an overhead crossbar.. I could move around a little, swing back and forth, hang onto the ropes or let go of them as I wished. He knotted and tied the rope with more facility than anyone I've ever seen, flip flip tug and it was neatly knotted and arranged into cuffs and slings. I stood in a Y shape with my arms out.

He started with bare hands, gentle strokes, then light slapping up and down my back and shoulderblades, covering mostly the lats and upper back. Then he scritched lightly up and down my back, making me shiver slightly with his light touch and the newly sensitized back. "That's what I'm going to do.." he said. "Deeper and deeper versions of that cycle."

For the next hour or so Whitney proceeded to flog me. The tools ranged from bare hands to vibrating gloves to various floggers from light to heavy to tools I couldn't identify.. Throughout it all he was gentle and patient, instructing me how to breathe, pranayama yoga breathing with pauses on inhale or exhale, breathing deeply and keeping the muscles relaxed. His strokes on my back ranged from light brushing to full on hard stinging THWACKS, and yeah there was pain when he did that. It fuckin' hurt, I won't lie. He did not hold back.

Even with the pain the whole situation resembled a religious rite more than any kind of punishment or dominance roleplay. I leaned back or forth depending on my wishes to be hit harder or lighter. There was very little talking. He alternated a few minutes of hard flogging with some light touch and scritching, then back to the heavy, thuddy flogging. Each time he went through the cycle, the light touches were more and more intense and shivery. It was like my back was having orgasms. I didn't scream or cry when he hit me, but I did gasp and whimper quite a bit.

By the time I was through few of these slap/tickle cycles, I was feeling floaty, euphoric. The walls of the room seemed to move slightly. You know that Youtube video with the disoriented kid in the car, "Daniel Goes To The Dentist"? That was me. "Is this forever?" I was in a haze of endorphins unlike anything I've ever experienced before. It felt like really, really good drugs, except it was a person and not a chemical that was making me feel this way. Amazing.

"If I keep going from this point," explained Whitney, "that is when this room disappears and you go somewhere else. That is where you talk to spirit animals, where you will see things." I believe it. He brought me to the gates of a place known by shamans for thousands of years. We both agreed that it was a good start and that we should call it a night. He untied me carefully, with a very real chance that my knees would buckle as soon as I was untied, but I sat down in a chair, leaned forward, hugged Whitney tightly around the waist, and started sobbing uncontrollably into his belly.. it wasn't from the pain, my back was not scarred or bleeding or anything, just felt tingly. But I had been through such an emotionally intense experience that it was like something boiled over. Like when you microwave a mug of water and it seems still and then you give it a jostle and FOOM. Steam and boiling.

I got it, in that moment. I understood. I knew why all these people were in these dungeons, getting whipped and beaten and loving it. I knew why Painboy did what he did and I knew why I did what I did and I knew why littles and ponyplayers and doms and subs and slaves and furries and babyfurs and triathletes and bodybuilders and yogis and chefs and artists and everyone does what they do in kink and in life because they want to feel this way, they want to be loved and held. I haven't been loving and holding enough. Camp showed me this. Whitney, as I looked up at him through tear streaked eyes, looked more like a guru than I'd ever seen him, in that moment I would have followed him into Hades itself. Look, I'm a rational guy, I believe in science. What happened to me that night was beyond my experience and blew open doors in my head I hadn't known existed. I cannot talk about what happened to me except in the language of drugs or religion. They should have sent a poet, to use Ellie's words from "Contact".

There was nothing sexual about what Whitney and I did, exactly, although it was profoundly sensual and he did mention that gay people tend to have a different level of intensity than straight people do. I think it's because when you grow up straight you're inside a nice tidy societal box and looking outside that box is pointless - most straight people are only vaguely aware there IS a box at all. Everything is laid out for you to simply pick up. When you're gay or kinky you're well aware of being outside the norm from an early age and from the start you are accustomed to exploring outside the societal boxes provided for you - you don't fit in them. So you're more willing to go further in search of knowledge. I don't know. All I know is since then the world has looked different.

After a little more talk about the experience and some help coming down and a glass of water, I thanked Whitney profusely and wandered out of the dungeon, looking up at the stars overhead for a long moment with Foxchild before heading in to bed. The stars were different from when I had walked in that door.

Monday was a blur of packing, sweeping out the cabin, one last breakfast, hugs, and hitting the road around 12:30 pm. Regulars talk of "Camp Drop", or what furries would call PCD, post-con depression. I know how to deal with that kind of thing so it hasn't hit me that hard, but in the car coming back came a song, "Forever Young", that got me misty eyed.

I had gone to camp to be forever young, to be a kid and ageplay, and I learned that I still have growing up to do. I'll always be a little, but I'll always be a big as well and both sides need to work together for a whole person.

I always thought BDSM was about punishment, about repressed guilt, about restaging childhood trauma, about a need to do penance or some kind of bullshit alpha-male roleplaying. Or about some kind of dickwaving about how much pain one can withstand. But it has nothing to do with any of that. Under these surfaces of metal and leather and fire and rope, and pain and humiliation and play and joy lies an OCEAN of love and trust. I trusted Whitney and he trusted me to engage in this kind of scene together, we had to. I trusted Kimby to kidnap me. Kimby and RS trusted me to brush fire on her. The Leatherhearts trust one another. Everyone at camp has to TRUST those they play with and if they do it works wonders and if they don't, it cannot exist. This trust web is the true spirit of Camp and the true nature of this kink community. If I can trust you even to physically hurt me our relationship is stronger for it. Living up to that trust is a good life's work.

