by | December 16, 2025
9 Camps for Adults in Florida
Sign up for these grown-up getaways across the state.
Frank Stephenson finally made it to the big leagues—at age 74. As Stephenson stepped up to the plate in Bradenton, staring down a 60 mph pitch from a former Pittsburgh Pirate, he found himself in a pinch-me moment. Stephenson, along with 95 other guys ages 30 and up, had made it to the final day of the Pirates Fantasy Camp, which included a matchup against the former pros who had coached them all week.
“It’s a dream come true,” Stephenson says of his week-long experience swinging for the fences. “You’re living out that fantasy that you might have had since you were a little boy.”
Chasing dreams and learning new skills is an endeavor more adults are seeking, whether it’s suiting up with MLB icons, taking the stage with rock ‘n’ roll idols, slapping shots past Stanley Cup-winning goaltenders or even swimming with mermaids in a freshwater spring. Somewhere between nostalgia and new adventure lies the grown-up version of summer camp. To reignite that campfire spirit, here are nine immersive experiences across the state where anything can happen.
Pirates Fantasy Camp
Bradenton
8 days / $4,500
Lodging included
December
When campers walk through the doors of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training complex, they’re treated like the pros—right down to the personalized locker.
“Your first time there, you’re just in awe,” Stephenson says. “When you get to your locker, your name is on (it). Your jersey, your clothes—everything is hanging in the locker for you to use.”
For eight days, campers have full reign over the Pirates’ training campus: sleeping in the dorms, eating meals in the chef-led cafeteria and using the clubhouse, locker rooms and fields. Other perks include a custom baseball card highlighting their stats for the week and an authentic Pirates jersey with their name on the back.
“We’re going to treat you like a big-league player,” explains Joe Billetdeaux, a Pirates camp coordinator for more than 20 years. “You’re going to experience what big leaguers experience on a daily basis.”
The 96 campers are put into eight teams, each coached by a former Pirates player. Past coaches include John Candelaria, Doug Drabek and Steve Blass, to name a few. They practice each morning, perfect their swing in the team’s batting cages and play two games in the afternoon. At the end of the week, the four teams with the best record face off in a camp championship. Attendees can also take advantage of Major League physical trainers, who offer massages, ice baths and assistance with injuries. Off the field, the players and pros get to cut up around town, going to dinners and hitting the high notes at karaoke.
“They were so approachable and down-to-earth,” Stephenson says of the former MLB players. “They would sit and eat with you, talk about your family and talk about their family.”
With campers ranging in age from 30 to 80, not everyone arrives in peak athletic form. Pirates Fantasy Camp offers physical assists, such as runners for guests who need a little help rounding the bases. No matter what age or skill level, campers are completely immersed in the major league life. What they all share is enthusiasm for baseball, and by week’s end, a few sore muscles and lifelong memories.
“So many guys have come into camp saying this was a bucket list thing,” Billetdeaux says. “The next thing you know, they’re coming back again and again.”
Tampa Bay Lighting Fantasy Camp
Tampa
3 days / $2,500
Lodging available for an additional cost
September
Skate laps and light the lamp—aka score a goal—alongside Stanley Cup winners at this three-day fantasy getaway in Tampa Bay. Campers are fully immersed in the life of a professional hockey player for the NHL, gaining access to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s state-of-the-art training facilities, playing games downtown at the Benchmark International Arena and using a locker room decked out with nameplates, official training gear and personalized jerseys.
“You get the experience (of) NHL players,” says Mathieu Garon, assistant community hockey director
for the Lightning, retired NHL goaltender, Stanley Cup winner and one of the camp’s pros. “We’re
trying as close as we can to make it an NHL experience, from taking care of their equipment to giving them T-shirts, shorts and hoodies.” Attendees’ ages have ranged from 21 to 72, which fosters a generational appreciation for the sport and a camaraderie on the ice. Garon says the program offers a lot of value when it comes to improving hockey skills, but it’s more about making memories.
“André Roy, he’s just a clown,” Garon says with a laugh about the former Lightning enforcer. “He’s gonna start acting like he can’t skate on the ice. He’s gonna start dancing on the ice or do all this stuff to make people laugh. You watch him for a period, and then you get a lot of stories.”
