Camp Weekend 2026
Thompson Temple · Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts
What Is Camp Weekend?
Camp Weekend is a three-day Spiritualist and community gathering filled with workshops, mediumship, healing, history, music, shared meals, creative experiences, and opportunities to gather at historic Thompson Temple in Lake Pleasant.
Despite the name, Camp Weekend is not an overnight camp or sleepover event. Come for one program, build your own day, or spend all three days with us, then head home or stay locally in beautiful Franklin County.
Throughout the weekend you'll find a mix of ticketed workshops, Pay From the Heart programs, music, spiritual practice, history, art, food, and free community gatherings.
A New Take on an Old Tradition
For decades, summer at The National Spiritual Alliance meant Camp Week: two weekends and a full week of Spiritualist workshops, community, learning, and personal and spiritual development.
TNSA revived the tradition in a new form in 2025, and Camp Weekend 2026 is the second year of this renewed gathering. Now held in September, TNSA's birthday month, it brings the spirit of Camp Week together in one weekend.
The name also honors Lake Pleasant's history as one of America's great Spiritualist summer camp retreats of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today's Camp Weekend carries forward that tradition of gathering, exploration, learning, and connection while creating something for today's community.
Camp Weekend Schedule
Friday · September 18
11 AM–1 PM · Drop-In Friday
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Begin Camp Weekend with coffee or tea, conversation, and an informal spiritual exchange with members of the TNSA community.
Pay From the Heart · Donations welcome
1–4 PM · Drop-In Readings & Healings
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Drop in for guidance, healing, conversation, or simply to spend some time in community with TNSA student and community readers and healing practitioners.
Pay From the Heart
4–5:30 PM · Historical Program & Book Reading
Louise Shattuck: Artist, Author, Medium, Oracle:
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Spiritualist
From the forthcoming book by David James · Read by Kara Kharmah
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Step into the remarkable life of Louise Shattuck and another chapter of Lake Pleasant's extraordinary Spiritualist history.
Kara Kharmah will read from David James's forthcoming book, Louise Shattuck: Artist, Author, Medium, Oracle: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Spiritualist, expected from Delta House Press in 2027.
James, co-author of Spirit & Spa, continues his exploration of the people and stories that shaped Lake Pleasant through the life of Shattuck: artist, author, medium, oracle, and a fascinating figure in the village's past.
Pay From the Heart
Special signed copies of Spirit & Spa will be available for sale.
5:30–7 PM · Community Potluck
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Bring something to share if you're able and gather around the table for food, conversation, and community.
Free · Donations welcome
7–8 PM · Epoch: A Meditation Cycle
An Evening of Deep Ambient Improvisation
UPSTAIRS SANCTUARY · STAIRS REQUIRED
Join Sam V Perry and Ethan Lindblom for an immersive evening of deep ambient improvisation celebrating the release of Epoch: A Meditation Cycle.
Suggested $10–$20 · Give more or less as feels right
Saturday · September 19
Several programs happen simultaneously on Saturday. Choose the experiences that speak to you and create your own Camp Weekend day.
10 AM–12 PM · Introduction to Mediumship
With Rev. Stephen Hermann
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Explore the foundations of mediumship with an internationally acclaimed medium and teacher with more than 40 years of experience.
Beginner Friendly · $35
10 AM–12 PM · Past Life Regression
With Rev. Kim Wright & Kerry Baird
UPSTAIRS · STAIRS REQUIRED
Take a guided journey through three past-life experiences and explore how themes, gifts, healing, and spiritual guides may connect with your present life.
Bring water. Blankets, pillows, yoga mats, and a notebook are encouraged but not required.
All levels · $35
1:30–3:30 PM · Spiritualism & Lake Pleasant
With David James · Lecture, Walk & Historical Tour
LECTURE UPSTAIRS · WALK THROUGH LAKE PLEASANT
Explore Lake Pleasant's remarkable Spiritualist history through stories, images, local history, and a walk through the village.
Pay From the Heart
1:30–3:30 PM · Introduction to Tarot
With Aria Michaels Paradise
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Explore tarot for personal development and psychic sensitivity while learning the Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, court cards, and reading within a spread.
Bring your own deck if you have one.
All levels · $35
4–5:30 PM · Mediumship Demonstration & Spirit Gallery
Rev. Stephen Hermann · Rev. Kim Wright · Aria Michaels Paradise
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Experience mediumship in an intimate group setting as three mediums connect with Spirit and deliver messages to participants.
Every ticket holder will receive a message · $20
5:30–7 PM · Free Community Pizza Party
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Grab some pizza, take a break between programs, and spend time together before the evening continues.
Pizza is free · Donations welcome
7–9 PM · Heart-Centered Kirtan
UPSTAIRS SANCTUARY · STAIRS REQUIRED
Share mantra and music with Libby Volckening, Ezra Landis, Thomas Matherly, and Owen Landis. No experience is needed, and children are welcome.
Suggested $20–$30 · Give more or less as feels right
9 PM · Physical Mediumship in Action
A Table Tipping Experience with Rev. Kim Wright
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Gather around the tables for a participatory exploration of table tipping and physical mediumship. Participate, observe, learn, and see what unfolds.
Pay From the Heart · All levels
Sunday · September 20
9 AM · Community Meditation
UPSTAIRS SANCTUARY · STAIRS REQUIRED
Begin Sunday morning quietly together with a relaxed, peer-led community meditation in the sanctuary.
This is an informal gathering rather than a class or formal workshop: simply a chance to sit, breathe, settle in, and share a little stillness before the final day of Camp Weekend begins. Some members of the community will bring singing bowls and other gentle sound instruments to accompany the meditation.