Ravished! Reviews ~ 2007

How can a person properly put into words what camp really is? My Sir Michael and i left camp feeling two things: One was completely relaxed. This is huge for both of us as we lead very fast paced and busy lives out in the vanilla world. There never seems to be enough time to just be "us". The second thing that we felt was a profound sadness to have to leave. A sort of melancholy malaise sat on me throughout the week following camp. Everyone we met at camp made us feel welcome and a part of the "family" that is camp. No one minded the questions or being stopped by either Michael or myself so that we could look at what they had on (oh the wonderful pony gears). We have been to other events and there was always the feeling of either being judged or just not really belonging. Everyone there had friends they had made and just really did not seem interested in finding more. Camp was the complete opposite of that. Yes, people returning had their friends but no one seemed to mind making a few more. We were greeted with hugs and warm smiles and this to me was the most important thing. To be in such a large group of people that just want to enjoy themselves and are able to. No judgments, no snide remarks, just the ability to be with the ones they love doing the things they love doing. If only the vanilla world would allow for such happiness.

Mom, Frazier and the entire staff took all problems in stride and with a grace I have not found in many places. So many times we both said thank you to all of you that assisted in making our stay as comfortable and happy as it could be and all of you just smiled like it was nothing. Well it was really something. Without all of you camp just would not be camp.

These memories will stay with me always. There were so many firsts and so many fears that were conquered that i even amazed myself. We left with a renewal in ourselves as well. Due to a couple of firsts Michael and i established a deeper bond with one another than i ever felt would be possible. What an amazing time.

Michael and i are both looking forward to next year. Pony camp will have a new comer (perhaps even two) and I know that will be an experience we will not forget.

So to everyone that we met and had to say goodbye to we send you our cyber hugs and the promise to see you again. Thank you to everyone who made this such an extraordinary experience for two camp virgins.

kristyna

I had a choice to make this year of coming back to camp, or taking a year off to go to Shibaricon. Being primarily a rope top, Shibaricon would have been fun, and interesting, and educational, but Camp is home. Within a few hours I knew I'd made the right decision - the place, the people, the camp - that's where I belonged. And that was long before I found myself doing two kidnappings and a record nine rope suspension scenes across the weekend with 8 lovely ladies. (Thanks to all of you...)

Some of the biggest highlights in no particular order:

- Making new friends and renewing and deepening old friendships.

- Doing my first inverted suspension.

- Helping a couple do their first suspension - It went so well and they seemed to bond so closely it made me feel really glad I did it.

- Finally getting to see at least part of the pony show

- Making a pony fly... :D

- Riding around in the taxi with HRH late Monday night.

- There was a small number of women I saw, either in profile pictures, or met or saw at camp, and thought "Oh my god, I'd really love to suspend them." Not counting the ones who I'd talked about suspending before camp, roughly half of them approached me later at camp (either directly or indirectly) and asked if I'd suspend them. So I did. Almost enough to make one believe in fate...

In all, not only was it my best camp ever, or for that matter the best event I've ever been to, itâ€کs quite possibly one of the most awesome weekends ever. In my entire life. Thank you all so much, especially Frazier and Susan for making this possible.

Steve B

My Top 10 from Camp this year
So Iâ€کm home from camp. Missyâ€کs at work at an overnight shift. Brother and Marie are snuggled up for bed, where I too will soon go.

This was Missyâ€کs first year of Camp, my second, and entirely wonderful. Far too much stuff happened to go into what I like to call "potato-chipping-detail", but I did want to post some highlights of the things I did or learned at camp this year. Thus I give you the Campity Top Ten for 2007:

#10. Coming BACK to Camp is even better than coming to camp for the first time.

When Spacey, Marie, and I pulled up to Camp, we all just felt this wonderful feeling of return. It was blissful.

#9. Driving the taxi is one of the two best chores at Camp.

This year I drove the taxi for the first time. I loved it. I wore a propellor beanie which spun from the wind as I drove. It was a little scary at first, but once I got used to it, I loved it. Some funny highlights of driving the taxi:

One, almost every single person I gave a ride to said something along the lines of "Gee, arenâ€کt you too little to drive a taxi?"
Two, at one point a full taxi load behind me went out of their way to stop me and tell me that driving behind me in MY taxi, propellor at full spin, was a treat. It made me blush down to my diaper.

#8. Working at the Spa is the other best chore at Camp.

I learned how to make simple skin scrubs from sugar, olive oil, and lemon juice. This is something I plan to do to many people in my life, Missy, Kacie, Pene, Marie, Uncle J, and Spacey all being at the top of that list. Additionally, I got to do some subtle and powerful energy work to someone very nice, and also got thanked by more than one person for groping, I mean touching their naked body. I love to touch, and to be touched. By the way, part of why I know how good scrubs feel is from the absolutely Peanutastic and J-riffic one I got from Peanut and her Daddy J. Wow.

#7. People at Camp really dig my shark thing.

Itâ€کs gotten to where people expect it. HRH Susan got me a shark sponge and a shark hat as presents. When I brought my hammerhead shark float to the pool, EVERYONE played with it. When I brought my robot shark, Cherry Lemonshark, and her new buddies, swimming Nemo and Dory to the pool, EVERYONE played with them too. Ms Lemon went out of her way to put up shark pictures in the Kidz Kamp cabin. I think people really groove on how much I enjoy sharks, which is very validating.

#6. Ponies are good, and crunchy!

#5. Camp is even better when you share it with people you love.

Specifically Missy, who was a camp virgin this year. She didnâ€کt know what to expect (see more about that below**) and was a little nervous before coming. I told her she'd fall in love with Camp, and boy was I ever right. She got to play with friends I love and care about, and meet people who mean a lot to me. She bounced all over the place, getting to be big and little, getting to top, and bottom. She got marks on top of marks on top of marks, and smiled through them all.

#4. Chocolate pudding can clog your ears.

