We have always longed for the incredible experiences we honed as children, building the most amazing memories of our life at a summer camp year after year. And when i say, even now you can head to a summer camp. Don’t worry about the age you can still enjoy and relish archery, rope climbing and more thrilling adventures like you did decades ago. Single adults, families, retired professionals, seniors and more can take the plunge.
The nostalgia when you prepare your kid for summer camp and the string desire to attend a day at the camp when you drop them off, is not just a dream anymore. Many organizations are bringing their adult versions of summer camps. Specially for the elderly, to forget the 401(k) and re-live their childhood passions in exquisite and exotic ways. Unwind from your daily grind and enter the passion, you are sure for some unmatched delight and pleasure.
Some summer camps for adults or seniors too:
In recent years the number of camps for adults has grown substantially and 25% of all the CA accredited camps cater to adult only programs.
One such organization is Aging is Cool (AiC) AiC is a Texas based business, which provides amazing activities for older adults to keep them healthy, happy and active. For all those who loved being at a camp and even those who wished but couldn’t, here is your chance to plummet into the ‘full of life adventures’ at past 60.
1- Camp Meraki is one such breathtaking camp for adults, all the fun and frolic with some adult twist. Camp Meraki at Austin is your pick, just grab and satiate the urge to live your summer camp days once again. It covers canoeing, archery, sing alongs, art and craft, happy hour, show and tell and many more spontaneous activities which are sure to delight you.
Meraki means to proceed with great passion and love, rightly named as young at heart adults and seniors would live it up at this camp. All attendees eat whats being served, sleep on community bunks and with some air conditioning though. Team building exercises here are more about fun that about winning now, tipping over the tarp without stepping down from it, talking about personal mementos and show and tell. All seem from a distant past which you rejoiced then and even now brings euphoria to the campers.
2- Cattle round up camp: For all the outdoor seeking adults, get your cowboy boots on for its time for its time to rock the Rockmount ranch wear while you head to the adult only cowboy camp of north of Steamboat Springs. A single week, power packed with hands on clinics, wranglers are there to guide you on details of saddles and cattle herding.
3- Camp Bonfires at Poconos: A 2.5 hours from Philadelphia and NYC, this camp is a sure shot fun for adults from age 35. Including climbing walls, camp magic, canoeing, cabin living and many more for a long weekend to relive your childhood memories with even more fun. This is ever inspiring and an all inclusive connect with nature.
4- Elder camp by Lutheran camping Corporation: This Pennsylvania based organization running their adult camps at Nawakwa which is 140 miles off Philadelphia. A weeklong program attracts 20-25 people every year.
5- Boomers together team up with YMCA of metropolitan Chattanooga: This adults summer program is for 40 and above. The began with an idea to sell a couple of tickets and begin with adults camp, but sold out in weeks even at their first ever adult camp.
Why are the adult only summer camps rising like never before:
Wondering why these and many more summer programs are gaining popularity, well for obvious reasons adults and seniors are nostalgic and its their chance to connect with their own past. Some more of the benefits and reasons why people are taking time out for adult and senior summer camps:
- Their strong urges to connect with their own self from past
- Nostalgia plays an important role, as most adult camps boast activities reminiscent of the summer camps of Yore
- For some its an item up on their bucket list, and the fun of participating in childhood activities makes it all the more special
- Accomplishing the tasks which you may have feared in the past and avoided at your summer camps. Which later turned out your biggest regret, and now you can fulfill them too with even more daring
- No more supervision but rather, its more independence and freedom for the campers
- Forming friendship with alike and getting to know more and more people.
- Rise above their physical limitations and challenges as these camps provide additional care and support too, but still be able to do it all in utmost thrilling ways
- For some campers it is an experience to heal after the loss of a loved one
- Its a much needed escape from their busy world for some peaceful space of their own
- A sense of unlimited fun, which keeps them entertained and spirited
Check out more at campnavigator resources on adult summer camps as summer camps are not just for kids anymore. Summer camps for every age and stage of your life, because having fun is a prerogative of every individual, and these summer camps aspire to bring it all.
By Minu Manisha
