Camping for Grownups

I NEVER WENT TO SUMMER CAMP. As a kid, I had a substantial fear of the dark and creepy-crawly things, so sleeping in a bunk wouldn’t have been my idea of fun. Now, whenever I go for a hike or see a set of vintage arrows in an antique store, I feel a pang of regret for the camp experience that wasn’t. But it looks like it’s not too late for me to be a camper, even now in my 30s.

The first-ever Camp Iwanabreak, for adults only, launches Aug. 22 in Lake Farm Park, a skipping-stone’s throw from Madison.

For one day, forget that you’re an adult. Tell ghost stories around a campfire. Eat a messy, sticky s’more. Lie in a hammock and stare up at the treetops. Make classic crafts, much like the ones your kids bring home from school. Put on a skit with fellow campers and don’t be afraid to look silly. Tell everyone you know that you won’t be available for one day—cell phones and digital devices aren’t allowed at Camp Iwanabreak. I know it might be cool to take a selfie with a raccoon or tell everyone on Facebook that you’re playing bocce ball, but for a little bit, just unplug and let yourself soak in your surroundings.

McKenzie Rabben and Nikki Bown met as UW–Madison students on a trip to Cambodia. Their wanderlust and desire to unplug became Camp Iwanabreak. Bown says, “We really hope to inspire people to live a life that takes a little more time to love, laugh and live spontaneously.”

I’ve got my bug spray and sunscreen packed. campiwanabreak.org.

See p. 58 of BRAVA Magazine’s May issue for more great destinations around Wisconsin to visit this spring and summer.