I went to summer camp when I was a kid. I couldn’t wait each year to return to the beautiful island where all my friends were waiting for me. We would stay up nights watching the stars, and spend our days swimming and making bracelets. It was some of the happiest days of my childhood.
This summer, a unique retreat in British Columbia is once again inviting adults to trade notifications and deadlines for campfires, friendship bracelets, and games of capture the flag.
Called Camp Rewind 2026, the all-inclusive summer camp experience is designed for adult women and non-binary people seeking a return to the carefree feeling of childhood summers, with a modern focus on community, creativity, and connection.
After launching its first season last summer, Camp Rewind is returning to Blue Lake Camp near Canal Flats in the East Kootenays. The secluded retreat is set in a forested valley overlooking the private waters of Blue Lake.
Organizers describe the experience as equal parts nostalgic getaway and social reset. Campers can spend their days making friendship bracelets, trying beadwork, practicing yoga, or tie-dyeing shirts before heading to evening events like a hoedown line-dancing party or talent show. Traditional camp games including hide-and-seek, bocce ball, and capture the flag are also part of the lineup, alongside beach and water activities.
Accommodation options range from shared rustic cabins to private lodge rooms. Shared cabins, complete with bunk beds and no electricity, are intended to recreate the classic summer camp experience, while semi-private and private lodge rooms offer additional comfort for guests seeking more privacy.
For many adults, especially those navigating remote work, major life transitions, or increasingly online social lives, opportunities to form new friendships can be limited. Retreat-style camps create an environment where connection happens more naturally through shared experiences and communal living.
Still, I find myself wondering what the growing popularity of adult summer camps says about us. Are we simply nostalgic for childhood, or are we struggling to create meaningful connection in our everyday lives? As children, summer camp existed because we lacked independence and community-building opportunities of our own. As adults, it feels worth asking why so many of us now need organized retreats to rediscover play, friendship, and belonging.
And yet, perhaps that question is exactly why experiences like Camp Rewind resonate so strongly. In a time when loneliness and burnout feel increasingly common, creating intentional spaces for joy and connection, even temporary ones, carries real value. Contrived or not, there is something undeniably appealing about a few days spent offline, outdoors, and surrounded by people looking for the same sense of community.
Camp Rewind 2026 will be held at Blue Lake Camp near Canal Flats, with accommodations starting at $550 per person. Check out their website, CampRewind.com or go check them out on social media. If you are someone looking for a new adventure or a bit of fun this summer, adult summer camp might be for you.
