Bunking up in cabins, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, swimming, making new friends that you’ll share summer memories with for years to come… all sounds like the stuff of sleepaway camp from middle-school summers. It could also sound a lot like your plans for the end of the month.
Have you heard about Camp No Counselors yet? It’s a multi-city, fully fleshed-out sleepaway camp for grownups, and it’s made its way to the Nashville area this month, with three Thursday-to-Sunday camp sessions going down at Camp Y.I. in LaVergne, right on Percy Priest Lake.
The first session wrapped up this past Sunday; the second (which is already sold out) starts Thursday night; and the last is set for August 27 through 30 (registration is still available for that one).
The idea is pretty genius: Much of Camp No Counselors lines up perfectly with our memories of camp, with bunks and bunkmates, talent shows, making friendship bracelets, games like Capture the Flag and lots of communal meals.
But since our interests are a little more diverse past drinking age, there are some twists, too. Maybe you’ll have a Bloody Mary with your camp breakfast and something from the full open bar with dinner. Maybe you’ll rage right up to 2 a.m. at the nightly dance parties. Maybe you’ll blow off activities to sit by the lake, read a book and drink a beer — no counselors to tell you not to.
If you’ve been dying to recapture a little of your childhood (while enjoying the couple of benefits that do come with being an adult), seems like this little vacation is tough to beat.
And if you live in Nashville, you can’t beat the commute to a total escape from the trappings of adulthood, either — 30-minute drive and you’re in the woods, by the water, mimosa in hand.
Thinking about jumping in for the last Camp No Counselors round at the end of August? Registration is $525 if you’re going by yourself, $500 if you’re signing up alongside three or more friends, and it includes three nights of lodging, all meals and snacks, a weekend-long open bar and tons of activities.
For more info, hit the Camp No Counselors website.
If you’re going, we’d love to see photos — tag ACREstate on Instagram so we can covet your s’mores!