Why You Need to Attend Adult Summer Camp
(And Why Camp Lola Whiskey Should Be Your First Stop)
Remember when summer camp was the highlight of your year? When you'd count down the days until you could escape your regular life, make questionable friendship bracelets, and stay up way too late eating contraband snacks?
Yeah, me too.
And here's the thing: who decided that magic had to end just because we got jobs and mortgages?
Spoiler alert: it doesn't.
Community, friendship, and a bottle of Berens brandy. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
What Even Is Adult Summer Camp?
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat—adult summer camp isn't some corporate team-building nightmare where you're forced to do trust falls with Karen from accounting. It's also not a wellness retreat where someone's going to make you journal about your chakras at 6am (unless that's your thing, no judgment).
Adult summer camp is basically everything you loved about being a kid, minus the homesickness and bad cafeteria food.
Think outdoor adventures, creative activities, new friends, and the kind of unstructured fun that makes you remember why life is actually pretty great sometimes.
At Camp Lola Whiskey specifically, we're talking time on the water, hiking, bonfires, arts and crafts (yes, really), live music, ridiculous games, and more laughter than you've probably had in the past six months combined. All set in the gorgeous forests of Wisconsin, where the biggest decision you'll make all weekend is whether to grab another s'more or switch to the bottomless cocktails we have ready for you.
Decor is key for setting that camp vibe. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
The Real Reasons You Need This In Your Life
You're Probably Exhausted (And Not in a Good Way)
Let's be real—you're tired. Not "I need a nap" tired, but that bone-deep exhaustion that comes from being constantly "on." Between work emails at 10pm, family obligations, trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, and doom-scrolling through Instagram comparing your life to everyone else's highlight reel, you're running on fumes.
Adult summer camp forces you to actually disconnect.
Like, for real. No spreadsheets. No meetings that could have been emails. No performance reviews or quarterly goals or any of that other stuff that makes your eye twitch.
Camper and counselor intros. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
Making Friends as an Adult Is Ridiculously Hard
Here's something nobody tells you about adulting: making new friends gets exponentially harder with every year that passes. When was the last time you actually made a new friend? And I don't mean someone you follow on social media and occasionally like their posts—I mean a real human you actually hang out with in person.
The beauty of adult summer camp is that everyone's there for the same reason: to have fun and meet people who also think sitting in a cabin in the woods with a bunch of strangers sounds like a good time. That shared experience creates an instant bond that's hard to replicate in the "real world."
At Camp Lola Whiskey this past summer, I watched a bunch of people who'd never met before turn into a tight-knit crew within about three hours. By the end of the weekend, they were exchanging numbers, planning future trips together, and ugly-crying during our closing toast. (Yes, there was a closing toast. Yes, it was emotional. Yes, we all survived.)
Musical chairs—one of the most competitive events of Camp Lola Whiskey World Games. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
Your Inner Child Is Screaming For Attention
When was the last time you did something just because it sounded fun? Not because it was good for your career or your health or your social media presence, but just because the idea of it made you smile?
Adult summer camp gives you permission to be goofy again. To try new things without worrying about being good at them. To sing camp songs without irony. To make friendship bracelets or paint rocks or compete in ridiculous relay races and actually care about winning.
There's something incredibly freeing about stepping back into that childhood mindset where play is the whole point. No productivity metrics. No optimization. Just pure, unfiltered fun.
Flip Cup at Camp Lola Whiskey World Games. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
The World Is A Lot Right Now
I don't need to tell you that things feel...heavy. Between political chaos, climate anxiety, economic uncertainty, and whatever fresh hell the news is serving up today, it's a lot. Sometimes you need to just step away from all of it and remember that life can also be joyful and simple and good.
Spending a weekend in the woods with a bunch of people who are equally fed up with adulting is surprisingly therapeutic. You'll laugh until your face hurts, sleep like you haven't slept in years, and return home with this weird sense of hope that maybe everything's going to be okay.
The sign that greeted everyone as they drove up to camp. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
What Makes Camp Lola Whiskey Different
Look, I know I'm biased because I literally created this summer camp from the ground up.
