I Went to Adult Summer Camp — and Loved It
Our take
The resurgence of adult summer camp isn't merely a whimsical trend; it’s a fascinating reflection of our current cultural landscape. As social connections increasingly migrate online, there’s a palpable yearning for authentic, offline experiences that foster genuine community. The article’s initial intrigue mirrors a broader sentiment – a desire to reclaim the carefree joy of childhood, stripped of the complexities of adulthood. We’ve seen this desire manifest in various forms, from elevated nostalgia marketing to a renewed focus on mindful living, and adult summer camp simply provides another avenue for that exploration. Consider, too, how frequently we navigate social situations defined by transactional interactions – meals, drinks, networking events – all geared towards a specific outcome. The article rightly points out the rarity of gatherings centered purely on play and connection, a stark contrast to the formative memories often associated with childhood summers. Related to this need for simpler connection, we recently explored Every Group Has a "Nav Friend." Who’s Yours?, highlighting how even seemingly mundane tasks like navigating a city can become opportunities for shared experience and deepened bonds.
The appeal extends beyond mere nostalgia. Adult summer camps often curate experiences designed to cultivate specific skills or interests, creating a natural environment for like-minded individuals to connect. These aren't the cookie-cutter camps of yesteryear; they’re thoughtfully designed escapes, often centered around wellness, creative pursuits, or even professional development. This curated approach aligns perfectly with the modern consumer's desire for personalized and enriching experiences. It's a direct response to the oversaturation of generic offerings and a move toward intentionality in leisure activities. Furthermore, the emphasis on building community resonates with a generation increasingly aware of the importance of social support and belonging. The curated nature of these camps also echoes the trends we've observed in fashion and beauty, as highlighted in 30 Fall Fashion and Beauty Items It Girls Are Buying Before They Sell Out – a focus on selective, high-quality pieces that reflect individual style and values. The same principle applies here: individuals are seeking curated experiences that align with their personal aspirations and foster a sense of connection.
The broader significance of this trend lies in its potential to reshape how we approach leisure and social interaction. It challenges the prevailing notion that adulthood necessitates a constant state of productivity and obligation. Instead, it champions the value of unstructured time, playful exploration, and the cultivation of genuine relationships. We are seeing a shift away from performative socializing, fueled by social media, and towards more authentic, in-person connections. This is especially poignant given the increasing awareness of the detrimental effects of social media on mental well-being. The article's success in capturing this sentiment suggests a growing desire to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with ourselves and others in a meaningful way. It’s a welcome antidote to the relentless pressures of modern life and a testament to the enduring power of shared experiences. Considering the global influence of trends originating in cities like London, it's worth noting the emerging autumnal styles, as detailed in Trust Me, I’ve Lived in London For a Decade—These Will Be the Capital's Biggest Autumn Trends, which, while focused on fashion, similarly emphasize a return to timeless elegance and intentional choices.
Ultimately, the rise of adult summer camp represents a larger cultural recalibration – a conscious effort to prioritize well-being, connection, and intentionality in a world increasingly defined by complexity and fragmentation. The question now becomes: will this trend evolve beyond a niche offering and become a mainstream form of leisure and social engagement? Or will it remain a fleeting escape for those seeking a momentary return to the simplicity and joy of childhood? The answer likely hinges on the ability of these camps to continually innovate and adapt to the evolving needs and desires of a discerning audience, ensuring that the experience remains both authentic and aspirational.
When I first learned that adult summer camps existed, I was intrigued. As we get older, social gatherings often center around meals and drinks, but less often around lighthearted play and building community. My mind instantly created scenes of my adult friends and I playing tug-of-war or doing arts and crafts. It was quickly followed up, however, with, "I'd only ever go with a group of friends."
I'm a lot pickier about who I spend my time with as an adult and admittedly a lot more reserved. As a kid, and even as a teenager, it's common to be sent off to summer camp with a bunch of kids you don't know. You're expected to go make friends and try new activities, and in retrospect, the fact that your parents sent you makes it OK.
So, while I loved the idea of tapping back into my inner child, it felt a little pathetic to search out the experience as an adult. What does it say about me that I have to seek out opportunities to meet new people and have fun?
Truth be told, most of my good friends live in other countries, and after moving to a neighboring state two years ago, some of the friends I thought I was close with quietly drifted away. The physical distance is especially hard when I want to grab brunch with a close friend and my best option is FaceTime. The emotional distance from the people I thought were my friends was torturous. I'm not afraid to say that I desperately wanted new friends — I just didn't want to give that energy off.
But an opportunity arose to spend a weekend with Camp Social, a women's-only, three-day sleepaway camp in Equinunk, PA. Founder Liv Schreiber says she started it because she realized making friends as an adult felt harder than it should, which deeply resonated with me. "I wanted to create the kind of community I wished existed: a place where showing up alone is normal and leaving with lifelong friends is expected," she says.
So, I decided to give it a try. The truth was that I was excited to spend time by a lake, playing sports, and meeting new people. Despite some internalized insecurities, I figured the worst that could happen was I'd spend a weekend reading, writing, and enjoying solo activities. Even if I didn't click with anyone, I told myself that I was going for me. Whoever I met, I wasn't going to force connection. I was just going to be open-minded.
My first experience as a camper was boarding the bus from New York to Philly. In the line, I met a woman roughly my age who flew in from the West Coast. She works with children full-time and, after overseeing summer camps, wanted to experience it herself. On the bus, I sat next to a woman who I estimated to be in her 50s. She was energetic and spoke enthusiastically about her children, her husband, and how much she loved being a hairdresser. A friend of hers had suggested coming with her, but she wanted to experience Camp Social alone. (Baller.)
