More adults in Colorado are swapping their laptops and smartphones for campfires and hiking boots or yoga mats and meditation.
Burnout, the fast pace of daily life, or a desire for something real are all reasons people are joining immersive adult camps and retreats. These experiences offer a true break from the noise and sometimes teach skills that could even save your life.
Whether practicing practical wilderness survival skills, or immersing yourself in ancient wisdom, mindfulness or relaxation, the goal is singular: to leave changed.
Wildnerness skills
Survival University: Jason Marsteiner is a former corporate “computer geek” turned wilderness expert, not a military veteran or reality show survivalist.
“I’m normal,” he says with a laugh. “I’m just someone who knows these skills and is good at teaching them.”
Now the founder and lead instructor at , he’s built something to help people unplug.
“In our modern life, we’re surrounded by tech, TV, work, noise, all the things,” he says. “Itap system overload. Come out to the woods for five days, and itap a nice reset.”
Survival University delivers exactly that.
Set on 5,000 acres of private land near Cripple Creek, the program offers everything from a five-day flagship course to a 50-day summer immersion, taught by 20 instructors from across the country.
The five-day course runs $650–$950, depending on meals and lodging; longer programs cost more. Summer sessions fill fast, so early enrollment is recommended.
The curriculum builds confidence day by day: safety and gear on day one; fire-making in cold or wet conditions on day two; shelter construction on day three; navigation and food procurement on day four. By day five, students are running real-life scenarios.
“Most of our classes are hands-on,” Marsteiner says. “Through those hard skills, people get mental training too, even though we don’t focus much on the spiritual side.”
Participants camp on-site, though nearby Cripple Creek hotels are an option for those who don’t have gear or crave a hot shower.
Phones stay in your pocket, and most students are so busy they stop reaching for them, Marsteiner says.
Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS), Southern Utah: Founded in 1968 and still running essentially the same course, BOSS is a demanding wilderness program. Students travel through Southern Utah’s mountains, mesas, and canyons with the basics — a blanket, poncho, and knife. No tents, no sleeping bags, no GPS, no phones.
Courses range from 7 to 28 days and cover fire-making, water sourcing, shelter construction, navigation, and large animal processing. A 50+ focused expedition and a 14-day women’s course are available. The 7-day field course starts at $2,620 (editor’s note: this price has been updated); the 28-day expedition runs higher. No prior camping experience is required, but a fitness assessment is.
For more information, visit .
Colorado Mountain Club Wilderness Survival School (Denver/Golden): The CMC’s annual Wilderness Survival School offers an easy entry point — three evening classroom sessions followed by an overnight field session. Topics include shelter-building, fire-craft, signaling, hypothermia, and the psychology of survival emergencies. Tuition is $89.
The 2026 session is planned for May/June. Visit for enrollment details.
Outward Bound: Outward Bound offers adult expeditions (ages 30+) across Colorado and Utah that combine backpacking, rafting, and canyoneering with an emphasis on personal growth and teamwork.
Devices are left behind.
Course lengths range from four days to several weeks, with an average of about 15 days. Women-specific and 50+ courses are available.
Visit for more information.
Mindfulness
Drala Mountain Center: Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes focuses on mastering your inner world.
The center sits on 600 acres of northern Colorado, land that is visibly healing from the Cameron Peak Fire. Drala Mountain Center offers retreats centered on meditation, yoga, and a deep calmness thatap often hard to find.
“We’re not designed to be moving full speed all the time,” said Rhiannin Bunney, Drala Mountain’s marketing director.
“Stepping away allows you to slow down, allows your system to regulate.”
Thatap the real gift of unplugging. Itap not just a break from your inbox, but a chance to see what really matters, she said.
The center’s retreat formats are flexible enough to meet people wherever they are.
Beginners are warmly welcomed, and no prior experience with meditation or yoga is required for most retreats.
The most popular options are weekend or four- to five-day retreats, many of which are tuition-free. Participants pay only for lodging at the center.
The retreats include recurring meditation foundation weekends and the Retreat and Renewal program, which pairs yoga and meditation at no extra cost.
In June, the Wild West retreat combines meditation, yoga, and time in nature.
For deeper immersion, the center offers silent meditation retreats, Buddhism-focused community retreats, and an annual month-long intensive session. This year, a more accessible two-week version runs concurrently for those with some meditation experience who are ready to step away from ordinary life.
The center doesn’t confiscate participants’ phones, but its approach to technology is intentional. The approach to disengaging is always an invitation, not a rule.
Bunney emphasizes that itap gentle and helpful. “We create a space where we encourage people to disconnect.”
Disconnecting allows you to reassess.
“You can see whatap really affecting you. Checking email and social media starts to feel less urgent, but you won’t notice that unless you take a break,” she said.
The center also welcomes day visitors to walk the property and spend time in nature. “Itap an opportunity to be yourself,” Bunney says, “and to remember what that feels like.”
Rustic retreat: SunMountain Center in Manitou Springs sits on six acres of terraced gardens at the base of Pikes Peak, with historic homes serving as a bed-and-breakfast and retreat venue. In-house chefs prepare locally sourced meals, and hot tubs are on-site; SunWater Spa is just down the road. Ideal for yoga retreats, wellness weekends, and small group gatherings.
For more information, visit
Lama Foundation (Taos, N.M.): Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains about 30 miles south of Colorado, the Lama Foundation is a spiritual community and retreat center adjacent to the Carson National Forest.
Open in summer, it welcomes visitors of all spiritual backgrounds for retreats ranging from silent meditation and women’s lodges to permaculture and indigenous gatherings. The setting is intentionally simple and screen-free, with daily meditation and communal practice woven throughout. Retreats vary in length and focus.
Visit for more information.
Mountain Cloud Zen Center (Santa Fe): Located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains just outside Santa Fe, Mountain Cloud is a Zen meditation center offering daily sitting, weekly teachings, and multi-day retreats. The campus includes a zendo, hiking trails, and lodging.
Programs range from weekend intro retreats to week-long sesshins and month-long residencies. Daily zazen and weekly talks are free and open to the public.
Visit for more information.
Or sing about it
Rocky Mountain Song School: The Song School at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons is an immersive week for songwriters of all levels — from first-timers to working musicians.
Set on the 13-acre Planet Bluegrass Ranch along the North St. Vrain River and beneath sandstone cliffs, the program runs four days and nights of workshops, open stages, and campfire jams.
Each day runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with elective topics in songwriting, performance, vocals, guitar, and music business.
Evenings include BBQs and nighttime song-sharing around the campfire. On-site camping is included in tuition, along with a resource manual.
A $150 non-refundable deposit holds your spot; the 2026 Song School is already announcing faculty. Visit for more information.
Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.