Especially when you wrestle in it. I did the chocolate pudding wresting this year, and it was so fun. Imagine a pool filled with pudding, and squirming, crawling, writhing naked people. You really can't imagine it, unless you do it. It made me laugh, squirm, and giggle so hard. We wound up a writhing, squirmy groping mess. At one point I was literally buried under people, and it felt so bizarrely wonderful. Afterward, we all got cleaned off with the ICIEST COLDEST WATER IN THE WORLD. That part was bracing to say the least.

#3. I love my Camp family, and they love me.

Whether it was my bunkmates in Cabin K, or just ANYONE all over Camp, everywhere I went I got or gave a smile and a hug. It was virtually impossible for me to go from one part of Camp to the other in a straight line, because everywhere I went along the way people wanted to hug me, or play with me, or talk, or share, or do t'ai chi, or seek wisdom, or just enjoy one another's company. It was the traffic of human love, and I adored every minute of it.

#2. I learned that HRH Susan, and Frazier, and Porch Lady are among the most generous, giving people on this entire earth.

They helped me set up a surprise birthday party at Camp for Missy, who had a very special birthday this year. They went literally NUTS with setting up the party, the decorations, presents for all the Kidz, presents for me and Missy. I don't have words sufficient to describe the effort they went to. At one point I said to Susan, "I don't understand what I did to deserve such amazing thoughtful care." I really feel blessed.

#1. I learned that I don't need a year and a day to know that I want to be with Missy forever.

Back in December, Missy and I were handfasted at BR. Handfasting, for those of you who don't know is a pagan ritual, that's a form of engagement, but both more and less than that. It's like getting married for a year and a day. When that year and a day is over, youâ€کre supposed to decide if you want to marry them for life, or part as friends. Well, I learned shortly before Camp that I donâ€کt need the rest of my year and a day to know what I want. Iâ€کve just felt so blissfully happy with Missy that it was clear to me that I wanted to get married for good to her. So at Camp I asked her. And she said yes. (**This would be that unexpected part.)

I (the world's worst keeper of happy secrets EVER) managed to keep this feeling to myself, and my plans for it too. As we packed, I snuck in a little present for her party (a remote control Mater truck from Cars, Missy's favorite kids movie) and a grownup present too - a white gold heart necklace with a diamond in it. We Ghidrah heads have "leaky heads" - we often scoop thoughts out of our loved ones' heads, or accidentally broadcast our own thoughts to them - I managed to avoid this by an almost nonstop repeated mental litany of pizza toppings. I mailed HRH Susan through the camp website, and coordinated plans.

Even down to the day of the "surprise party" I managed to keep this surprise in store. The party was delightfully listed on the schedule for Missy to see, and made her feel good, and special, but still kept her in the dark about the bigger surprise. She even saw me put a present for her literally under my hat, a big floppy, cat-in-the-hat sort of thing I wore to the party. When the time came for the party, I sat down, and said, "Missy, I've been keeping this party, and this present under my hat for a long time now." Then I pulled out the little tow truck from under my hat and gave it to her. She loved it, and thought it was pretty cool.

But then I added, "But the thing is, I love you for a lot of reasons, like how youâ€کre both little and big, just like me. So I wanted to get you a big present too. You stole my heart a long time ago, so I wanted to just give it to you." Then I passed the little jewelry box down the table to her. "And thatâ€کs why I donâ€کt need to wait until our year and a day is up, and I want to ask you, will you marry me?"

She cried happy, happy tears. And she said yes.

Mako

3pm Tuesday May 28, 2007 as we turn left to leave Camp, the tears still wet on my cheeks from all the good byes I have spent the day saying, I think about the last 6 days and try to pick some of my favorite things about this year. But to me picking favorite things about just one year is hard to do. My love affair with Camp, with Frazier, Susan and all of the camp staff grows every year. All the new people I meet each year, all the old friends I get to see again each year. All the firsts I try. All the fears I conquer. Each and every one are to numerous to mention. The first year I came to Camp I was very shy and sort of an introvertâ€¦. Yes this is true believe it or notâ€¦.. Camp has taught me to come out of my shell and come out I have <<giggles>>
My first year at camp I was basically afraid of my own shadow. I have learned So much about myself and learned to stretch my limits and go beyond them more times than you know. My submissive nature has learned it isnâ€™t so submissive at all â€¦LOL. I have conquered fears such as â€œfire playâ€‌ with the likes of the illustrious Master Brian and Suspension with the Lew Reubens. The Naked Womenâ€™s Party is another awesome thing I would never have done before coming to camp but I would never miss it now. I love Casino night. And of course it goes without saying another enjoyable night is the auction. And then Sunday mornings wouldnâ€™t be the same without the Pony Show.

I could go on and on and on. As I sit here thinking I get tears in my eyes from all the wonderful fun emotional memoriesâ€¦ of the first time I played in the dungeon with John. Of the day John proposed to me. â€¦he did it at Camp because Camp is so special to us.

Mom and Frazier have put together the most awesome free-spirited playground for the best 6 days imaginable. I donâ€™t believe there is any place quite like it anywhere. Yes there are others events out there but that is just it, they are just events and Camp is â€œhomeâ€‌. Camp is the only place I can get almost as many hugs as I could at Grannyâ€™s. Camp is â€œFamilyâ€‌. We were sitting around our â€œOasisâ€‌ about two days into Camp this year and I said I think the thing I like most about camp is the hugs and then the next day I said â€¦ â€œNo wait, the thing I like most about Camp is that every year those hugs keep getting better and better, Bigger and Bigger, and tighter and tighter.â€‌ <<giggles>>
I have family and I have friends and I am with them 359 days a year but during those other 6 days of the year I feel more love and more friendship than I feel in any of the other 359 days all put together. These are the memories I take away from camp every year and these are the memories I live for each year and that keep me going until the next camp comes around 359 days later.
These are not just Camp memories from this year but all years. These are the things that bring me back year after year. That and the hugsâ€¦ I love the hugs
From the bottom of my heart with all my loveâ€¦thank you, thank you, thank you to Mom, Frazier, and the whole Camp Staff.

