Outdoors
Read More ›
My Weekend of ‘Woo’ at Adult Summer Camp
The awkward and inspirational moments from Camp Souldust.
Along with about 60 co-ed adults ready for a grown-ups-only experience, I stole away in late April from the city’s hustle and headed to Camp Colman (on the Key Peninsula, not too far from Olympia) for three days and nights of wilderness, respite and self-improvement with Souldust, an organization that offers adult camps, workshops and retreats.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from an “adult” summer camp, which are gaining popularity in Washington and beyond. Would I like the activities and, more importantly, the people I was stuck with for the weekend? Even scarier, would they like me?
The first night’s icebreakers—dancing and creating secret handshakes with strangers—left me feeling all kinds of awkward, but I held out. By day two, we all began to unwind as we forest-bathed—that’s mindful hiking, and yes, you’re fully clothed—and roasted s’mores. In the glow of the campfire, the Seattle Freeze began to melt away. The intimate spirit of the camp was palpable, and by day three, I was gulping the Kool-Aid. There was indeed magic in the woods!
Strangers excitedly greeted each other with Labrador levels of blissful abandon as we reveled in shared vulnerabilities and the emotional strength we witnessed in one another—especially after taking the (optional!) polar bear dip in the lake via a red plastic water slide. During the trip’s closing campfire, attendees of different generations (from 19-year-olds to boomers) shared their talents and stories of transformation. We laughed, we cried, we had an impromptu dance party.
If you’re thinking “that sounds a little too ‘woo’ for me,” I’ll be honest: It is a little woo. It can get a lot of woo if you want it to (the astrology and crystal bowl singing workshops, for instance, which I heard were incredible). But the great thing about grown-up summer camp is that you’re, you know, a grown-up. It’s up to you to decide how to spend your time (archery, kayaking and a climbing wall were available, but I opted for mindfulness, Zen and intimacy-based workshops).
If you’re willing to wander a little outside your comfort zone, Camp Souldust is a profoundly inspiring and supportive place to get your inner peace and community connection on.
Check out our guide to more Washington adult summer camps here.
Follow Us
The Northwest’s Gateway to Wine, Culture & Adventure
Escape the crowds. Slow down. Savor fall in the Lewis Clark Valley. As autumn paints the hillsides in gold, crimson, and amber, the Lewis Clark Valley becomes a picture-perfect place to slow down and savor the season. Where Washington and Idaho meet, fall brings crisp days, colorful landscapes, harvest among the vines, and plenty of…
Meet West Seattle’s “Freelance Beaver Detective”
A group of urban beavers helped Pamela Adams through a tough time. Now she’s returning the favor.
Pamela Adams was living in Port Townsend when her marriage fell apart. Little did she know at the time that she would soon find love again while doggedly pursuing the Five Families—not the ones of Mafia lore, but a four-legged sort living along the Longfellow Creek Watershed. Prior to moving to Washington, Adams resided in…
A Wellness Pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula
Two hours from Seattle, a new kind of luxury is taking root—one built on stillness, old-growth forests, and the subtle art of slowing down.
There is a school of thought among the overworked and overscheduled that the most subversive thing a person can do is stop. Put down the phone, close the laptop, and go somewhere that actively resists attempts to stay plugged in. The Olympic Peninsula has always offered this, in its blunt, mossy way. For some city…
Seabrook Is a Little Coastal Utopia
This walkable beach town gives families room to roam, relax, and leave the car parked.
There’s nothing quite like finding an edible mushroom in the forest with a five-year-old. The excitement and pride my son displayed when we found chicken of the woods were contagious, and after battering and frying the mushrooms, our wonderful day got even better. The dark, wet forests in which our mushrooms grew are part of…