Adult summer camps are taking off in Richmond
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Adult summer camps are having a moment in Richmond.
Why it matters: They're not just for kids anymore, especially as a loneliness epidemic has Richmonders craving something increasingly hard to find: real-world connection.
The big picture: Nationwide, organizers are packaging childhood nostalgia into a day or weekend of crafts, camp games and fitness to help people unwind and spark friendships, reports Axios Denver's Alayna Alvarez.
- And business is booming, the Economist recently reported. Yelp searches for such getaways jumped roughly 350% last year.
Driving the news: In Richmond, two are taking place this weekend — with spots still available.
🎨 Shop Made in VA is hosting its first three-day adult summer camp from Thursday to Sunday (21-plus) called "Creative Gurl Summer."
- While the full three-day passes are sold out, two-day passes are available for $173.
- They include DIY classes led by "camp counselors," such as painting a terra-cotta pot or watercoloring, and making your own margarita at Cochiloco.
- There's also free entry to the Women, Nonbinary, and Queer Night Market on Saturday.
🎾 OnSundays and Capital Run Club are teaming up for an adult summer camp at Byrd Park from 9am to noon. $15 early bird.
- It'll have tennis clinics, a cold plunge, a DJ, coffee and 5K group runs.
What they're saying: "As you get older and you become more jaded, it's easy to lose that childlike energy and outlook on life, especially during these times," OnSundays founder Samantha Chin tells Axios.
- "To bring back that nostalgia, to bring back that same energy of 'come as you are, let's have fun,' it allows people to have an outlet ... and just connect on a human level," Chin says.
The intrigue: Some camps are extending past the summer and outside Richmond.
- Hungry Mother State Park's Find Your Wild Women's Weekend, about four hours away, is Sept. 4–7 with archery, fly fishing, paddleboarding and a campfire. Deadline to sign up is Aug. 16.
- Indigo House, an adult-only bed and breakfast about 1.5 hours away in Afton, is planning a solo girls trip (timeline TBD) and had an adult summer camp last year.
Yes, but: Escaping to camp isn't cheap.
By the numbers: Find Your Wild Women's Weekend starts at $225.
- And Indigo House's four-day adult summer camp — which had camp games, backyard barbecues, movie nights under the stars and more — was $1,840 for a two-person room.
The bottom line: There might not be bunk beds, and the activities and prices may differ, but the goal is the same as when we were kids: Have fun, unplug and meet new people.