No meditation experience is needed. Come as you are, find a comfortable place, and join in however feels right for you.
Free · Donations welcome
10:30 AM–12:30 PM · Book Discussion: Radical Forgiveness
With Rev. Jordan Taylor
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Join Rev. Jordan Taylor for a discussion of Colin Tipping's Radical Forgiveness and explore forgiveness as a path toward greater peace, joy, harmony, freedom, and purpose.
Tipping offers a roadmap for transforming and releasing the emotions that can hold us captive, helping us move toward a life lived with greater freedom, purpose, and passion. At the heart of the discussion is the idea that forgiveness is ultimately a gift and blessing we give ourselves.
Following the book discussion, Rev. Jordan Taylor will give a mini message to each participant.
$25
12 PM · Community Potluck Lunch
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Bring something to share if you're able and join us around the table before the afternoon services.
Free · Donations welcome
1 PM · Sunday Spiritualist Service
With Rev. Jordan Taylor
UPSTAIRS SANCTUARY · STAIRS REQUIRED
Our Sunday service includes an inspirational message, guided healing meditation, healing, and messages from Spirit from the platform.
Free · Donations welcome
3 PM · Autumn Equinox Healing Service
Featuring live sound healing with Carolyn Walker
DOWNSTAIRS · RAMP ACCESS
Close Camp Weekend by welcoming autumn through collective healing, prayer, attunement, reflection, and live sound healing.
Pay From the Heart · Suggested $5–$20
Explore Throughout the Weekend
Camp Weekend isn't only about scheduled workshops. Leave room to wander, create, look, talk, and discover something along the way.
Then, Now & Through the Artist's Eye
Lake Pleasant: Past, Present & Creative Spirit
Explore an exhibit bringing together the remarkable history and creative life of Lake Pleasant through historic photographs, postcards, contemporary photography, artist portraits, and stories from the village.
The exhibit includes photography by local artists and photographers including Susan Paquet, David James, Jan Atamian, and others, as well as portraits and elements connected with TNSA's Pond Lily Project.
The exhibit continues the following weekend at the Shea Theater as part of Spirit & Song.
Free to explore throughout Camp Weekend.
Participating & Supporting TNSA
Camp Weekend is designed so you can participate in whatever way works for you. Some programs have set ticket prices, while many others are free, donation-based, or offered through our Pay From the Heart model.
When you register for a workshop or make a donation, you are doing more than purchasing a program. You are helping sustain a community, support our presenters and creative programming, care for our historic 1913 Thompson Temple, and make it possible for TNSA to continue offering spiritual, educational, artistic, and community experiences to people with many different financial circumstances.
Come because something interests you. Participate at the level that works for you. And when you can, help us keep the doors open for the next person too.
Ticketed Programs
Introduction to Mediumship · $35
REGISTERPast Life Regression · $35
REGISTERIntroduction to Tarot · $35
REGISTERMediumship Demonstration & Spirit Gallery · $20
RESERVE TICKETRadical Forgiveness Book Discussion + Mini Messages · $25
REGISTERRune Talisman Creation · $10 per stone
Drop in during Camp Weekend · No advance registration needed
Music & Pay From the Heart Programs
Epoch: A Meditation Cycle · Suggested $10–$20
Heart-Centered Kirtan · Suggested $20–$30
Readings, healings, historical programming, community meditation, seasonal healing, shared meals, and other gatherings throughout the weekend are free, donation-based, or offered through our Pay From the Heart model.
Food, Shared Tables & Community Meals
Food is part of Camp Weekend because gathering around a table is part of building community.
You are welcome to join our meals whether or not you are attending the programs immediately before or afterward. Throughout the weekend we'll also have drinks, snacks, and some food available by donation.
FRIDAY
Community Potluck · 5:30–7 PM
SATURDAY
Lunch available by donation
Free Community Pizza Party · 5:30–7 PM
SUNDAY
Community Potluck Lunch · 12 PM
Bring your own food and drinks if you prefer. Food delivery services, including DoorDash, readily deliver to:
The National Spiritual Alliance
2 Montague Avenue
Lake Pleasant, MA
Plan Your Visit
Accessibility
Thompson Temple is a historic building and is not ADA compliant, but we work intentionally to make as much programming as possible accessible.
The downstairs level has ramp access and first-floor bathrooms. The upstairs sanctuary requires stairs and does not have an elevator.
Each program is marked with its location so you can plan ahead.
Parking & Getting Here
Lake Pleasant is a small historic residential village with primarily street parking.
Please drive slowly and respectfully. The village speed limit is 10 mph, and children regularly walk and play throughout the neighborhood.
Thompson Temple
2 Montague Avenue
Lake Pleasant, MA
Coming From Out of Town?
Camp Weekend is a day and evening gathering, not an overnight camp. Visitors arrange their own accommodations.
We encourage you to make a weekend of it and enjoy Lake Pleasant and the wider Franklin County community while you're here.
September is a popular time in Western Massachusetts, so reserving accommodations in advance is recommended.
About The National Spiritual Alliance
Founded in 1913, The National Spiritual Alliance is a nonprofit Spiritualist organization located in historic Thompson Temple in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts.
TNSA supports spiritual exploration, healing, education, the arts, personal development, and community while preserving Thompson Temple and carrying forward Lake Pleasant's living Spiritualist heritage.
The National Spiritual Alliance
2 Montague Avenue
Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts
Schedule, presenters, pricing, and individual programs are subject to change.