Reflect & Rejuvenate at The Light Center Camp

After attending the recent Camping Under the Stars: Texas I was so excited for my first trip as a Hipcamp field scout at one of their new Landshare Properties. My friend Brooke and I left Dallas around noon to make the nearly 8 hour trip to Kansas. After several bathroom breaks, an ill conceived idea to eat lunch at a casino sports bar, and a tremendous amount of wheat fields later we arrived at The Light Center. Robin, the wonderful owner of the farm, was up waiting for our arrival to welcome us and make us feel right at home. After showing us around, we crawled into our cozy beds in the barn to sleep the night away until the crowing of their rooster signified the start of a new day. I took advantage of the early morning hours to stroll around the property and take in the view that I was unable to appreciate on the dark drive in.

After my walk around the property I returned to the barn where I was greeted by Renee, a guest living in the Yurt, who graciously offered fresh eggs from their free range chickens. Brooke took charge of breakfast and cracked a couple of eggs open to make Eggs-in-a-basket, or as she likes to call them, One-eyed-Jacks. We finished up breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee and decided to take a hike around the back of the property near the creek. The stark contrast from golden wheat in the front of the barn to the lush green plants in the back was breathtaking- it felt like we were in a totally different place. During our exploration out back we were also able to get a peek at the yurt.

The hike was refreshing and just what we needed after breakfast, but we decided to spend the afternoon with a couple cups of tea, our journals, and of course my two dogs. The upstairs of the barn has a large open layout with beautiful wood work lining the ceiling and several beds on the outside of the room. At the center is a beautiful area rug representing the sort of peace and reflection they hope you experience by coming to The Light Center.

After our relaxation session we went down to the kitchen to meet another camper, Jai Maa, living at the center. Jai Maa use to live in Florida, but sold most of her possessions to buy a RV and travel around the country promoting her book. She had planned on staying at The Light Center for 6 weeks, but she is currently in her fifth month there. That’s what this center does to you, it makes you feel right at home- as if you’ve always belonged there. We spent the next few hours with Renee and Jai Maa in the kitchen enjoying sandwiches made of fresh vegetables from the garden and reflecting over the different paths that lead us there. While the property itself is remarkable, it’s the community that welcomes you into their lives so openly that makes this a truly special place. I left with a full heart and was invited to come back later in the year for Jai Maa’s going away party- something I surely hope to make. This is more than a Land Share Property, it’s a sanctuary to escape for a few days to relax and rejuvenate your soul.

Korey is an adventure and landscape photographer hoping to inspire others to explore nature through her lens. To stay up to date on all of her adventures, follow her on Instagram.