MsPlayful

Frazier, mom, and all the others who made our first camp experience what it was....thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Iâ€کve been thinking alot, lately, about what makes camp so special. I thought about the sense of community and the love that is shared, but, to some extent, those feelings have happened at other places. For me, what really made camp special was mealtime. Every other event Iâ€کve attended, mealtimes were (with the exception of the one formal dinner) when all the attendees scattered to the winds to find food that fit their budget. Not so at camp. The energy felt as 100+ kinky people sat down together, at every meal, to break bread at the same time was beyond words. All together now..."Good Morning, Uncle Frazier!" THAT is what, for me, truely separates camp from every other event.
Camp was also a place where all of us could, not only embrace our own kinks, but embrace one another for all our various kinks and not worry about any judgement at all.
We owe you all a debt of gratitude for welcoming us into the "camp family" and giving us a new place to call "home". We definitely plan to do everything in our power to be back next year, and the year after, and the year after that,...
Much love to all our camp family.

Quin and brooke

Camp was wonderful this year, just as it was last year when ten and I
were virgins. But this year we shared a truly golden moment. And
for us, it was when Uncle Ed presided over our recommittment
ceremony. It was a moment of true joy and weâ€کre very happy to have
shared it with our fellow campers down at headquarters as the thunder
rolled across the night skies outside. It was a perfect highlight to
a wonderful six days as we got to express our deep love for each
other amongst the most special witnesses we could have ever had
attending. We will never out-do that moment, but we expect to have
many other wonderful experiences in Camps to come. Yes, you can bet
weâ€کll be back.

BDSM blessings to all,
KP

Camp memories.. so many wonderful and delicious things come to mind.
A glorious foot massage in a candle-lit cabin, letting the world melt away. Oh, wait, melting candles, another breathtaking memory; being waxed while strung up and seeing the pleasure in his eyes as he knifed and peeled it off! Having an incredibly erotic single tail scene ending in the arms of two delightful people for the climax! Given the privilege of giving a certain someone a massage in our cabin. I promise, next year's massage will be better. The lovely ladies who insisted on making me blush with their good natured teasing still brings a smile to my face and a warm loving feeling to my heart. Sitting with the Littles and sharing in their enthusiasm and their infectious laughter. Attending the Collaring and recommitment ceremonies, hearing the solemn words that struck the heart and mind with the seriousness of the lifestyle we choose to live. Camp is more then a getaway or a gathering of friends, itâ€™s coming home to be with family! Thank you Frazier, Mom, and all the staff for making Camp possible.

mâ€کlady jo

So now I happily join the ranks of "this was my first Camp but will not be the last." I am glad that I was talked into attending and was warmed by the relaxed and genuinely friendly atmosphere that prevailed on site. I was able to participate in many events and now have such lovely memories of these and the people I spent time with while there.

It is said that the best opinions are rendered after a time of reflection. I can say now that my opinion of my first CC has not changed from the original impression. Before attending I had several reservations about it. All were allayed within moments of arrival and this warm accepting friendly atmosphere prevailed throughout the entire session. I can honestly say I have never been anywhere where the prevailing energy dynamic was so consistently positive. This was the most relaxing and "at your ease" place I have had the good fortune to visit and be a part of. Many thanks for all the efforts of so many who labored to make this so - I appreciate all you have done and cannot hardly wait to come back again - maybe next time I wonâ€کt need a nap every day and be more participatory in all the fabulous events available!

LadyGreene

I cannot describe ... I cannot really describe ... what Camp meant to me and m'lady jo this year.
It was our second Camp and, oh boy, were we welcomed back! It was GREAT to see friends from last year, friends from the area groups, new friends we met this year ... contacts we have made that I know will last a long time, even though we might move out of the area or out of the country. We'll be back! This is the family that we have grown to know, and always want to know in the future.
I know ... yup ... I know that m'lady will write a lot more about this adventure that we've had with everyone but, I just wanted to state my personal thanks to the organizers (Frazier who? <grin> and mom), staff ... SUCH a great group! ... presenters (thank you Michael) ... the Camp crew and, most of all, the Camp attendees.
May you all have a blessed year ... for 359 days until next camp!
See you there!
Mâ€کLord Paul

I guess picking one memory is kind of hard, but here goes. I experienced fireplay for the first time, made many friends, had an intense knife scene, blew 3 darts at the man I love, watched said man crucified, got several incredible massages, kidnapped/got kidnapped. Oops-that was more than one, lol. I miss you all-very, very much!

ChaoticKat

Conquest Reviews ~ 2006

Camp Crucible 2006 - A Virgin's Voyage

I had been hearing about Camp for years and always wanted to go. It was something that was always just out of reach, either financially or personally or professionally or any number of other reasons (excuses). That is, it /was/ always out of reach until 2006. I finally decided I was going to go no matter what it took - and that's all it took! I didn't take a play partner with me, I didn't take huge expectations with me, I didn't take any preconceived notions with me. Instead, I took a fun-desiring attitude and a short list of things I wanted to happen.

When I said I didn't take any negatives with me, I meant it. I knew that I wanted to get a few things out of the experience, but I wasn't going to hold Frazier, Susan, nor the rest of the Camp staff responsible for my happiness -- they provided the outstanding environment and the wonderful food, not to mention the excuse to be there! But /my/ fun was not /their/ problem. I pared down the huge list of all of the things that I'd heard about and decided that what I really wanted out of Camp could be narrowed down to five things. These were my goals.

