5 adult summer camps in Michigan that will leave you wanting s’more

Load your trunk with bug spray, head to the arts and crafts cabin, and relive your childhood glory days at these adult summer camps in Michigan. 

For many Michiganders, summertime sets off a wave of nostalgia for years gone by. Warm weather awakens recollections of family cottage getaways up north, waterfront adventures on the Great Lakes, and—perhaps most memorably—weeks spent at sleepaway camp. 

Whether you attended summer camp for one session as a kid or returned every year to reclaim your favorite bunk, it’s impossible to deny the magic of a week or two spent bonding with pals and trying your hand at everything from canoeing to crafting to sneaking out of your cabin at midnight. 

But who says summer camp has to remain a distant memory? Kids aren’t the only ones who deserve a fun break when the weather turns warm. If you’re ready to relive your camper glory days while connecting with new friends and old, look no further than some of Michigan’s best summer camps for adults. That’s right: Bonafide adult summer camps exist, and they’re just as wonderfully nostalgic as you might imagine. Here are a few options to consider as you solidify your summertime schedule.

1. Camp Forever Fun 

• Dates: August 22-25, 2025
• Cost: $399 per individual ticket, $1,399 for a group of four, or $3,500 for a full cabin of up to 11 campers
• Location: Bloomingdale, Mich.
• Registration: Camp Forever Fun website

If you like your summer adventures with a side of craft beer, Camp Forever Fun is the place to be. This 21+ camp is tucked away in Bloomingdale, just an hour by car from Grand Rapids and about 2.5 hours from Metro Detroit. Grown-up summer camp at Forever Fun takes place over the course of a weekend, so you don’t need to make a longer-term commitment to experience this fun-filled spot. 

Camp Forever Fun really is, well, fun: Campers can expect to eat s’mores around the campfire, try their hand at a ropes course, hang out with horses, compete in a “color war,” sleep in traditional camp bunk beds, and even head out on something called a “Moonlight Beer Hike,” which sounds pretty good to us. 

Campers cool off on a slip ‘n slide at Camp Forever Fun. (Camp Forever Fun)

2. Stratejoy Summer Camp for Women 

• Dates: August 27-31, 2025
• Cost: $1547 per camper, payment plans available
• Location: Decatur, Mich.
• Registration: Stratejoy website

There’s no denying that making friends and forming meaningful new connections as an adult can be challenging. Stratejoy Summer Camp for Women is out to change that by offering a safe and supportive space for adult women to explore the great outdoors, engage in meaningful conversation with peers, and simply take some space to breathe away from the responsibilities of everyday life. 

Described as an “interactive playground,” Stratejoy sits on a lakefront in the community of Decatur and offers just about everything that makes summer camp such a blast: archery, dance parties, camp songs, and more—with grown-up twists like meditation sessions, cocktail hours, and vulnerable chats about parenthood and more.

Campers celebrate another vibrant and fun-filled day at Camp Stratejoy in Decatur. (Camp Stratejoy)

3. Camp Cavell

• Dates: May 30-June 1 (Mom & Me Retreat), May 23-26 and August 29-Sept. 1 (Friends & Family Weekends), Sept. 18-21 (Women’s Getaway)
• Cost: Cost varies based on program, see the Camp Cavell website for registration details
• Location: Lexington, Mich.
• Registration: Camp Cavell website

Nature fanatics, this is the adult sleepaway camp option for you. Lexington-based Camp Cavell Conservancy boasts 55 marvelous acres of outdoor space along the shores of Lake Huron, complete with some of the most stunning sunrises in the whole Great Lakes State. While there’s a traditional summer camp for children offered here, adult retreats are available throughout the year. 

Come September, a Women’s Getaway camp offers participants the chance to take part in crafting, prioritize self-care, head out for a day of kayaking, and—of course—cozy up around a bonfire. Family camps offer another unique option for grown-ups and younger campers alike, with a Mom & Me Retreat offered in late May and Friends & Family sessions during Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. 

If that weren’t enough, Camp Cavell has a new program in the works for campers over 50. Stay tuned to their social media for details. 

Campers line up for a ropes course adventure during a Camp Cavell event for grown-ups. (Facebook/Camp Cavell)

4. Camp Chickagami

• Dates: August 15-17 (Gentle Yoga Retreat), August 30-Sept. 1 (Young Adult Retreat)
• Cost: Tiered pricing begins at $300 for the Gentle Yoga Retreat and $50 for the Young Adult Retreat.
• Location: Presque Isle, Mich.
• Register: Camp Chickagami website

For Michiganders looking to explore their spiritual side, Camp Chickagami—known fondly as “Camp Chick”—offers a peaceful and fun adult summer camp experience amid the breathtaking natural beauty of Presque Isle. 

While the camp is owned and operated by the Episcopalian Diocese of the Great Lakes, you certainly don’t have to be a constant church-goer to enjoy your adventure here. Camp Chick prides itself on offering a “brave space for all campers,” regardless of religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, and more. 

This summer, choose from two rejuvenating adult camp sessions: a Gentle Yoga Retreat in mid-August and a Young Adult Retreat at the end of August that focuses on campers aged 18-35. You’ll take part in discussions about spiritual growth and community-building, yes, but you’ll also have the chance to enjoy classic camp activities like fishing, swimming, crafting, and more (or should we say s’more?).

Aspiring yogis of all abilities are welcome to sign up for Camp Chick’s retreats.

5. Tamarack Adventure and Retreat Center

• Dates: Personalized based on group needs, but available year-round
• Cost: Varies by group. Contact Tamarack for a more detailed quote. 
• Location: Ortonville, Mich.
• Registration: Tamarack Adventure and Retreat Center website

Want to enjoy the grown-up summer camp experience with a group of friends, colleagues, or loved ones? Tamarack Adventure & Retreat Center in Ortonville specializes in crafting team-building and trust-enhancing sessions for adults in a traditional camp setting. 

Visitors can customize their programs based on group size, length of stay, and activities—you might opt to play games on Lake Phipps with canoe and kayaking sessions, tackle a 40-foot climbing structure known as “Tango Tower,” or simply connect over conversation amid Tamarack’s 1,100 acres of wooded wonder. Enjoy meals in the dining hall, check out the on-site nature center, and leave room for snacks around the campfire before retiring to your bunk. 

Rodecker Beach is just one of the beautiful outdoor spaces you’ll explore during a summer camp excursion at Tamarack Adventure and Retreat Center. (Camp Tamarack)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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