Too many people
believe that being a grown-up means foregoing fun things. You have to go to
work and pay bills, and that means you don’t have time or energy for exciting
or new experiences, right?

The truth is, all the fun things you did as a kid can be even
more fun when you are an adult, and the best evidence for this is summer camp.
Believe it or not, you have an array of options for learning, exploring and
having fun with fellow campers, just as you did so many summers ago. Here are
some of the most enriching options for adult summer camps across the U.S.

Space Camp

It’s never too late to start training to be an astronaut. In
fact, NASA expects that most future teams aboard the ISS and shuttle missions
will comprise a mixture of civilians and military personnel. As long as you are
in good shape and have the right knowledge base, you could have a shot at
making it into space in your lifetime. Even if you don’t have cosmic aspirations,
you might have a passion for the stars that you can slake from the comfort of
terra firma.

Fortunately, NASA offers a space
camp exclusively for adults, to give you the feel for the astronaut
lifestyle and/or teach you about the wonders of space. This two-night camp
experience in Huntsville, Alabama allows you to live in the Space Academy
Habitats, where real astronauts live and train. The cost is steep, at nearly
$550 per person, but becoming an astronaut will never be free.

Golf Camp

Then again, if you want to perfect a skill that you can
utilize in your current life, you might consider enrolling in a camp that will
improve your golf swing. There are several golf camps to consider, from one- or
two-day events that give you quick tips and tricks for a better game to much
longer camp stays that put you in touch with celebrity golfers and trainers as
well as custom clubs, detailed swing analysis and more.

Even better, I found golf camps near
me that fit my family’s summer schedule, so I could adjust my swing while
my kids were away on their own camp adventure. Ultimately, golf camp is an
affordable way to make major strides in your golf game and enjoy a summer
treat.

Yoga Camp

For kids, summer camp is a way to relax — it lets them get
out all the energy and excitement they are forced to keep in throughout the
school year. Adults can relax at camp too, especially if they seek out a yoga
camp in a tranquil and serene environment. There are countless yoga camps to
choose from, but some of the best include:

• House of Voga:
  a funky yoga retreat in the mountains of Morocco that features surfing and
  dancing in addition to yoga.
• The Reset Button: a luxurious yoga camp
  that includes access to a nutritionist, a mindfulness coach and a masseuse.
• Yogarosa: a yoga camp in Ibiza, Spain that
  focuses on healing, self-care and self-love.
• Firelight Camps: a yoga retreat in
  Upstate New York that really leans into the summer camp vibes.

Relationship Camp

Summer camp does more than teach kids how to tie knots and follow
hiking trails; it also teaches them to form strong friendships with others, to
value their own unique talents and to appreciate the beauty of the world around
them. All of these are skills that adults seem to lose as they age.

Though any summer camp might improve your relationships with
yourself, your loved ones and your community, there are camps that are built to
do just that. Take, for example, Connection
Camp in New Jersey, which is a three-day experience with more than 40
workshops intended to strengthen your connections. Again, the price per person
is high at $635, but the altered worldview should make it worthwhile.

Grilling Camp

One of the best summer activities is having people over for
a good, old-fashioned grill-out. Yet, if your grill skills aren’t up to snuff,
you might need to enroll in Meat Camp,
an adults-only summer camp located on Belcampo Farms in Northern California.
During this three-day, meat-filled extravaganza, you’ll live in luxury safari
tends and sleep, breathe and (most importantly) eat grilled meats. You will
learn how to butcher and cut different kinds of meats, how to use and maintain
your grill and how to serve the best grilled foods imaginable.

It doesn’t matter what you loved most about camp — you can
find it in an adults-only experience. Book your tickets for next summer soon,
so you can look forward to your next adventure throughout the coming months.