I wanted to be a top, a bottom, a kidnapper, a pony, and I wanted to socialize with new and old friends. I packed up my toys and my clothes and my airbed (camp beds are made for teenagers -- I'm not a teenager anymore!) and I went to Camp.

Oh. My. Ghod.

What an experience! I got there and was welcomed by the very friendly Camp staff (not only those I'd knew before, but those I met at check-in too). After a couple of wrong turns I managed to find my cabin and unpacked my piles of stuff. For the next four days, I basked in the open and accepting atmosphere of Camp. I wont' recount every detail of my Camp experience -- it would take as long as Camp itself! I even called my office and took an /extra/ day off because I wasn't ready to go home yet. Of the five things I wanted to do, I managed to shoehorn four of them into my stay -- good odds by any standard of which I'm aware!

Am I looking forward to this year? You'd better believe it!

--Sas

Frazier said it best, "when I open the gates, it's the caliber of people that makes this Camp great". I couldn't agree more. This was my third year at Camp Crucible, and it is truly like coming home. So many events don't allow you the downtime to socialize or the freedom to play with your partner as you would like. Camp let's me be as dirty, nasty, kinky and laid back as I want to be. Without fail, I was always greeted at HQ by a smiling face, and a more often than not, a hug and kiss to accompany it. People at Camp love me for me, and that is an incredible atmosphere to be in.

To the staff, well done AGAIN. The Casbah atmosphere was a delight, and as usual, the decor was fabulous. I thoroughly enjoyed the parachute ceiling in the dungeon, the Oasis and the Spa. I can't wait to see what ya'll have in store for next year!

With love and pride, Jessica

Well this might be only our 2nd camp, but one of the best things we can say is we were made to feel so comfortable and a part of the fun, that we felt like we were long time camp people as well.
HQ and the late night slide show just gets better and better, and from our cabin there was tons of great scenes at all hours of the day and night in the gazebo that when we ourselves were not playing we had a front row seat to enjoy watching a Hot scene too.
Thanks again to you all and I've already told my Boss to pencil in camp Vac dates for next year.

Warmly, JR & Patricia

Camp memories....

This year was probably one of the best years ever at camp, the men running naked through camp earning points for a naked men's scavangers hunt, nights spent talking, laughing and playing with people I care for more then thay will ever know.
Camp this year could not have been better and I look forward to it for years to come. I do feel sorry for anyone who didn't make it, they missed the best weekend of the year!

Ed Moore

I say it every year but it will never cease to amaze me how just arriving at camp makes it feel like I never left at all. New people appear, old faces are still around or stories are there to account for the whereabouts of those missing but all in all the comfort and family-feel of camp settles in really quickly and just permeates the weekend.

This year was perhaps the first year where I've felt that there was more social time shared amongst the attendees. It was a laid-back atmosphere that lended to socializing and making new friends while perpetuating the existing relationships.

This year I realized just how much camp is about seeing my extended family. While I stayed busy bouncing from class to social event to the popular areas for congregation, I still managed to find time to at least catch up with everyone I haven't seen in a year or so and make some new friends as well.

This year I, personally, enjoyed the lack of games that have tended to create a massively competitive environment. I feel that it gave camp more of a relaxed feel and people seemed more likely to mix and mingle freely instead of fraternizing with and against the "enemy" ships. I look forward to seeing what goes on in the next installment of the story line!

Overall, I don't ever have anything negative to say about my camp experience. I look forward to the next time I can gather in an environment as free as camp to spend time with my extended family. Nothing beats Camp Cruicible. Nothing.

Tara

Eden had only one complaint. Her face hurt all camp long from smiling too much!

We had a great time. Thank you to everyone who was a part of it! The energy was simply great. Where would we all be without Susan and Frazier?

Thank you guys so much!
RoM

Camp Crucible 2006

How to describe the magic that is Camp Crucible?
This year was my third year at this terrific event. Sure, this time around I knew more people. Yes, being familiar with a place gives a sense of security and peacefulness that feels like "coming home." But those reasons still dont do justice to an event in which after my third visit to....I'm already thinking abut a 4th. I guess its like trying to figure out why I am the kinky bastard that I am. After all the theories, and maybies, in the long run it doesnt really matter. It just IS.

Frazier and Susan have an amazing knack for event throwing. They somehow keep all the people happy all the time. And if thats just my imagination, please you guys dont tell me the truth. I wanna continue to live the dream that is Camp Crucible.

If you have ever thought about attending Camp, take my word for it...COME! You wont be sorry.

Lew Rubens
ps. Love you guys man!

I want to thank you for allowing me to be with the ponies this year. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have had the honor and opportunity to be asked back for this camp. On the last night, I decided it was too hard to say goodbye to all of them and so I snuck off early the next morning. I still saw quite a few who were up and packing themselves, but that required a lot less tearful farewells on my part. *smile* Every year, I think that it just can't get any better, but it does! How do you make that kind of magic happen? Camp Crucible and the ponies have changed my life. Being surrounded by people who are so warm, welcoming, and wonderfully wicked for an entire week is magical. As I drove to the airport, I saw cars, buses, and everything looked so strange. Being at camp with no contact with the outside world for so long made the rest of the world become unreal. My reality is Camp Crucible, the ponies, and all the wonderful Crucible Staff and fellow campers. Camp Crucible isn't just once a year. Each of us take a piece of it home with us. It sustains us until the next time we are all able to gather together without shame to embrace each other for our sameness and our differentness.

I know that for many, camp is the only time to have extended play and really be themselves surrounded by acceptance from like-minded people. What a gift you give to all of us. How many lives have you touched? How many people have you brought joy? You are loved and cherished by so many and you deserve all of it and more.

