Our Basecamp Brooklyn Story
Growing up in New York City, my family always made it a point to leave the city and spend time outdoors. I attribute this to my dad’s upbringing in the tropical southern islands of the Philippines. He brought his adventurous island culture with him to the US - building bonfires, climbing trees, and diving for fresh mollusks. He also embraced the natural landscape of the North East, introducing me to the ski slopes, mountains, and forests at a very young age.
My love of food and community, on the other hand, comes from my Mom. She worked hard all week, but still found the time to cook for family and friends every weekend. I always woke up to the yummy smells of both filipino staples and various cuisines that she was experimenting with. This was her unique way of embracing the diversity of cultures here in NYC. She had an open door invite for anyone who wanted to come eat and enjoy good company.
As an adult I continued both of these traditions, building community by gathering people around the dinner table and the campfire. With years of leadership experience, food and retail management, developing chef skills, and lots of practice bringing people together, it was only natural for it to all come to fruition as Basecamp Brooklyn - my own Adventure & Outdoor Cooking Brand, focused on the values that I’ve cultivated and lived by throughout my life.
Why turn my enjoyment of food, adventure, and community building into a business? Because it’s FUN!
I believe that facilitating positive, nourishing, and joyful experiences, within a supportive community, allows people to see and embrace the possibility of a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life.
Food, Campfires Experiences, and Adventures. These are the tools I use to connect people. Humans have an innate need to be part of a community, and healthy communities create a better world.
Looking to make the widest positive impact possible, I knew I needed to expand these community building efforts beyond just my Brooklyn apartment and my group of friends, and grow the movement large enough to reach the whole city, country, and even the world.
I believe as Basecamp Brooklyn grows it can make an exponentially greater positive impact on our environment, our community, and our inner space.
