AARP Hearing Center
Why should kids have all the summer camp adventures? If you grew up going to summer camp, chances are you have fond memories of your experiences. Or maybe you always wanted to go to summer camp but never had the chance. The good news: It’s not too late to go to camp! And there’s no time like this summer to reconnect with your inner child. You would be among the 21 percent of travelers 50-plus who identify going on an adventure as a top motivation for travel, according to the AARP 2026 Travel Trends survey. But what kind of camp should you go to? When it comes time to choose the summer camp right for you, Dr. Deborah Kado, codirector of the Stanford Center on Longevity and chief of research for the geriatrics section in the department of medicine, says that reengaging in an activity you loved as a kid or trying a new one are both great options.
She also notes that intergenerational camps have their benefits. “A camp that is open to a broader range of ages at different stages of life would be optimal, as it fosters development of intergenerational relationships,” Kado says. “Multiple studies demonstrate that both younger and older groups benefit from each other.”
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.
The North American Jewish Choral Festival is five days of singing, workshopping and community in Stamford, Connecticut.
Jennifer Weisbord
Singing camps
Each summer in late July, dozens of singers and songwriters age 18 and up come together for SummerSongs, a weeklong retreat at the Stony Point Center in Stony Point, New York, about an hour 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. Campers can expect song circles and spontaneous performances, too. Price: $1,549, including lodging, food and all classes and programming.
The 2026 North American Jewish Choral Festival travels to Stamford, Connecticut, for five days of singing, workshopping and community. Hundreds of voices will come together in early August, 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 theme ties into the 250th anniversary of America: Celebrating American Jewish Music. Price: $1,295, including three glatt kosher meals a day. Accommodations are separate; rates for the DoubleTree by Hilton Stamford start at $172.
Adults over 50 are welcome at Camp Chief Ouray in Granby, Colorado.
Camp Chief Ouray
Outdoorsy camp
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 more than 5,100-acre YMCA camp, with mountains, valleys, streams and meadows, is in Granby, Colorado, near Rocky Mountain National Park and about 90 miles northwest of Denver. The fun includes activities such as hiking, zip-lining, archery, tubing, dancing, hatchet throwing, mountain biking, an aerial course, arts and crafts, stargazing and much more. Price: $400 for campers ages 50 to 64, and $380 for adults 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 $200.) Registration for the 2026 Active Adults Camp opens April 1, 2026.