Highest regards and thanks,

Indigo

Wow! We just spent six days immersed in a world that most never even imagine. Our second camp was full of new experiences and better than we could have hoped. Even before we arrived the staff was accomodating to our needs, making sure we were happy from the moment we got there until camp was over. Pony camp welcomed me as a new pony and Miss Indigo made sure I had the best 'first' pony show I could have asked for. It was one of the highlights of the week. The seminars were incredible and all the presenters were accessible and willing to patiently answer questions no matter how trivial. The dungeons were superb and offered us opportunities to watch scenes that were intense and edgy and beautiful, and to fulfillآ our own fantasiesآ together and with others. The collaring ceremonies that we saw were so moving and special and each oneآ different and personalآ to the couple involved.

We have nothing but praise for everyone who put so much time and effort before, duringآ and after camp, to make it the best ever. Thank you Frazier and Susan and all the staff! We can't wait for next year.

slave c and Master Tim

Camp is over for this year and somehow I don't seem to be able to reorient myself to "reality" - or maybe it's just that I don't want to. آ This is our third year and without exception since our first day of our first year we've felt welcomed and included by everyone from newbies to the most skilled sceners without reservation. That is Reason 1 that CC is our favorite of all camps and conferences. آ Reason 2 is the skill level of the participants. The available resources our first year gave us the opportunity to double, triple, quadruple our own experience and skill level and that growth has continued every year since. آ And last but not least, we love to watch all the inventive, unusual and just downright wacky things we would never have thought of doing but now might try.
PS. Thanks to Gina being plastered by Danny, Warren knows a new trick for plastering his dungeon walls.

Hugs,

Gina, Daddy's brood bitch

This camp was by far the best one ever and I have been to them all except the very first Black Rose Leather Retreat.

Only slept 3 hours a night as was too busy playing.

Not enough time in a day to get things accomplished.

As for pony camp part of it this was something very special. Indigo did a fantastic job. After Lalique left pony camp just about disappeared, people did not even stay in the cabins there . She has brought it back and exceeded pastآ pony camps.آ I do think she should have an assitant to help her to give her at least a little time for her self as well. she ran ragged trying to make sure every one who wanted to try anythign had the oppertunity to do so. went out of her way in fact. this is what it takes to draw the croud. but I can see this part of camp getting bigger and bigger becasue of the work she does there.

It was nice to see susan calmer and not worn out which means the staff you have must be doig their jobs and nto just free loading off of you whcih is a very good thing. eveyone should have to pay one way or the other. only one complaint about camp and that is that it is too short. not enough time. though I doubt there ever would be enough time no matter how long it was.

Buck

Dana, Princess of the Kasbah and visiting royalty, found Camp Crucible 2006 to be a delightfully refreshing diversion from her onerous duties serving the World at large. We were especially pleased with the raucious antics at Pony Camp and delighted to finally meet the famous Indigo whose endeavors with the human-equines We very much admired: A splendid job well done and kudos to the resourceful Mistress Indigo!

We agree with HRH Susan that this was indeed the best Pony Show ever and thank HRH for the invitation to MC the show to the entertainment of all the beautiful campers, big and small. And the kidz! We suspect that kidz camp may have been more fun than Pony Camp but who can know for sure anyway so We were most pleased with their contribution of love beads and cheers for the ponies during the show. And let us not forget the darling puppies and kittens who graced the Judges' stand with their pet play! So many courageous campers became pony players who tried their hand at the reins for the first time. Congratulations to all for a splendid show!

Princess Dana was most pleased to make the acquaintance of gracious ladies from all of the most tony of families of the times at the Ladies' Tea, where the display of etiquette was exemplary and the service, well, ne plus ultra! Thank you for the delicious treats and permitting that most baudy of entertainment to take place at the table. How daring, darling and lovely of Bonnie!

To: Ms. Susan, Uncle Frazier, our incredible staff, presenters, vendors and all of the incredible people who attended Camp Crucible 2006.

My bags sit here untouched as I awoke this morning and I feel an unmistakable void and it occurred to me that camp was really over. The sights, sounds, and energy of camp are now suddenly gone and I already miss it.آ

Waking up to birds chirping, beautiful sunny days, the warm hugs and stolen kisses in passing, teasing gropes, lingering laughter, wonderful conversation and never ending smiles from new faces and old, were something I looked forward to each day.آ

The opportunity to be immersed in a fantasyland of pirates, harem girls, belly dancers, sultans, scurvy wenches, playful kidz, puppies, kittens, and the best stable of ponies I have ever seen was an incredible experience that no erotic book, tape or dvd could ever come close to.

There were always hot scenes going on in the dungeons as well as numerous places around camp and the echoes of pain, pleasure and a hell of a lot of orgasms were a constant. You would basically have had to be dead if you weren't turned on by something you saw, heard, or felt while wandering around camp.

The classes and workshops were awesome and Frazier, Glenda, Lew, FifthAngel, Leslie, Sovereign House, Danny and Lady B, Amy B. and Miss Indigo and everyone else who shared their knowledge all deserve a special thank you for the time and energy they spent educating as well as interacting with those who had interest.

Uncle Roy, Dottie, and Details had wonderful wares and theyآ each had something different to offer,آ if they didn't have it they knew where to get it for you.آ

Our attendees as always were remarkable, and every year each of them give something special back to us. The gratitude, happiness, and smiles always seem to be enough to make us strive to do our best and work harder to make camp better than the year before but to be recognized with such a touching speech and those who pulled together and presented us with such a beautiful plaque was beyond words.آ

As a staff member of The Crucible and Camp I wanted to thank each and every one of you for continuing to make camp the most pleasurable and memorable time of the year. I keep thinking that there is no way that we can top the last but each year I continue to be proven wrong.آ

To the Crucible Corsairs and my staff family, even through all of the sweat, blood, tears,آ and money that it takes to be able to put this event together it never fails to astound and humble me to see how much dedication, love and tireless effort that everyone involved puts in to pull our leather family together in one place and the closer we become.