At the most recent camp this fall, the Lightning alumni on the ice included Olympic medalists Fredrik Modin and Ryan Malone, along with Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Dave Andreychuk. And the best part about camp? All proceeds benefit the Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni Foundation and the Lightning Foundation, which give back to the local community through scholarships and neighborhood programs.
lightninghockeydevelopment.com
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp
Miami
4 days / $5,999
Lodging included
Year-round
The house lights dim, and a hush falls over the crowd. Bandmates take a breath, almost in near unison, before a spotlight flashes on and the lead guitarist hits his first chord, transforming an unassuming amateur band into a rock powerhouse. At Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, adult musicians leave their day jobs behind for four days of living out their dream of being in a rock ‘n’ roll band—jamming in the studio, writing songs, perfecting their sets and performing on stage to a live audience. The hook? They do it all with some of rock’s biggest stars, like members from The Police, Heart, Green Day and Ozzy Osbourne’s band, among others.
“Joe Perry said it best,” says David Fishof, music producer, creator of Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band and founder of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp. “He says to a guy, ‘What do you do for a living?’ The guy says, ‘I’m a lawyer. On the weekends, I play guitar in my band.’ Joe Perry says, ‘You’re full of shit. You’re a guitarist first. You do the legal bullshit to pay for your guitars.’”
There’s no audition process, but before camp begins, a director will pair attendees with other musicians of similar skill levels to form a band for the week. For the first time in early 2026, the camp will offer an option for guests to join an all-female band. A set list is sent ahead of time, and band members practice songs before the start of camp so they’re ready to play in studios with rock ‘n’ roll legends. After days of rehearsal, master classes and Q&As, the groups have the chance to perform in front of live audiences in Miami. Camp takes place multiple times a year and across the nation, with several sessions in the Magic City.
“It’s for many people who’ve been in high school bands and college bands and then they had to get a real job,” Fishof explains. “But deep in their minds, they want to be musicians.”
Adult Zoo Camp
Jacksonville
1 day / $150
Lodging not included
Year-round
Ever wondered what happens at a zoo once night falls? Do bat chirps echo through the park? Do sloths stir, searching for fruit? Do aardvarks—an animal that is normally hidden in the day—dig their
burrows and stretch their limbs on a moonlit stroll? Find out at one of Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ four adult zoo camps, taking place throughout the year. Housing hundreds of animals and more than 1,000 species of plants, Jacksonville Zoo is known for habitats like Land of the Tiger, a trail
system where Malayan tigers prowl, and a Primate Forest with a 40-foot kapok tree and bonobos, gorillas, lemurs and more species. On select days, go behind the scenes in these
different wildlife enclosures with zoologists and other professionals and learn how these animals communicate with one another, their preferences when it comes to food and their day-to-day behaviors.
“This time, we’re going to do an evening nocturnal version of it and really talk about what happens at the zoo when the gates close and nighttime falls,” says Sharon Spencer, an adult education specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo. “Where are the animals? Do they behave differently? If you already did Zoo Camp and want to come back, it’ll be something new for you to engage in.”
Each camp looks a little different, with experiences ranging from a visit to the Manatee Critical Care center to expert talks at the award-winning habitat Range of the Jaguar and making enrichment toys or Betsy, the zoo’s North American black bear. There are typically 24 coveted spots for each session, and Jacksonville is one of few zoos across the state that offers programming for adults.
“We spend a lot of time behind the scenes,” Spencer explains about Betsy’s habitat and other experiences.“That’s definitely a place that folks don’t have the opportunity to go to on a regular basis.”
Suncoast Pickleball Camp
Sarasota
6 days / $1,099-$1,499
Lodging varies by package
Year-round
For those who like their camps with a side of competition, this weeklong pickleball getaway serves it up just right. After a 36-year career in parks and recreation for Hillsborough County, Russell Elefterion started Suncoast Pickleball Association in 2015 in Sarasota, planning and hosting tournaments across the state. The popularity of the tournaments showed Elefterion that there was a growing demand for high-level instruction, competition and community. And in 2016, his first all-inclusive pickleball boot camp, where players train with professional pickleball players and hall of famers, was born.
