Adult Summer Camp Exists And Here Are 12 Reasons You Need To Go

That was the dream. Not only did you get to escape parents (AND SIBLINGS) for two weeks in the summer, you got to hang out with your friends all day and sleep in bunk beds. I remember summer camp as two weeks of complete freedom—I could make endless evil eyes with popsicles sticks and string and spend all my snack shop money on sour gummy worms. That's just about as good as it gets when you're a kid. 

Now that I'm a "sophisticated" adult, I'd rather spend my week of camp freedom napping, perfecting my pizza dough recipe or spending all my snack shop money on bottles of wine. Since the world is truly an amazing place, camps that cater to my adult desires actually exist. Get pumped and make your reservations quickly because these summertime retreats fill up fast, for extremely obvious reasons (AKA they're insanely awesome).

Camp Throwback gets it. When you're in the middle of Ohio, you're going to want to get sloshed around a campfire, then eat wonderfully greasy hash browns and pancakes the next morning. Hungover yoga will make you feel that much better about the latter. Plus, at Camp Throwback girls and boys sleep in separate cabins and there's not-so-sober archery. Lots and lots of memories to be made here.

At Camp Grounded, there's no time for networking or answering emails. Instead, you're busy making candles, learning to slackline, getting henna tattoos and making flower crowns. Camp Grounded recreates all the best parts of summer camp as a kid and combines them with gourmet meals and paddle boarding. And since there's no alcohol or drugs to be had, you'll actually hold onto all the memories you make. 

At Camp No Counselors they challenge you to "Play like a kid, Party like a grownup"—which is pretty easy, if you're making friendship bracelets by day and throwing boozy open bar theme parties by night. If you can think of a better summer weekend, let me know. 

At Culinary Institute of America's Culinary Camp, you'll come home from camp with a host of cooking, baking and wine selection skills. With locations in California, New York and Texas, you can up your food game in 2, 3, 4 or 5-day boot camps. 

At Wine Camp, there's really only one goal for your camp experience: try as much wine as you can while touring Long Island's most fabulous vineyards. 

When you were a kid, it was easy to quickly bond over your Power Rangers lunchbox, but that only gets you so far as an adult. At Camp Bonfire, it's all about forging new friendships while making terrariums or roasting marshmallows. Bring your stationary because pen pals will be made. 

That's right, at Zombie Survival Camp you'll learn how to build your own shelter and wield self-defense weapons, including crossbows and firearms. Plus, you can learn to perfect your night vision—a very practical skill.

Club Getaway wants you to escape summer-camp-style without the grimy bunk life. They take gourmet meals to the next level and have all the trendiest activities. Oh yeah, they also host a weekend dinner party, complete with a beer garden. 

What kid didn't want to go to space camp? And TBH all the high-tech gadgets, no-gravity activities and launch simulators are still just as enthralling to me as an adult. If that gets your rockets firing, check out the Adult Space Academy that packs in a weekend of educational fun and tops it off with a graduation ceremony. 

Yep, channel your inner Ron Swanson for a week-long intensive boat building camp where you'll leave with your very own handcrafted kayak. Splinters to be expected. 

Kumbaya is basically the theme song at Soul Camp where the focus is on yourself and what you need. With fear burning ceremonies, lots of yoga and meditation and inspirational presentations, you're sure to have a week of soulful exploration.

As an adult, you don't have parents fretting over your safety if you jet off to India to study printmaking or to Sweden for a food styling workshop. Ace Camp adventures are both extravagant and life changing.