I love you all and once again we came, we saw, we KICKED ASS!!!

Sherrye

Absolutely outstanding! Camp Crucible gets better each year. While I wasn't able to do much this year I did get a chance to meet new people and enjoy the nonphysical activities.

The change in the dungeons was extraordinary. One could feel the difference in the lower dungeon immediately coming in the door. I did not get a chance to see them much after the first night but I'm sure they were well used judging from the big smiles I saw around camp :)

The oasis idea is a winner. I suggest you keep it and alter as necessary for the theme of the year :).

While the changes in HQ were nice I'm a tad disappointed in that there wasn't enough light at times to read there :( I was sort of hoping to spend more time there to more interact with those coming and going.

Food was very good this year with only one meal being objectionable (hey - not everyone is going to like everything so don't take that real hard) :) I think some would have preferred more on the salad bar when we had pasta but personally I was happy.

Congrats on a great segue to the new theme. Not a whole lot of fan fareآ butآ a lot of chuckles as the story line wound down.

Our cabin mates brought a new couple with them this year (we've been bunking together for several years) and they are already trying to determineآ how much bigger their vehicle has to be for next year as they are determined to be there next year as well. I talked to several other virgins and they too intend to return. Their biggest comment was on how friendly everyone was, people were always saying hello with a smile. Their next comment was on the facilities, how easy it was to get from here to there (even with the taxi problems).

We will definitely be thereآ next year - me hopefully with bells on :)

Hugs to you and HRH!

Instricted and Instricter

Uncle Frazier,

Rarely do you find a group of people this large that get along so well, and are so great to be around.

Both Myself and slave bonny were "Camp Virgins" this year, andآ are bothآ already asking " is it Camp yet" ?

Theآ classes were great, just too many to take in everything we wanted , of course there IS always next year for that.آ What I refer to as a "continuing education opportunity". The classes I did get to attend, from Lew, FifthAngel and Todd, were very informative and I have always felt that the day I stop learning, is the day I takeآ My last breath.

We both made many new friends, and the collaring ceremony we had, hosted by Sovereign House was special to both of us. Our thanks to the entire staff, or should I say " family" of Camp Crucible. If the "vanilla" world could just take a lesson in tolerance and working together, things would really be different.

Regards,

Robert and slave bonny

"Class of 2006...Camp Crucible"

IS IT CAMP YET???

Hey Frazier,

We were at Camp Crucible (Pony Campers) for our first time and are still amazed at the experience.

It was a sad eventآ taking our pony cart apart and storing it in the closet for who knows how long?

Thanks toآ you and Susan for all your hard work in putting things together.

Robert and Pony Lee

Hello, Frazier,

It is hard to believe that we spend all year looking forward to camp and then poof it is over. Organizing an event like this is beyond any one's imagination until they have to roll up their sleeves and get to it. You and Susan have done an amazing job pulling things together. It's been my experience that the BDSM community asks for events but does not participate as fully as they should. That you have continuously put this on is remarkable and something for which I am grateful. Thank you both for doing this.آ

Since Master and I have started to come to Camp three years' ago, we have encouraged eight others to join in spanned over the three years. We truly enjoy camp!

Take care,

maureen

Frazier,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Camp was even better than I had hoped. You guys somehow managed to surpass last year (and I thought it was the best weekend of my life). Iآ broughtآ 7 first time campers with me from New England and was a little nervous as to how things would go with so many newbies. Every single one of them has already asked me when registration opens next year.

You, Susan and the whole Camp staff made us all feel welcome and at home from the first minute we got there. The hard work you guys do really shows, and I for oneآ truly appreciate it. For you all to work as hard as you do and for such long hours and still walk around with a genuine smile speaks to the quality of the folks you have selected for your staff.

As for Camp itself, the demos and classes were excellent as always. I loved the changes that were made to the lower dungeon (Hell/Babylon). The sheers hanging around really made it feel more intimate. The other decorations around Camp (the Oasis etc) were a really nice touch as well. I liked the layout in the upper dungeon (Heaven/BloodHarbor) better this year too. There seemed to be more space around the stations to play. I loved having the middle dungeon (Tavern/ShangriLa) open for play at night. I used it several times, day and night, and it was a nice change from the busier areas.

I could go on and on and on glowing about how wonderful everything was, butآ what I really want you and Susan to know is how deeply appreciative I am and how much I admire all that you two do for us Campers. Camp this year was cathartic for me in many ways. I felt more at ease and at home this past weekend that I have ever felt in my life. If آ I never experience another scene related event (unlikey lol) I will die happy. I finally felt content and complete for maybe the first time in my life.
Thank you Frazier and Susan for opening your hearts, your minds, and Camp Crucible. I have no words to express my appreciation, just please know how deeply gratetful and indebted I am to you both.

The Red Ass Inn will be back with more newbies next year!!! Oh and if you think we went crazy on the cabin decorations this year........just you wait!!!!

Thank you again,
Tom AKA Gazer

Dear Uncle Frazier and Mom Susan,
You did a great job bringing people together! This past Camp experience was a wonderful turning point in my life. I was allowed to do and feel so much. This was my second year at camp so I was not at all nervous about "what might happen to me". But instead was jumping up and down for "what might Happen" = FUN!

Unpacked Thursday night and went right to a dungeon to find very happy people pouring wax over a lovely man. The smell of the wax floated thru the dungeon as the knives were shaving the fur and wax off of his body. He was smiling so nice and the people shaving the wax were welcoming so I asked for an appointment. To get naked, be oiled down, have hot wax poured over me, and then have it shaved off with sharp knives? They accommodated me right then and there.