BUT I also didn't create Camp Lola Whiskey just to check another box or jump on some trend. I started it because after years of leading international group trips, I realized that the magic of bringing strangers together in beautiful places doesn't have to happen on the other side of the world.
Camp Lola Whiskey is everything I love about my international trips—the community, the adventure, the meaningful connections—but condensed into one weekend in Wisconsin. It's for people who love my group travel philosophy but maybe can't take two weeks off to go to Morocco right now. Or for people who've been on my trips and want to see their travel friends again without getting on a plane.
We keep the group small (this year was around 30 people), so it never feels overwhelming or like you're herded around with a giant tour group, but also big enough that you can jive with all kinds of people. The vibe is intentionally laid-back—there's structure, but also plenty of freedom to do your own thing if you need some solo time.
And yes, there's wine. Obviously.
Morning yoga. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
What You'll Actually Do At Camp Lola Whiskey
Here's the thing about our schedule: it exists, but it's also flexible. This isn't military camp. If you want to skip an activity and take a nap in a hammock instead, literally no one will judge you.
That said, here's what we've got planned for 2026:
Outdoor Adventures: Kayaking on the lake, hiking through the woods, swimming, paddleboarding if you're feeling ambitious, and probably some impromptu wildlife spotting.
Creative Activities: Arts and crafts that are actually a good time (tie-dye, anyone?), painting, bracelet-making, and whatever other craft project I get obsessed with between now and next summer.
Live Music: Local musicians who actually know how to play instruments and won't make you want to flee to your cabin.
Bonfires: Multiple nights of sitting around the fire, roasting s'mores, telling stories, and laughing at terrible jokes until way too late.
Camp Lola Whiskey World Games: Relay races, blind taste testing, trivia, and other ridiculous games that will make you feel like you're 12 again in the best way possible.
Meals Together: Because food tastes better when you're eating it with a bunch of new friends who are equally obsessed with the s'mores bar.
Optional Wellness Activities: Morning yoga, meditation, or just sitting by the lake with your coffee and not talking to anyone because sometimes that's the self-care you need.
Who Helps Us Make This Possible
Besides our insanely awesome campers, none of this magic would be possible without our incredible Wisconsin sponsors—making Camp Lola Whiskey the ultimate local experience:
Berens Old Fashioned Brandy - Because what's more Wisconsin than brandy Old Fashioneds at cocktail hour?
Delta Beer Lab - Crisp IPAs that disappeared from our coolers faster than we could restock them
Bebly - Wine dispensers that make everything elevated
Tiger Trail Lefse Chip Company - Scandinavian snacking perfection that had everyone asking "where can I buy these?"
Olympia Granola - Trail-worthy bars that are now permanently in our adventure packs
Siren Shrub Co. - Turned our drink game from good to "how did they DO that?"
Driftless Glen Distillery - Local spirits that taste like Wisconsin in a bottle
Wisco Clothing - Northwoods apparel so cute it started a fashion trend at camp
45th Parallel Distillery - New Richmond spirits that had campers planning road trips
Lux Coffee Co. - The only reason anyone was functional before 9am
Hello Batch - THC goodies that made prize winners very, very happy
Chip Magnet - Eau Claire salsa that proved local really is better
Third Space Brewing - THC seltzers that vanished like magic (literally, gone in hours)
Giltee - Camp merch so adorable everyone became a walking advertisement
Orange Tractor Retreat - Our home base that made "roughing it" feel like luxury
SALTT - Electrolytes that actually taste good (revolutionary concept)
Years NA Beer - Proof that alcohol-free doesn't mean flavor-free
Primally Pure - Bug spray that doesn't smell like chemical warfare
Chomp Gums - Travel-sized freshness that saved conversations
Eau Claire Cheese and Deli - Made our bloody mary bar legendary
Venture Wipes - The camping essential you didn't know you needed
Devious Cocktail - Cocktails as bold as their branding
Subsafe - Snackle boxes that made one prize winner thrilled
Baba's Hummus - Fresh dips that elevated every snack break
Drink Wisconsibly - Cocktail starters that scream Wisconsin pride
Klarbrunn - Bubbles that kept us hydrated and happy
Tidalove - Toothpaste tabs perfect for ditching the tube
Yeehaw Pickles - The stars of our pickle fountain show
Lazy Coconuts - Laundry strips that make packing genius-level easy
Viiq - Gummies that understand the pre-menopause struggle
Destination Madison - Your go-to experts when planning a trip to the Madison area
Pine River Cheese Spread - Spreadable Wisconsin cheese perfection
Daily Crunch - Snack mix that disappeared suspiciously fast
Fox River Brewing Company - Blueberry beer that had everyone doing double-takes
HerPropertea - An elevated tea company that caters to all tastes
Thursday night happy hour. [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
Who Actually Comes To These Things?
