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October 2-5, 2025
Pennsylvania

This camp sold out on February 9, 2024. Click here to join the wait list.

Pennsylvania Gravel Cycling Camp

Take your training to amazing places!
October 2-5, 2025

Meet your fellow BaseCampers and coaches while enjoying a fun weekend of gravel riding and camping in the beautiful Michaux State Forest tucked away in the mountains of Pennsylvania. The YMCA Camp Thompson will be our home for the weekend, complete with rustic cabins, a mess hall, and fire rings for gathering beside. Laugh, learn, and ride with friends and teammates, and enjoy the gorgeous Pennsylvania woods in their fall splendor. 

This is a community BaseCamp event open to all BaseCamp athletes (former, current, and future)! This camp will focus on skills development, event and race performance, and fun, social-paced rides. 

The Experience

The Riding

Michaux State Forest is a hidden gem of gravel cycling. Heading out of Camp Thompson, we have hundreds of miles of gravel and double track roads to  explore. Camp Thompson is located in the valley, which allows us to explore both ridgelines of this amazing forest.   

The focus of this camp will be building skills and learning, so rides will be at a more social pace and a little shorter.

The Location

MICHAUX STATE FOREST

Michaux's almost 90,000 acres are located in Adams, Cumberland, and Franklin Counties, and it contains three state parks (Caledonia, Pine Grove Furnace, and Mont Alto). Michaux provides ample opportunities for gravel riding with 130 miles of state forest roads (plus more gravel outside of the park) maintained for pleasure driving and sightseeing. 

CAMP THOMPSON, GARDNERS PA

This is an ACA accredited camp featuring ten heated bunkhouse cabins, each with six ground-level beds. 

The Coaching Support

Take your training and performance knowledge to the next level! Daily rides will feature skills and on-the-bike coaching to help you up your game, and we will focus on building skills so that speed will follow. 

Closest Airport

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) is the airport closest to the campground, about a 45-minute drive away

The Details

Packages and Lodging
ON SITE LODGING
$699 for BaseCamp members
$999 for non-members

 

Reserve a single bed in one of the group bunkhouses. The price includes three nights of lodging and all meals on site (three breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners). The bunkhouses do not have bathrooms, but they are located close to the camp's communal bathrooms and showers. 

TRAINING ONLY (without lodging)
$549 for BaseCamp members
$849 for non-members

 

Want to come to camp but bring an RV or tent camp at the local campgrounds less than a mile away?  Select this option to join all the rides and activities. The price includes the rides, activities, and meals. 

 

Where to stay?

What's Included
  • Travel planning support

  • 3 nights of group bunkhouse lodging

  • All meals on site 

  • All coaching and support 

  • Camp t-shirt if you register by August 22

What's Not Included
  • Airfare or other travel expenses

  • Transportation

  • Towels or bed linens

  • Coach tips 

Pricing
  • $699 per person for BaseCamp group coaching members ($999 for non members)

  • $549 per person for training only, without lodging ($849 for non members)

  • $200 deposit per person due upon registration, with remaining payment due 30 days before camp

CancelLation Policy

Deposits are refundable up to 90 days prior to the start of the camp. Click here to read our full camp cancellation policy.

Schedule

Camp Itinerary

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Thursday, Oct 2

3:30-5:00 p.m.

Camp checkin and cabin assignment

5:30-7:00 p.m.

Welcome BBQ dinner

7:00 p.m.

Campfire and social fun

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Friday, Oct 3

7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Riders Meeting

9:30-11:30 a.m. Skills and Drills Practice

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:30-5:00 p.m. Group Rides

3-4 route options available

6:00 p.m. Dinner

7:00 p.m. Social Activities

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Saturday, Oct 4

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Rider meeting

9:30-11:00 a.m. Skills and Drills Practice

11:00 a.m. Lunch

12:00 p.m. Riders Meeting

12:30-5:00 p.m. Group Rides

2-3 route options available

6:00 p.m. Dinner

 

7:00 p.m. Social Activities

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Sunday, Oct 5

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Riders Meeting

9:00-11:30 a.m. Group Rides

11:30 a.m. Snacks and Cleanup

1:00 p.m. Departure

Have a question about this camp?

Book a meeting or reach out by email, and we'll tell you all about camp and answer any questions you have.

Camp FAQs

What is a bunkhouse?
Camp Thompson features ten bunkhouse cabins, each with six bunkbeds (we are using floor-level beds only), heating, and electricity. There are no private bathrooms. Linens are not included in lodging. 

Are there bathrooms and showers?
The bunkhouses are conveniently located around two communal, heated bathhouses featuring full showers and facilities. 

Can I bring my RV or tent?
RVs and tents are not allowed at Camp Thompson, but you can grab a site at Pine Grove Furnace Campgrounds, which is connected to Camp Thompson via bike and walking paths. If you're going with this option, sign up above for the "training only" option.

Is there a hotel nearby?
The best hotel is in downtown Carlisle at the Comfort Suites, 13 miles away from Camp Thompson, but they are likely sold out. Other hotels nearby (15 miles from camp) are MainStay Suites Carlisle - Harrisburg, Fairfield Inn and Suites Carlisle, and Holiday Inn Express Carlisle Southwest

Can we bring our pets?
Pets are not allowed at Camp Thompson. If they were, you would get to spend the weekend with Kathy and Tim's big floppy yellow lab. 

What is the food like?
Our catered meals will be prepared in the dining hall. The food will not be fancy, but it is our goal to provide healthy options for all. 

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