So, yes actually. Check out earthwatch.org, they offer trips where you participate in ecological research and/or conservation efforts. For example, here is a 2-week trip focused around counting animal populations in the Mongolian steppe:

https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/wildlife-mongolian-steppe

These trips are somewhat pricy (this one is US$4250), but typically include room and board for the entire period and all local travel. Also:

As a paying volunteer, you directly fund scientific research by covering permits, equipment, and other costs while supporting local vendors.

Here is one studying sea turtles in Costa Rica:

https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/costa-rican-sea-turtles

You do have to make your own arrangements for traveling to wherever the research location is.

Earthwatch Institute has been around since 1971 and has a pretty good reputation, so I believe the trips are reasonably safe.

Honestly we need more adult only recreational areas in general.

As a grown ass man I'd love to play on a playground or at an arcade without other parents looking at me like I'm shopping for a kid to steal

In the Spring, you can help man the fish doorbell. It's good fun for the second monitor, if you have one.

Context copied from the linked page:

"Every spring, thousands of fish swim through Utrecht’s canals and waterways, searching for a place to spawn and reproduce.

In the heart of the city lies the beautiful Weerdsluis, a manually operated lock. When the lock gates are closed, fish are forced to wait, wasting valuable time and energy – making them easy prey for birds and predatory fish.

To help the fish, an underwater camera is installed at the lock. If fish appear on screen, you can press the doorbell! This alerts the lock keeper, who will open the lock when many fish are waiting. You can “ring” the Fish Doorbell from early March to late May

People do so enthusiastically every year. In 2024, the Fish Doorbell attracted around 2.7 million viewers, from America to Brazil! The project has gained global recognition, helping people worldwide learn about fish migration and Utrecht’s underwater world."

if it's not strictly about science and/or animals: service civil international (SCI) offers cheap (you pay for your trip there, that's it) experiences where you join important civil or social projects.

wen't farming with a bunch of ex-junkies as a teenager. was nice, would recommend

There is adventurescientists.org which has projects (sadly most are US-only, but sometimes they extend into Canada). They aren't necessarily 'camp's with groups, but they might have something appealing to you.

More of a self-directed way, but check out eBird for submitting bird observations and iNaturalist for almost everything else. The cool part about iNaturalist is that your observations also get identified by other people, so you know the submissions have been reviewed. And you could help identify others' observations too.

Over the summer, archeologist groups look for helpers. Here is an example. It’s often mostly grunt work in a bigger group.

There are also plenty of small seminars scattered around the world with artisans teaching their techniques. A friend of mine made a sword for example.

Trail maintenance crews can be a great time!

Several years ago we backpacked in and spent a week rerouting a switchback on the PCT in Jefferson Park.

Pacific crest trail association was my favorite.

Surveying can be some worthwhile science gigwork.

Years ago I did some work with a research institute that was counting shellfish populations that was almost exactly this. A few weeks for a few summers hiking tidal zones. Most of the crews were college students, but not as interns or as a part of any programs. Some were just locals looking for some work.

I just don't think a lot of that work is advertised outside colleges.

I volunteer for a museum, and sometimes it is like a camp for adults. It's a flight museum and we maintain antique aircraft in a flyable state. Sometimes I get to fly, and I'm always finding opportunities to tell people about how awesome these planes are, and the history behind them. And what I have heard from others, different museums are just the same, like being in camp.

The Batumi raptor count in Georgia (the country, not the US state) does this kind of thing from August through the end of October each year. There's a migratory bottleneck over there that funnels all the birds through a narrow passage between the mountains and the sea. The teams count the migratory raptors during the day and also have lessons/seminars in the evenings. The fall 2025 season ended with over 1.5 million raptors counted

I had a friend who used to go little mini camps at the same grounds as the renaissance fair was at. Like an off-season thing I guess. I think it was usually just weekends but he took Mead making seminars and stuff like that. Sounded pretty cool.

Where I live you can only go to meth making seminars...

Getting involved in Citizen Science projects can scratch that itch!

Here's a handy platform for European projects as an example.

Google Citizen Science. Too tired atm, will try to put links later in !citizenscience@mander.xyz

I would totally go to a camp that involved turtle weighing. Any activity involving turtles, really! They're so shelly aww

Actually just watched my favorite dinosaur YouTuber Paleo analysis do something just like this. Dude went out for about a week and hunted for fossils with friends in the middle of nowhere!

Definitely fits the bill.

Here is a link to the video

https://youtu.be/7DxQH5_-rkk

Edit: grammar

That's just community college

If you are UK based then I've done this before. Really was excellent.

Now just waiting for my girls to be old enough to go to the kids version.

Dino Snores for Grown Ups | Natural History Museum https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dino-snores-for-grown-ups.html

I want to count on mushrooms too 🤭

I never tried myself but check this out:

https://www.science-camps.com/