Staying Fit
Why should kids have all the summer-camp adventures? These 10 camps are just right for adults who want to learn new skills or enjoy the outdoors (or do both) with other fun-loving grownups. Sign up early to secure your spot, or if your favorite is sold out, start planning for next year now.
Singing camps
Campers can learn how to sing or brush up their skills at the North American Jewish Choral Festival in Tarrytown, New York.
Courtesy North American Jewish Choral Festival
Each summer in late July, a group of about 60 singers and songwriters age 18 and up come together for SummerSongs, a weeklong retreat at the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut, about three hours from New York City. Led by a faculty of nationally known songwriters and touring musicians, the camp allows music lovers to immerse themselves in songwriting, singing and performance. Price: $1,499, including lodging and food. There is a waiting list for this year’s retreat, but a commuter option for $1,000 is available for those with their own accommodations, including all classes, activities and meals.
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The 2024 North American Jewish Choral Festival travels to Tarrytown, New York, for five days of singing, workshopping and community. Hundreds of voices will come together in July, led by a staff of conductors and other music experts. Workshops and seminars focus on a range of skills such as vocal technique and reading music. This year’s festival features a boot camp for beginning choral singers and those wanting to brush up on their skills. Price: $1,295 including three glatt kosher meals a day. Accommodations are separate; rates for the Sleepy Hollow Hotel start at $169.
Outdoorsy camp
Adults over 50 years old are welcome at Camp Chief Ouray near Granby, Colorado.
Camp Chief Ouray
Adults over 50 who are looking to relive their childhoods, or perhaps experience an old-style summer camp for the first time, can attend the five-day Active Adults Camp in late August at Camp Chief Ouray. The 5,150-acre YMCA camp with mountains, valleys, streams and meadows is near Granby, Colorado, near Rocky Mountain National Park and about 90 minutes northwest of Denver. The fun includes activities such as hiking, rafting, zip-lining, horseback riding, archery, canoeing, fishing, dancing, woodcarving, arts and crafts, and much more. Price: Fees are $345 for campers ages 50 to 64, and $325 for 65 and older. You stay in double rooms with full bathrooms in one of the Snow Mountain Ranch lodges. (If you don’t have a roommate, you’ll be assigned one, or you can choose a private room for an additional $175.) There is a waiting list for this year’s camp; registration for the 2025 Active Adults Camp will open in spring 2025.
Are you a sports and fitness buff? Consider signing up for ESCAPE camp in Massachusetts to participate in a wide range of activities.
Sandy Morgan
If you’re into sports and fitness, look no further than ESCAPE Camp on the Amherst College campus in Massachusetts. The one-week camp in June is designed for active campers in their mid-50s through early 80s, but all ages are welcome. Guests can spend days swimming, hiking, playing tennis and pickleball, and practicing yoga, with plenty of time to relax in between. You can also take a fitness assessment and learn tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle at home. Price: The all-inclusive camp is $1,450 per camper, including accommodations, meals and activities. A day rate of $165 per day, including lunch and activities, is also available.