The short answer: people like you.
The longer answer: Camp Lola Whiskey attracts the same type of person who comes on my international group trips—curious, adventurous, open-minded people who value experiences over stuff and aren't afraid to try new things. Most campers are in their 30s-50s, though we've had people in their 20s and 60s too.
Some are coming solo because they're newly single and trying to rebuild their social lives. Some are coming with a friend but excited to meet new people. Some have been on my trips before and this is a reunion. Some have never traveled with a group but are curious about what it's like.
What they all have in common: they're fun, they're kind, and they're ready to embrace the ridiculousness of being an adult at summer camp.
Practical Stuff You're Probably Wondering
When is it? August 2026. Exact dates TBD but will be announced soon, so get on my email list if you want first dibs.
Where is it? Wisconsin, in an actual camp setting with cozy lodging, a lake, and all the nature you can handle.
Do I need to be in great shape? Absolutely not. Everything is optional and adaptable to whatever fitness level you're at. Want to kayak? Cool. Want to sit in a chair with a beer and watch everyone else kayak? Also cool.
What if I don't know anyone? Even better. Most people come solo or with just one friend, so everyone's in the same boat of wanting to meet new people.
Will it be awkward? Probably a little bit at first, but in the best way. By the second day, you'll forget you ever found it weird.
The Thing Nobody Tells You About Adult Summer Camp
Here's what I've learned from running Camp Lola Whiskey: people don't just come for the activities or the location or even the community, though those are all great.
They come because they need permission...
Permission to take a break.
Permission to be silly.
Permission to prioritize fun over productivity for once.
Permission to invest in themselves and their happiness without feeling guilty about it.
Adult summer camp gives you that permission slip, wrapped up in a weekend of ridiculous activities and new friendships.
Should You Actually Go?
Look, I'm not going to pretend Camp Lola Whiskey is for everyone. If you hate the outdoors, meeting new people, or anything that involves leaving your couch, this probably isn't your thing. And that's okay.
But if you're reading this and feeling even a tiny spark of "that actually sounds amazing," then yeah, you should absolutely come.
Don’t take our word for it—listen to last year’s campers relish in their good times here.
Your to-do list will still be there when you get back. The news will still be terrifying. Your inbox will still be full. But you'll also have this weird little pocket of joy to carry with you—memories of laughing until you cried, making s'mores with new friends, and remembering what it feels like to just... be.
Plus, when was the last time you did something that your teenage self would think was actually cool?
Tubing on the Wisconsin River—a highlight! [Camp Lola Whiskey, 2025]
Ready To Embrace The Chaos?
Camp Lola Whiskey 2026 is happening whether you're there or not. But it'll be a lot more fun if you are.
Sign up here to get updates about dates, pricing, and registration. Spots are limited because I refuse to turn this into one of those massive festival situations where you can't find your friends and everything's overwhelming.
And if you're still on the fence, just ask yourself: when was the last time you had a genuinely good weekend? Not a "fine" weekend or a "productive" weekend, but one where you actually felt alive and happy and connected to other humans?
If you can't remember, that's your answer.
See you at camp. Bring snacks and a sense of humor. Everything else we'll figure out together.