I was still oily and giggly in the morning, as I put on my submissive collar. When a lovely man showed up at HQ in the process of combing out his long waist length hair. I did not think, I blurted out, "oh, you should have me do that". Oooppps The glares I received for asking so poorly. I did back track and tried to beg nice. "May I please, Sir, be allowed, to comb the tangles from your beautiful hair? Camp is kind and I was given the pleasure.

Late Friday morning, I was wrapped in duct tape by the legendary Glenda. As I sat with the group she gave me permission to "free" myself, letting the crowd know that it is possible. I had to beg to be cut out! She was so kind. I have a souvenir from Camp: the shape of my hands molded in red Duct tape.

By the afternoon I wanted more wax and attended Ed Moore's Ritual Wax Play. Okay, wow. He made rose petals as he poured more wax on a beautiful woman with snow-white hair. Then the next victim had his cock incased in bright blue wax, his partner pulled the cooled wax from his parts. My mouth dropped open while I watched Ed throw ladles of wax on his last victim, ladles and ladles, she was well covered and happy.

Ahhh, the days run together. Back at HQ, the gentleman with the beautiful hair offered to allow me to blacken his boots. I had brought my kit with hope and here at Camp my fantasies were answered. His boots were thigh high and covered with dried caked mud. I worked hard, my soft T-shirt soon covered with spatter from saddle soap. I was on the ground, my little skirt kicked in the air, happy polishing inside the gentleman's thighs. He said he was pleased with my work and offered to tie me up at some later date.

Promise was kept at Lew Ruben's Rope Bondage and Suspension Class. The rope was wrapped around my chest in wonderful confinement. My thighs were bound and I was in the air! Breathing and in the air, it was great!

There was more adventure; like the drive by molesting from the biting taxi driver and the map of Cincinnati scratched into my back with talons. I will dream of next year.

Many Thanks, Priscilla

Dear Uncle Frazier and Mom,

I had a wonderful time at camp this year! It was great seeing all my old friends and making some new ones as well. I think all the campers had a wonderful time. The only complaint I heard was that it was only 6 days long. Everyone hated to leave! Some of my thoughts on summer camp are:

The play spaces were lively and varied. Then again, the same can be said for the choices of play mates. آ I think both (spaces and playmate were available 24/7) I always enjoy the variety of equipment available to play on. And, if anyone forgot to bring a toy to play with, there were plenty on hand from either the Roy's camp store or Uncle Bo's shop. Next year Iâ€™ll have to remember to bring more money. New toys are always fun, and I seem to have a couple more in my toy bag now. آ آ

I enjoyed the classes I attended and if I hadnâ€™t spent so much time playing and swimming in the pool I would have attended more of them. My chores got in the way of a couple classes as well. But playing taxi driver on a golf cart has its own rewards. The class with Fifth Angel and Lew teaming up was great to watch. However, next time Fifth Angel gives a medical class I'm going to bring some sheet plastic like you do for Gallagher's show. The front row is a good place to be, but you might want some protection. The Exploratorium the first evening was nice as well. We got to play show-and-tell. Oh, and we played with one another's toys as too. Next year if Uncle Frazier let's me I might even bring some stuff and do a arts & crafts class. I was thinking about a hands on class in beginning leather working.

My cabin was located close to the ponies, which was a great location. However, I had to be careful not to allow them to trample my pet (Terri). I hear they even stampeded though the ladies formal tea. Personally I think gelding a few of them would calm them down. Their owners may not like that idea though. آ Another solution would be to hobble the wilder ones. I can give some suggestions on how to put them on. آ آ The pony show was really nice. But I don't know how the judges decided with formal cart pony's and freestyle demonstrations mixed together. From my vantage point, they all looked wonderful. There were more than a few fillies that I would love to own!آ

There was always something going on. We had plenty of opportunity to win money that we could use in the casino or auction. The fireworks were a nice touch too! Many thanks to Saul who brought those along. There were not as many games or competitions as last year. I think some people liked it that way, and some would have liked it better the old way. Either way, there was PLENTY to do. The only problem was finding time for a nap once in a while. With so much going on I didn't get much sleep.آ

It was a terrible thing to see that ugly old Sultan defeat the Admiral in the sea battle. But I guess every dynasty has to fall sooner or later. I'm just glad the Admiral escaped to safety!

I do hope to see you both soon!
Your Nephew Robin

Thank you guys for camp so so so so so much! I never thought I'd get to go on a vacation where i could be myself and be so totally comfortable. Being fun and flirty with chocolate and strawberries at the naked women's party and being scared and beaten during a kidnapping, where else can you do that in one weekend? It was WAY too much fun. And i even got to learn and make some friends. Thanks
again SO much!

~laurel

Camp broke my dictionary. There aren't words in it sufficient to describe the Camp experience. I'll prolly have to make a few up.

"Campalicious" - adjective, - describes the warm, welcoming, feeling you get just from being there.

From the moment I got there, I fell in love with the experience.

The campground itself is amazing, and the effort the staff went to to set up the theme decorations simply magnificent. But what really makes it Camp is the people. Everyone is so excited to be there, and to share in being with one another. It's like coming home.

Kinktacular - adjective - describes the way everyone there is into everything.

For one, I was in awe at how well people at Camp took to my diapered pals. Nothing makes you feel more appreciated as an ageplayer than people gushing over your cuteness, and treating you like the big kid you feel like. In the same vein, EVERYONE got appreciated that way.

People stomped their feet and cheered whenever the ponies came by, or whinnied and nickered their approval over something. Everyone helped make this wonderful atmosphere of inclusion.

I think my Brother probably said it best - one night we were walking back to our cabin next to Kidz Kamp, and I said, "I just love how this place feels to me." He said, "yeah, it feels like home."

Thank you both so much
--mako