Summer camp was a childhood staple for many baby boomers, one that included days spent swimming in the lake and evenings singing around a campfire. While boomers may think those happy times are in the past, some camps have crafted programs that let older adults relive the experience.
[See: 10 Alternatives to Full-Time Retirement.]
If you want to return to your childhood this summer, here are a few of the camps that can make it happen, along with tips to ensure your experience is memorable.
3 Summer Camps for Seniors
Just as summer camps for kids can specialize, so too can those for adults. They may be focused on the arts, outdoor activities or teaching a particular skill, such as cooking. Some cater exclusively to older, active adults while others welcome seniors to join with younger campers for a week or weekend of fun.
Sacramento Senior Summer Camps. Run by the City of Sacramento in California’s Eldorado National Forest, these summer camps come in two flavors. One weekend, Grand Camp, is designed for seniors who want to camp with their grandchildren while a second weekend is focused on the arts.
“It’s a low-cost way for people to spend time with grandchildren in a fun setting,” says Rosanne Bernardy, superintendent of older adult services for the City of Sacramento, about Grand Camp. The Arts in the Sierras weekend features a wine and cheese social and a variety of art workshops.
Camp Sacramento is a historic site that has been welcoming visitors for 95 years. “It often serves as a place for friends to meet up,” Bernardy says. While most campers are in their 50s and 60s, Bernardy says people into their 90s have attended as well.
Camp Chief Ouray. Run by the YMCA of the Rockies, Camp Chief Ouray offers weekends specifically for “kids age 50 and up.” Active adults can choose from a variety of daily activities including archery, arts and crafts, dancing, fishing and day hikes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Evenings include theme nights, square dancing and vespers among other things.
“It’s a pared-down version of traditional camp,” says Mike Ohl, executive director of Camp Chief Ouray. Lodging is one difference between the older adult camps and other camp programs offered by the YMCA of the Rockies. Rather than roughing it, senior campers are housed at the Snow Mountain Ranch, which offers more modern amenities.
Like at Camp Sacramento, many senior campers choose to make Camp Chief Ouray an annual getaway. “It’s amazing to see the people who come back year after year,” Ohl says. He adds that the oldest registered camper is in her early 80s and has been attending camp for 29 years.
Camp Grounded. Unlike other camp options for seniors, Camp Grounded isn’t exclusively for older adults. Instead, adults of any age can attend. The catch is no one, in theory, should know who is 40-something and who is 50-something.
“One of our main rules of camp is that we don’t share how old we are,” says camp director Brady Gill. Campers also must surrender their phones and electronic devices upon entering the camp and cannot discuss their occupation either. The idea is that without distractions and preconceived notions of who other campers are, people can focus simply on having fun.
Camp Grounded has had people as young as 19 and as old as 75 attend weekend camps at locations in North Carolina, California, Texas and New York. “It’s a throwback to summer camp in full,” Ohl says. However, interspersed with traditional activities like hikes and archery are options like ballroom dancing and tai chi.
[See: 12 Great Things About Retirement.]
Tips to Make Senior Summer Camp a Success
A positive experience at summer camp starts with careful planning. Seniors should speak to their physician first to ensure they are medically able to participate in summer camp activities. Some camps, such as Camp Sacramento and Camp Chief Ouray, are located at high altitudes that may not be appropriate for everyone.
Once cleared for camp, seniors should consider whether they want to spend their time only with older adults or an all-ages group. Camps specifically for those age 50 or older may offer a slower, more comfortable pace, but Ohl says some seniors enjoy the energy of an all-ages environment. Plus, an all-ages camp can allow seniors to attend with adult children or grandchildren.
Beyond that, seniors should prepare for camp just as anyone else would. Follow the packing list provided by the camp, and be ready to rough it at some level. You may be sleeping in cabins without electricity or indoor plumbing.
[See: The 10 Most Visited National Parks.]
While summer camp is not for everyone, camp directors say people who are intrigued by the idea should give it a try. “We rarely have anyone who’s disappointed,” Bernardy says.
More from U.S. News
50 Affordable Places to Buy a Retirement Home in 2016
10 Affordable Places to Retire Overseas in 2016
How Much You Need to Buy a Retirement Home in 10 Cities
How to Go to Summer Camp in Retirement originally appeared on usnews.com