A few hours later, we arrived. The camp itself was beautiful. Walking up the path from the parking lot, I saw the large main cabin overlooking the camp's private lake, with thick forest surrounding the grounds on all sides. Scattered along the sides of the lake were traditional wood cabins. I arrived at the check-in station and was given my cabin name and location. It was the furthest from the main lodge, but conveniently located next to the pool, archery station, and the lake slide. I was in The Bloom Cabin, named after the supplements brand sponsoring this year's camp. I unpacked, met some of my cabin mates, mixed one of the hydration powders into my branded canteen, and settled in.
As endearing as I was already finding the experience to be, I was admittedly still unsure about the weekend, still feeling awkward about the whole thing and not having yet clicked with anyone there.
The first real camp immersion was dinner at the main lodge. As I walked towards it, I noticed groups had already formed: I saw duos, trios, and larger groups of tens already chatting like old friends. "Were they?" I wondered, but I'd later learn that most of them didn't know each other. In fact, Schreiber says over 90 percent of campers arrive solo.
Dinner was easy. A camp-style food buffet was available and rows of long tables filled the space. I found a seat at a round table and chatted with a few people at dinner, including Kasey, a woman who mirrored my openness and sense of adventure. We planned to meet later that evening at the social gathering in the barn. By the end of dinner, pop music started blasting and all the camp counselors stood up on their chairs, dancing alongside Schreiber. They danced through the dining room, encouraging others to stand up and put their hands together. As much as I don't love forced fun, they managed to get everyone up with smiles on their faces.
The social gathering that evening consisted of a live band, people dancing, and others enjoying the small bites and drinks being passed around. (Alcohol is one thing we didn't have at camp back in the day — but one that many were elated to have now.) I met back up with Kasey and a few others, and we started chatting over s'mores. I was delighted at how easy the conversation flowed, and I connected with Gina, a woman about my age with a bubbly personality and enough energy to light up a room. As the sun went down, some stayed to drink and dance, but I ventured off to the snack bar to stock up before getting comfortable on the yard to watch "Cheaper By The Dozen."
The second day was full of activities. I'd already identified people I enjoyed spending time with, and over breakfast we made loose plans to meet up for different activities throughout the day. There was archery, kayaking, rock climbing, arts and crafts, and JABS, a cardio-sculpt class that Gina was teaching. There was also going to be an Olympic-style competition later that day that we'd all participate in. My goal: gravitate toward fun and hang out with whoever I meet there.
And that's what I did. I slid down onto the lake slide over and over again, squealing with delight each time I zoomed toward the chilly water. I did the lake obstacle course, looking like a fool doing it but loving every second. I met up with my friends from the night before, and together, we bedazzled sunglasses we'd each wear to the '60s dance party later that evening.
When it was time for the Olympics, I put on my team color, pink, and chugged my way up to the gymnasium where it was hosted. We made up cheers, did relay races, helped each other answer riddles, and when our team lost, we cheered on the other teams before celebrating with a foam party.
I was exhausted. I was elated. I was having genuine childlike fun.
Before dinner, there was another social event. Unable to find my new friends, I joined a group of women closer to my mother's age than my own. In chatting, I learned that one of them was nervous because her son had just enlisted in the Army and she had just dropped him off at basic training. My husband went through the same program before college and has been with the Army for nearly 15 years now, and loves it. I shared some of his experiences with her, mostly talking about the deep sense of pride he feels. I told her about how he's built schools and how he instructs, and how I, as someone who had never met anybody in the military before him, have come to love supporting him. Through the conversation, I saw in her face that I was able to ease some of her fears, and she gave me a big hug at the end. Despite being from different places, of different generations, and different races, we were able to make a connection sparked by a shared experience of people we love.
That moment illustrated something Schreiber had said about the camp's philosophy: "I believe one conversation with a stranger can change your entire life. Every meaningful relationship starts with two strangers, and it's easy to forget that when you're feeling lonely or stuck." Now, I don't think that conversation necessarily changed her life, but I like to think that it was what she needed at that moment.
That night, everybody got dressed up in their '60s outfits and headed back to the barn for another night of dancing. I met up with my new friends. We watched the sunset by the lake, had some fun dancing, and indulged again in as many s'mores as we could stomach.
Day three, our final day, came faster than I thought it would. At breakfast, I scrambled trying to decide what activities to do. I wanted to kayak and try archery again, but I also wanted to tie-dye, go to an astrology class, and do JABS again, which had left my full body in a delicious ache. I rushed back to my cabin to pack as quickly as possible, wanting to take full advantage of the last few hours we had left. I ended up taking the astrology class since I had befriended the astrologer that day before, and then made my way over to the Little Words Project bar to make some bracelets before starting my goodbyes.
By the end, I closed up my weekender and found myself wishing we had more time. Yes, I absolutely wanted another day to lunge myself into the lake and watch movies from the early aughts, but I also wanted a little more time with the women I had gotten to know. Day one felt like warm-up, day two was immersion, and day three came way too fast.
I loved adult summer camp. I went into it with zero expectations and came out with much more than a handful of memories. I exchanged numbers with a few of the people I befriended, including Gina who I just met up with in Florence while on vacation (she lives there!) and Kasey, who I'm meeting up with next month while she's on a business trip in New York.
When speaking with Schreiber, I asked her about her favorite thing to witness during Camp Social. Her response hit me like an arrow: "Watching women arrive a little bit nervous and leave completely transformed. By the end of the weekend, they're hugging girlfriends they met 48 hours earlier, making travel plans together, and walking away with a level of confidence they didn't arrive with. Seeing that transformation never gets old."
As a camper myself, I can say the transformation is real.
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Pia Velasco is a journalist with over a decade of editorial experience at outlets including Vogue, Good Housekeeping, and InStyle, and has also written for Allure, ELLE, Coveteur, and more.Read on the original site
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