There’s hope in the air. The Omicron variant is waning, the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl and summer will be here before we know it. While life keeps coming at us fast, it’s crucial that we take necessary breaks. Summer fun isn’t just for the kids. While you’re making summer camp plans for them, take a moment to check out our roundup of local and not-too-faraway adult camps and retreats. Yes, adults can go to camp!

Whether it’s team building you’re after, a couple’s trip or solo romp, a relaxed and rejuvenated you is a win for everyone.

Play is the theme at Camp No Counselors

Get ready to leave your cellphone in your cabin and reclaim your joy at Camp No Counselors. From Aug.18-21, you get to have fun at your own pace. 

“Play Like a Kid” is the motto at Camp No Counselors, which the founders launched in 2013 without realizing it would turn into a recurring event. That Labor Day weekend, they asked friends to join them for an escape from the stresses of adult life. Nearly 100 friends (and friends of friends) attended a sleepaway camp that lit a fire that has continued to burn. 

Located in Lake Hughes, just 1½ hours outside the Los Angeles city limits, fresh air, mountain views, nightly campfires, ropes courses and more await your arrival. If you are looking for a location to host a staff retreat or bachelorette party, Camp No Counselors is your go-to for private events, as well. With locations in California, New York and Florida, there is no excuse not to recharge at this adults-only getaway. 

Batter up at adult baseball camp

For adults still carrying a torch for the baseball diamond, check out LADABC, a privately-run adult baseball camp. You’ll learn and play the game on state-of-the-art ball fields across the country. For this year’s event, LADABC will return to Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.  The former spring training home to the Dodgers and original home to the Dodgers Fantasy Camp is now called the Jackie Robinson Training Complex and is run by Major League Baseball. Instructors at past camps have included the likes of Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, Steve Yeager and many others.

You will suit up in a major league uniform complete with personalized jersey, play in a game and dress in the locker room, just like the pros.

Registration is open now for the November camp.

Self-Discovery at Camp Powerment

Still wondering who you’ll be when you grow up? Well, head to Camp Powerment for a chance to re-discover that woman buried under work, family and other commitments.

Founded by former “Today” show TV producer Tammi Leader and run by three generations of women who help women rewrite stories and find their purpose, this camp is designed with you in mind. Since 2016, the camp has hosted more than 5,000 campers with expert-driven programs focused on fun (candlelight yoga, campfires) and games that honor the competitor in you.

Even the pandemic was no match for this team that pivoted to 10-plus monthly virtual programs. With a 55% return rate, connections made between mentors and novices learning about careers, hobbies and paths they only dreamt about is the soul of this camp.

Camp Powerment has two seasons: corporate retreats in the early part of the year and its signature West Coast Classic in Ojai and East Coast Classic in the Pocono Mountains each fall. Sweatpants are de rigueur, and scholarships are available.

Head to Black Mountain Ranch

If you are seeking a meeting with your inner child, consider visiting family owned and operated Black Mountain Ranch in Colorado. 

This dude ranch designs custom trips, honeymoons and reunions for families, adults and newlyweds. Ask the camp organizers about weeks set aside just for grownups. Adults can expect a full-service saloon (30 years old and counting), unlimited horseback riding, live music, line dancing, country swing, all-day cattle drives, pool, foosball, fire pits and more.

The idea for adults-only weeks originated when parents, who love their kids, nieces, nephews and even their neighbor’s kids, requested a much–needed vacay away from those kids. Sounds familiar, right? People come from all over to celebrate milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Whether you’re a city slicker or horse owner, the ranch has you covered. Just bring your clothes and other personal items. Reservations go fast. 

Escape further away to Camp Camp

While most adult summer retreats occur over a long weekend, Camp Camp lasts an entire week. Since 1997 (minus a two-year virtual camp), more than 200 people have flown east to Maine for a safe space to just be. Created for the LGBTQ+ community, Camp Camp draws an intergenerational crowd of adults 21 and over, ranging from 23 to 76 and has an 80% return rate, with regulars averaging annual treks for 10 years. “It’s like a family reunion,” says Kerry Riffle, second owner of one of the first adult camps in the U.S.

Activities include biking, pottery, lake swimming and daily evening social events that promote bonding. Don’t miss this year’s adult camp, happening from Aug. 21-28, 45 miles west of Portland. Transportation from the bus or train station is provided.

Nefertiti Austin is a memoirist and author of “Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender and Parenting in America.” She lives with her two children in Los Angeles.