Our vision for the camp
Presence, coziness, diversity, and sustainability are just a few of the words that describe our dream and vision for Ly.
The vision
After our wedding, on an August Saturday in 2019, we traveled to Portugal for our honeymoon the following Monday morning. Thomas had been into surfing for a long time, so he suggested that the first part of our romantic trip be at a surf camp. Once Mia had gotten over the shock of waking up to a shrill alarm at just before six (because that’s when the waves were usually best), she, like Thomas, was sold. Sold on the camp vibe and the way of embracing nature.
Since our honeymoon, we've been pondering how we could create that kind of experience for others. On our own home turf. So, when the opportunity to take over a spot in the outdoor capital, nestled between forest, lake, and city, arose, we seized it. And just like that, the dream of combining camping and nature experiences became a reality.
We want to:
- create a peaceful retreat where you can relax and share the day's good experiences with each other in cozy and comfortable surroundings.
- make everyone feel welcome, from families with children to retirees. Whether you're a mountain biker, nature hiker, kayaker, or here for the city’s cultural life, we want everyone to feel at home. What unites us is the desire to end the day under the treetops – together or alone.
- inspire all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed in the surrounding nature.
- inspire exploration of Silkeborg's cultural life.
- facilitate smaller events for both camp guests and locals: Everything from group runs, bike rides, and workouts in the forest to communal meals, cozy campfires, and live music in the camp's communal area.
Creating the setting for coziness and connection
Privately, we live in a small wooden house in Sejs-Svejbæk, just outside Silkeborg, with our children Otto, Viggo, and Ingrid Marie, and our fluffy golden retriever, Lulu. Although we don’t have a large backyard, we hold an annual garden party for all our friends and family. With a large tent, grilled food, children’s games, a house band, and a grown-up party. Because we enjoy bringing together those we love – and being the ones who make coziness and connection flourish and grow.
It is this spirit that we want to bring to Ly Outdoor Camp. We aim to create an environment that encourages our guests to embrace presence, coziness, and perhaps even community. Under the open sky.
Sustainability and local cThomas is a bit of a handyman. He’s the type who relaxes with a hammer or screwdriver in hand. One of his recent projects was building a tiny house using as many recycled materials as possible. And that mentality is one of the cornerstones of the camp. After all, why buy new beams for the glamping terraces when we can repurpose quality rafters from a local renovation project? We choose to recycle where it makes sense, and fortunately, that’s the case in most areas. So, it’s not necessarily the latest designer furniture or flawless materials you’ll find at the camp. Instead, it’s furniture and materials with character and history. It’s better for the environment, your conscience, and your wallet. We want to strengthen and support the local community, which is why we back other local businesses. Only by doing so can Silkeborg continue to grow and remain one of the most beautiful places in the country. We hope for many good collaborations with strong local players, from producers to personalities.Thomas is a bit of a handyman. He’s the type who relaxes with a hammer or screwdriver in hand. One of his recent projects was building a tiny house using as many recycled materials as possible. And that mentality is one of the cornerstones of the camp. After all, why buy new beams for the glamping terraces when we can repurpose quality rafters from a local renovation project? We choose to recycle where it makes sense, and fortunately, that’s the case in most areas. So, it’s not necessarily the latest designer furniture or flawless materials you’ll find at the camp. Instead, it’s furniture and materials with character and history. It’s better for the environment, your conscience, and your wallet. We want to strengthen and support the local community, which is why we back other local businesses. Only by doing so can Silkeborg continue to grow and remain one of the most beautiful places in the country. We hope for many good collaborations with strong local players, from producers to personalities.ollaboration
Thomas is a bit of a handyman. He’s the type who relaxes with a hammer or screwdriver in hand. One of his recent projects was building a tiny house using as many recycled materials as possible. And that mentality is one of the cornerstones of the camp. After all, why buy new beams for the glamping terraces when we can repurpose quality rafters from a local renovation project?
We choose to recycle where it makes sense, and fortunately, that’s the case in most areas. So, it’s not necessarily the latest designer furniture or flawless materials you’ll find at the camp. Instead, it’s furniture and materials with character and history. It’s better for the environment, your conscience, and your wallet.
We want to strengthen and support the local community, which is why we back other local businesses. Only by doing so can Silkeborg continue to grow and remain one of the most beautiful places in the country. We hope for many good collaborations with strong local players, from producers to personalities.
Culture and communication
Although Thomas is great with tools, he’s just as good with people. He has nine years of experience in developing cultural and leisure activities across various municipal departments. Additionally, throughout his childhood, he visited many campsites around the country – camping life is in his blood.
Mia has a background in communication. She’s previously worked as a journalist and is now taking on the role of a communications multitasker, both here at Ly and in another company. As a result, you’ll likely meet her less frequently at the camp. But when you do, it will most likely be with our little trio in tow. That’s our hope – to create a place where we, along with our children, want to spend most of our time. Together.
Why Ly?
Ly means shelter in Danish. We wanted a name full of atmosphere, and when we first took a walk around the site, it was the feeling of being between and beneath the treetops that stood out the most. Over time, that feeling became Ly. Sheltered by the forest. Sheltered from the everyday. This is how we hope our guests will experience what it means to take a holiday at the camp.