Summer camp – marked by nostalgic campfires, quirky crafts, mosquito bites, and water filled activities — is no longer just for kids.
Across the city and Ontario, adult summer camps are growing in popularity, offering a naturally-inspired option for local adventurers looking to explore their own backyard.
From stargazing and drumming to canoe tripping and talent shows, these all-inclusive camps are inviting adults to put their phones, schedules, and worries away as they experiment, learn new skills, unwind, and reconnect with nature, along with one another.
“Everybody needs a break. And, you know, people sometimes don’t realize that they need it, and they don’t realize how powerful and how needed it is, until they actually do a weekend like this,” Leslie Hartsman, senior director of Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park, told Now Toronto on Monday.
Hartsman says adult summer camps, like Tamakwa, offer curated opportunities for adults to unplug and live a simple and unplugged life. But for many adults, the appeal of summer camp lies in the opportunity to step back and take space from the demands and pressures of daily life, while exploring more affordable options beyond the cottage.
“To rent a cottage in Muskoka, it’s, you know, $5,000 to $10,000 a week where you come here, we cook for you, we provide the activities. Six hundred (dollars) for three days, two nights is pretty inexpensive considering the experience that you get. And I think that more because people started doing it, more people want to do it,” Hartsman said.
While away from doomscrolling and hustle culture, campers also have the opportunity to foster community, a sense of personal growth, and experience the freshness of the very first day of camp.
“We get a lot of alumni, but we also get a lot of people who have never been to camp as well, and they always say, you know, ‘I wish I had the opportunity when I was a kid to do that, but it just wasn’t in the cards,’” Hartsman said.
As some adult camps lean more creative, others, like Two Islands Weekend, are combining nature and sponsorship to provide campers with a unique and connective outdoor experience.
“We bring in chefs from southern Ontario to prepare our dinners. We bring in all kinds of food and beverage sponsors, including alcohol and all kinds of programs,” Natalie Goldfinger, partner at Two Islands Weekend, told Now Toronto on Monday.
The uniqueness of the camp, along with its 12-year success, comes from its network of local companies who prepare an all-inclusive experience made perfect for the eager-to-unplug adult camper, according to Goldfinger.
“I think it’s a chance for people to sort of unplug and unwind and relax. Like I said, we like to plan everything, so they have zero responsibility. From the second they arrive until they leave,” Goldfinger said.
Beyond sponsorship and a fun list of summertime activities, including archery, high ropes, tag, and drinking games, Goldfinger says adult camps give space to adults looking to “take a leap of faith” and step outside of their comfort zones, all while nurturing and feeding their inner child.
“There’s like 40-plus activities which you can sort of participate in or not. I think another benefit can work both ways as it’s a chance to try something new for people who have never sort of been to camp or in the other aspect, it’s a chance for people to recreate a childhood memory that they had long ago. It brings in that benefit of nostalgia, and your inner child and joy.”
Meanwhile, Camp Tamakwa will be hosting an all-inclusive “Not for Kids Only” summer camp from Sept. 5 and 7. The camp will be filled with a lengthy list of reminiscent activities, including zip lining, pickle ball, kayaking, and pottery.
Tamakwa also offers a secondary all-inclusive “Northern Lights Comedy” adult summer camp from Sept.12 to 14, where attendees can enjoy nature and laughter alongside 10 local comedians, all while learning to make others laugh.
“It’s just like a chance to once again come up and enjoy the wilderness. But the idea is that there’s some comedy going on, but also, they have the opportunity to learn how to be a comedian, or learn how to get up on stage and do something in front of people,” according to Hartsman.
Meanwhile, Two Islands Weekend will host its all-inclusive, 12th edition adult camp from Sept. 5 to 7, featuring lip sync battles, talent shows, flowing beer, wine and spirits, and tasty camp-inspired meals crafted by A-list chefs.
But despite succulent menus and endless activities, Goldfinger says the greatest benefit of adult camps, and the common thread, is the ability to meet new people face-to-face, and truly connect.
“I feel like we’re sort of in a world where, social media and being on the computer or on your phone is sort of at the forefront, and this gives you a chance to sort of have a real-life connection in person and just be offline, right? The day-to-day life with work is so busy, so it’s a chance to sort of be offline and have real life human connection.”