“They’re here to improve their pickleball,” Elefterion says about his campers. “The added bonus that distinguishes us from any other camp is that the pros are hanging out, dancing with them, playing cards. They’re accessible the whole (duration of the) camp.”
Participants have roughly 12 training sessions across six days, each lasting two hours. When they’re not on the court practicing their serves and dinks with pros like Tyson McGuffin, John Sperling, Gigi LeMaster and Mindy Yoder, the 48 attendees spend their nights line dancing to live music, playing
Texas Hold’em or challenging each other to trivia. Because of Elefterion’s background in recreation, he’s planned an action-packed pickleball getaway—a camp that’s the first of its kind.
The experience ends in a friendly yet competitive tournament on Friday, where a camp champion will be crowned. After six days, players walk away with better court skills, hard-earned trophies, guaranteed pickleball pals and maybe a doubles partner for life. In 2023, a couple met at one of Elefterion’s camps and later got married on the courts. Suncoast offers four all-inclusive camps throughout the year, with two locations in Florida (Sarasota and Punta Gorda) and two in North Carolina (Montreat and Lake Junaluska).
Seagrass Pottery Retreat
Indialantic
5 days / $3,110
Lodging included
October & February
For a creative reset and beach getaway rolled into one beautiful mess, spend five days throwing clay on the wheel of one of Seagrass Pottery’s all-inclusive retreats in Indialantic, a charming town on Florida’s east coast.
“What’s great about pottery is that it’s done in a community,” says Kristina Latraverse, owner of Seagrass Pottery. “It opens this opportunity to learn from each other and also be inspired by each other’s work.”
Situated in a beach cottage, the studio has nine wheels, a slab roller, a glaze room and plenty of working tables for hand-building projects. In addition to three hours of formal instruction, several hours of open studio time and additional time to glaze creations, guests can partake in beach yoga, art journaling, sunset cruises and nature walks throughout the week. There’s also an international version of the retreat, which whisks guests away to a private island in Panama where they can harvest their own clay.
“People are looking for something more than a vacation. Something where there’s a learning experience and (desire) to try something you haven’t done before,” Latraverse says. Latraverse takes pride in how functional the experience is. Not only a creative escape, it’s also an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and make something practical, like plates, mugs, pitchers—anything you can come up with. And, most importantly, it’s about learning something new.
“I want people to leave feeling like they can create anything,” Latraverse says. “I think sometimes people feel intimidated to start, and I hope that this gives them the courage to start something new.”
Melges Flight School
Merritt Island
2 days / $1,000
Lodging not included
Year-round
Turns out the Space Coast isn’t just for astronauts—sailors can catch air too at Melges Watersports Center’s flight school. This two-day experience teaches students how to foil sail—a sport where sailors coast above the water. “Adult flight school is for people that have some sailing experience but want to get into the world of foiling, which is really new and an up-and-coming discipline in sailing,” says Eddie Cox, the vice president at Melges Performance Sailboats. Foiling is an aquatic sport where a board or a dinghy lifts just above the water with hydrofoils, a wing system connected to the bottom of the hull. At this school, participants learn the sport on the Skeeta, a single-sail dinghy with a foil that harnesses wind rather than electricity to power the vessel.
Days are split between classroom lessons, in which students learn how to fly and build technique, and hours of in-water practice with top-level U.S. foil sailors. After each session, campers review film footage back on shore.
Cox says the first flight on the Skeeta is what gets sailors hooked. “Once the boat lifts out of the water, there’s no noise, so you have total silence (after) you lift off for the first time,” Cox says. “The feeling—the thrill of it—we think it’s pretty unmatched.”
Thompson Surf School Adult Camp
Jacksonville Beach
4 days / $200
7–8:30 a.m.
