I went back to camp
- Danielle Hughes
- Oct 31
- 4 min read
What a french retreat taught me about the power of connection
French for: no responsibilities
That was home for 5 days. A 12th century chateau in the French countryside. No biggie. I mean we all go to camp in a chateau, right? Perhaps we should.
When I first learned about Camp Chateau I was of course intrigued. What’s not to love about a bunch of women coming together in a chateau to participate in activities and just have fun for 5 days? It sounded amazing. But like all things amazing, it was impossible to get into. Every time registration opened for a session it would sell out faster than the Eras tour. But I was not to be dissuaded.
Originally they only offered summer sessions, and TBH, I’m not a lover of heat or heat in Europe without AC, even if said heat is in a chateau. But then they announced fall sessions. And your girl loves a shoulder season! This was my jam!
I was put on a waiting list for new campers and was told when the doors would open. It just so happens I was at a Mezcal tasting in Mexico City at the time. But my friend and I politely told our guide we’d need to be on our phones for 5 minutes and when the link went live it went like this:
Week 1: sold out.
Week 2: sold out.
Week 3: sold out.
Week 4: We’re in!
I couldn’t believe it and since this was a full year before we’d even get to go, it didn’t feel real. But we were officially registered campers.
Just casually chateau shopping…
Here’s the story of how Camp Chateau came to be. The owner was a former finance executive who visited France every year with her parents. She wanted to find a place for her own family to have that same experience. So, as she was casually chateau shopping (she was not chateau shopping), she found the chateau and the idea came to her. What if this was a place for women to come to? A place where they could be creative, forge connections and reconnect to the fun of camp and childhood?
Always bet on women
It turns out this idea was unique but also popular. Every woman she talked to wanted to invest. And she was determined to make this 100% woman-owned, invested and run. Now, closing out the third season, 2026 will see another location open and more beyond that. The Camp now owns a local tavern and is employing the community. The mission is always to give back and foster community, both in and out of the chateau walls.
Beneath the surface
But to me the secret sauce of Camp Chateau is the connections. The relationships built in a matter of days with women from all over the country (and outside it).
Women 25-70 from all backgrounds. Small towns to major cities.
Married, single, divorced, parents, friends, moms and daughters, straight and gay.
Just like camp, you spend hours and hours with people and eventually learn their vulnerabilities, their strengths, their fears and their successes.
Your initial snap judgments vanish and people surprise you with who they really are at every turn.
Because no one is who they first appear.
Everyone has pain, depth, joy and infinite wisdom to share.
There were tears and lots of laughter. Ok, lots of tears too.
People received nicknames and we had inside jokes. #freethetoes #chillesthuman #datestalker
There was ribbing and support.
People showed up and helped when others needed it.
I never wore makeup and lived in leggings.
Others seemed to have a different outfit daily and yet had a carry on suitcase. #goals
There were late night conversations. #bucketoffingers #photocutouts
There were likely morning conversations but I never woke up for them.
I ate my weight in croissants and french butter. That stuff is magic.
We cooked, made crafts, rode horses, attempted to meditate, sat by the pool.
Some cold plunged. Others (me) cheered them on.
We read, hammocked and walked the grounds.
We went to the market and saw 29,000 year old cave paintings.
We silent discoed. (or not-so-silent)
Where do we go from here?
We created a What’s App group that everyone joined in less than 12 hours.
We’re making plans to see each other. Some back at camp, some in our cities and some when we visit.
But whatever happens from here, we have extra laugh lines, countless memories and know that we’re part of something special.
For me, this experience was lightning in a bottle.
I don’t think it’s something that can be recreated.
You all know that I’m part of so many professional communities and I coach and plan to coach more in a few of them. I’m very team community!
Community is our support system and our lifeline. In business and in life.
But what I loved most about camp is that it wasn’t a yoga retreat, or a business retreat or a mastermind.
I didn’t go to learn anything and I didn’t go to unwind, relax or get any other buzzword burnout related results.
I didn’t take my computer and I barely checked email.
I went to just be. No expectations. No goals. No plans.
And what I got was so much more than I could have expected or hoped.
That’s the true power of community and connection.
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What does storytelling have to do with good communication?
Everything. Facts tell, but stories stick. Sharing your real experiences gives your message emotion and context — the stuff that actually makes people care.
Why is authentic connection important for communication?
Because people don’t respond to perfection — they respond to humanity. When you drop the polish and share honestly, your words land deeper and your message sticks.
What does community have to do with how you communicate your brand?
Everything. The more you engage with real people, the more you understand what resonates. Community gives you feedback, perspective, and stories that make your communication stronger.
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