Till Summer Do Us Part

Camp Haven is the novel’s forced-proximity setting, initially imposed to sustain Scottie and Wilder’s fabricated marriage. However, the camp unexpectedly evolves into the location of their genuine romantic development. What begins as a contrived arrangement gradually facilitates an authentic emotional connection. For its attendees, Camp Haven is more than a romantic getaway; it’s an adult summer camp where play, creativity, and emotional openness are not only encouraged but also essential for healing and restoration. Designed as a space where adults can escape the pressures of professional life and reconnect as couples, Camp Haven encourages the rediscovery of joy and creativity, qualities often suppressed in adulthood. While Wilder initially views the camp as another “experience” to check off his list, “[…] I can always look back at the time that I went to a marriage summer camp with a woman I didn’t know” (271), the confined arrangement makes Scottie uncomfortable. Camp Haven invites Scottie to engage in spontaneous, judgment-free activities that gradually disarm her defenses. Through competition, communal meals, and nature adventures, Scottie experiences the kind of playful vulnerability that leads to genuine self-discovery.

Through forced proximity at camp, and more specifically their cabin and later a tent, Scottie can’t escape Wilder or the emotions emerging as a result of their time together.