Add private lessons for $80 per hour
Lodging not included
Summer
As the sun rises over Jacksonville Beach, Evan Thompson kneels in the sand next to a small whiteboard, explaining the day’s surf conditions—1 to 2 feet at 8-second intervals. They’re perfect for the dozen prospective surfers sitting in a circle around him. A few minutes later, his brother Tristan demonstrates how to pop up on a surfboard to the campers standing on the beach with an array of blue, yellow and green 9-foot foam boards. Tristan starts by laying down on the board with both hands positioned next to his chest. “One,” he says, pushing his chest up. “Two.” He pulls his right knee forward and plants his foot on the back of the board. “Three.” He threads his left leg up to the front of the board, where he squats down with both arms outstretched. On dry land, it looks as easy as one, two, three. But out in the Atlantic, step three is quite difficult to master. Most campers spend the first morning stuck at step two, riding waves in a hunched over position, never letting their hands leave the deck of the board. Throughout the four-day camp, the Thompson brothers and their crew of coaches teach the students the step-by-step basics of surfing, and by Thursday, even the most off-balance newbies find themselves up and riding to shore. After 10 years of running summer camps for kids ages 7 to 16 years old, Evan opened early-morning sessions for adults. He kept receiving inquiries and requests from students’ parents and other locals who wanted to learn.
“There’s a lot of things as an adult you could be doing, whether it’s shuffling kids around or going to a morning workout,” says Evan, the school’s founder and a professional surfer. “There are a million things you can do, but you chose surfing. It shows you’re committed.”
Thompson Surf School’s adult camp is for beginners who want to learn how to surf and build a strong foundation for the sport. Evan and his team give technical instruction on the proper way to paddle out, how to pop up on the board and the flow of riding the wave. But the camp also teaches students the nuances of surfing that outsiders don’t see: how to read a surf report, the difference between wind swell and ground swell and how the tide affects it all. “That’s probably the coolest part—Just giving people new insight to surfing and how it all works,” says Evan, a four-time USA Surf Team member.
Evan and the other coaches reinforce these lessons out in the water while helping students identify the right wave to take and giving them a little push to help them catch momentum before standing up and riding down the line. Some campers come back week after week, making it a new summer routine before work. “I want them to take away confidence in themselves,” Evan says about his adult students. “Confidence that they could go surfing on their own based on the experience they gained and knowledge they learned.”
Sirens of the Deep Mermaid Camp
Spring Hill
2 days / $450
Lodging not included
Year-round
Many people who have seen the movies “Splash” or “Aquamarine” at some point long to sport a mermaid tail (and perhaps long, blond, crimped hair) like the films’ stars. At Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, you can tap into your inner mermaid or merman and gain insight from professional stars who made the park famous—and, if you’re lucky, hit the spring at just the right time to swim alongside manatees. Slip into a shimmering tail and spin through synchronized underwater choreo at this two-day camp in Hernando County, where the practical and the fantastical merge, and guests can become certified mermaids.
“There was astronaut camp, but there wasn’t anything for young girls who wanted to be mermaids when they grew up,” says John Anathason, a longtime Weeki Wachee employee and communications specialist at Florida’s Adventure Coast. “This camp allows them to fulfill that childhood dream.”
Weeki Wachee State Park, located just north of Tampa, opened in 1947 as a roadside attraction known for its sparkling first-magnitude spring, crystal-clear river and a troupe of aqua-batic mermaids. Equal parts natural beauty and supernatural mystique, Weeki Wachee and its sirens became famous across the nation, drawing stars like Elvis Presley to its 400-seat theater cut into limestone and situated 16 feet under the water’s surface. Today, the mermaids still perform a minimum of two shows a day, executing aquatic tricks and even eating underwater.
At Sirens of the Deep, men and women 18 years and older can live like a mermaid. For two days, campers take underwater ballet classes, don colorful tails, pose for a glamor photography session and learn how to be one of the park’s performers from former Weeki Wachee mermaids.
“They always say, ‘Once a mermaid, always a mermaid,’” Anathason says about the iconic group of professional mermaids and campers. “They’re friends for life. We have a lot of repeat women that come and have reunions. They make this annual pilgrimage to see each other.”
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About the Author
As a born-and-raised Floridian, Emilee loves to write, read and talk about the Sunshine State. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in editing, writing and media. Now, Emilee uses her skills to edit our print issues and online content, as well as write our weekly e-newsletter, Fresh Squeezed.
