Meet Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping
- Kat St.Pierre
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 11
I celebrate myself. . .
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease . . . observing a spear of summer grass
–Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
It’s an honor that you’re here, interested in everything the farm has to offer. This blog will provide context for Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping, including inspiration, the foreseeable future, day-to-day operations, and our vision.
Reach out if this resonates with you.
The Inspiration
Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping is one answer to my extended family’s question: How are we going to sustain the family farm? In June 2024, I flew to Pennsylvania for a month, admittedly, to take a break from the Tucson heat and attend a family meeting that would change my life's path.
The whole family met and discussed ways to cover the cost of taxes and ongoing maintenance: saffron farming, growing mushrooms (the dinner-table kind), sharecropping more acres, and my idea– an agritourism campground and glampground.
Life happened. I reflected, I looked at my 79 year-old dad, my family, the blueberries, and the fireflies. I thought that I could really, really do this. And do it exceptionally well--phased, in-tune with the land, responsive to the community, and over-time. I doubled down on making my idea into reality. I'm devoted to preserving this land, building community, and keeping this land in-tact and in the family. I'm using my passions, skill-sets, networks, and abilities. No, I'm not a farmer. I simply love this land.
I love camping, teaching, responsible access to nature, art, community, gardens, sunsets, and making memories. I love my life here, and I want this to be a place where people love spending time.
Agritourism takes many shapes and styles. At its basic foundation, it’s where agriculture meets tourism. From active dairy or alpaca farms to wineries and Amish homestead tours, Pennsylvania has no shortage of agritourism opportunities. At Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping, we look a little different.
Located on Iron Tooth Farm in Mercer, Pennsylvania, Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping offers everyday glimpses of a retired dairy farm. We have 125 acres featuring an artesian spring, creek, barn sitting on the original foundation, forested trails, orchards, wildflowers, bees, two horses, and lots of barn cats.
Keep reading to see what Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping looks like in my mind, heart, and dreams.
The Future
We’re aiming to have an open season from May 1 - November 30, with special openings on holidays and upon individual request. Depending on future weather patterns, the season may extend later into the fall. Either way, the open season will be clearly advertised!
When we open, we’re starting with cabins, a cottage, tent platforms, and backpacking spots available. All campers will have access to centrally-located off-grid toilets, fire rings, and a parking lot.
Glamping Cabins: Sleeps 4 people, 2 beds, 2 stories, private off-grid toilet
Glamping Cottages: A shelter with a bed inside.
Tent Platforms: Wooden structures to lift the tent off of the ground during the rain. Upon request, we offer tent-set up, gear rentals, and one-on-one set-up support.
Backpacking: Find a spot in the woods near a pre-made fire ring.
Beyond camping and glamping, we’re hosting events all season– some will also be free! Check our official event schedule when we have the line-up solidified. Initial ideas that the space allows include art classes, backyard acoustic concerts, movement classes, artist and maker workshops, beekeeping, sawmill observation, gardening (seed-to-can), harvesting and processing clay, or book clubs.
We would love to connect with skilled, passionate, knowledgeable people who want to share that spark with others. Reach out if you want to lead a workshop, class, or event series.
I’m dreaming about much more the farm can offer, but one step at a time.
The Day-To-Day
It’s a two-person show most days–Me and my 79-year-old dad who runs laps around me. (A huge thank you to the people who are helping us along the way. You know who you are. Also shoutout to my mom, who creates her art each day here.)
Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping is in the building phase. We work depending on the weather and resources available, but we’re always moving towards the goal of opening in late spring of 2026... and the goals we have beyond opening.
My dad helps with the operations and tries to teach me as much as I can learn. I do the background work and a lot of the day-to-day tasks.
Since we started in April of 2025 we’ve:
Worked with a local builder on the framework for two cabins
Found the perfect spot for the cabins
Taken down dead trees from the property
Secured zoning variances for camping
Began trail maintenance
Started to mill the trees for tent platforms and cabin siding
Cleaned out the existing cabin that was used for storage and transformed it to be our fully-functioning LuLu cabin
Fixed winter pipe damage in my tiny house so that I have a place to live while working here.
In the upcoming months, we are:
Finding the perfect spots for the tent platforms
Finishing up the glamping cabins
Building the tent platforms and glamping structures
Placing the gravel parking lot
Solidifying an event and workshop schedule
Aaaand probably a few other things
The Vision
Above all, we are a safe space in a rural area.
If you’re thinking, “Okay, but rural areas are safe.” I’m so happy you’ve had that experience, and I encourage you to think from a broader perspective. Many rural areas are not the most welcoming for people who don’t fit their demographic norms. Not only was that my direct experience moving here from Arizona in the 8th grade, but it’s also a reason why I left as soon as I could after college. I say this from a place of privilege too. Not everyone wants to or can leave an area that discriminates against them, but everyone deserves to be safe.
Before I lose you, rural areas are beautiful, secretly diverse, and worth visiting. Especially this one, but I’m a little biased.
Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping exists to uplift a diverse, skilled, and creative network of people. We support access to nature, camping, agriculture, and art.
This space is born out of experiencing life as a queer woman who loves to solo travel–and does so on a tight budget. (Former teacher, y’all! I’m still using the same sleeping bag I found on Facebook Marketplace when I got into camping after leaving public education.)
For most people, nature can be intimidating enough without worries of other people, potentially seeking to harm us. I remember picking out my non-female-coded gear, buying a second camping chair so it looked like I wasn’t alone, and packing up in the middle of the night several times when someone unexpectedly showed up or drove into my camp.
None of that has stopped me. In fact, it’s emboldened me to create a space where that doesn’t happen.
No, the farm is not a 14er, river-winding canyon, raging waterfall, crystal-clear beach, or peak followed by peak.
The farm is rolling hills, forests to forage, and land to simply be on.
It’s politely passing Amish buggies on the way to explore shops in a quaint town, stopping at a peach and pie stand back to camp. It’s joining a movement class taught by a local teacher. It’s celebrating a life milestone with your closest friends and family. It's gathering natural clay processing it, and creating something from the land. It's making s'mores before turning in for the night. It’s artisan and trade classes. It’s stopping by after a long day of work and unwinding in the woods.
You see the picture, right?
How To Support
There are so many options to support Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping.
It's free to share our work with people who might be interested. If you know someone who loves off-grid camping, responsible access to nature, art, or agriculture, send them our way!
Donate today. As handy as my dad and I are, we can't DIY everything. Your donation really does help dreams come true.
Email me to teach a workshop, recurring class, or retreat. hello@rayofsunshinecamping.com
Reach out. Words of encouragement go a long way.
Comments