Don’t let your kids lay around all summer. There are tons of Summer camps in Kentucky and summer camp can be one of the most valuable experiences in a child’s life. Peruse our list below and be well on your way to booking a Kentucky Summer Camp for your kids! Our list includes mostly overnight summer camps in Kentucky, but a few summer day camps have made the list.
***Updated 10 April 2022***
Outdoors Summer Camps in Kentucky
Camp Earl Wallace
Located just a few miles from Monticello, KY on Lake Cumberland, Camp Earl Wallace is a conservation education camp put on by the Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Expect plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and learn valuable skills. Activities include nature, archery, boating, outdoor survival, firearm safety, fishing and swimming. Campers earn achievement patches by successfully completing various camp activities. Additionally, campers may also earn Kentucky’s Hunter Education Certificate (the ‘orange card’). Each evening, campers will also have time to enjoy their favorite playground activities such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping-pong and more. The department of fish and wildlife also operate Camp John Currie on Kentucky Lake near Benton, KY and Camp Robert C. Webb on Grayson Lake near Grayson Kentucky. Check out their website for more information on all three camps.
Camp is open to students in grades 4-6 (as of April 1st), and not over age 13. Camp fees are $225 before April 1st and $250 after. Subscribe here for camp updates
103 Camp Earl Wallace Road, Monticello, KY 42633
Kentucky 4H Camps
Kentucky has several 4-H Camps serving various regions in the state. Each camp can accommodate a number of campers over specific weekends (designated by county of residence) throughout the summer. Most of the camps feature lakes with opportunities for fishing, canoeing, paddle boating and pond studies. There’s also swimming pools with water slides and facilities for archery, riflery, hiking trails, volleyball, rock walls, swings, basketball, football, low and high ropes courses and roomy campfire areas at most of the camps. For more information about 4-H Summer camps in Kentucky, visit their website or contact your local county agent to sign up.
Feltner 4-H Camp (London, KY)
Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp (Nancy, KY)
North Central 4-H Camp (Carlisle, KY)
West Kentucky 4-H Camp (Dawson Springs, KY)
Camp Bernheim
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest – just 20 minutes south of Louisville – is hosting four one-week camp sessions for students ages 6-12 who want to have some adventure this summer. These camps are day camps that run from 9am to 3:30 Monday through Friday, with five one-week sessions available. Campers will participate in experiences that build confidence and connection to the natural world, such as fishing, kayaking, creek walks, hiking, scavenger hunts, and fort-building as we’ll as nature-based art projects, crafts, and discussions. The cost of Camp Bernheim is $225 a week for a member and $250 a week for non-members. To register, please visit Bernheim.org/CampBernheim.
The Center for Courageous Kids Summer Camp
The Center For Courageous Kids is a not-for-profit Medical Camping Facility that was created to provide a place where medically fragile kids and their families could come free of charge and have fun, find respite, feel normal and forget about their everyday struggles. The camp occupies a 168 acre farm in Scottsville, KY and continues to change the lives of thousands of kids each year. The 2022 Summer camp schedule includes camps for kids with diabetes, cardiac conditions, autism, cancer, and many other conditions. There are also a number of family retreats throughout the year.
1501 Burnley Road, Scottsville, KY 42164
Military Adventure Camp at Camp Sousley
Camp Sousley is a privately operated 52-acre military camp for youth. Its flagship program, the Military Adventure Camp, offers military-style boot camps as a military exploration and preparatory experience for kids and teens interested in the military or defense fields. Courses are modeled after real world Army, Marine, Navy and Private Military training. Your kids ages 13-18 will learn military drills and ceremonies, run the obstacle course, rappel, and participate in a variety of other activities to give participants a full understanding of what working in a military position is truly like. Check out their website for full information.
1083 Mt. Hope Road, Flemingsburg, KY 41041
Sports Summer Camps in Kentucky
Nike Basketball Camp at Transylvania University
Join Transylvania University’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Lane and staff as the Nike Basketball camps return to Lexington! They’ll offer two camp sessions for your kids to sharpen their fundamental skills and shooting technique with the option to attend both back-to-back camps to really improve skills and set themselves apart from the competition. The Shooting Camp emphasizes technique, footwork, shooting drills, shooting off the dribble, shooting off the pass, shooting games, free throw shooting and post/perimeter shooting. Alternatively, the Guard & Perimeter Play Camp focuses on improving guard and perimeter skills. Emphasis is placed on dribbling, passing, shooting, leading a fast break, driving to score/pass, moving without the ball, using screens and pick and roll.
Clive M. Beck Center, 300 North Broadway, Lexington KY 40508
Louisville Rowing Club: Learn to Row Camp
Louisville and Southern Indiana high school students are invited to learn to row this summer! Louisville Rowing Club is offering four sessions of learn to row camps, and they would love to have you there! These camps are open for rising 9th-12th grade students where students will learn how to row out on the Ohio River and see if this is the new sport for them. Open a door into a new sport! Campers will row with current athletes on their high school team and be led by their experienced rowing coaches. Please reach out to louisvillerowingclub@gmail.
Religious/Church Camps in Kentucky
LOUCON Training and Retreat Center
This Christian Camp center offers summer camps for grades 3-12 and also offers their facility to be used for various retreats throughout the year.Loucon is located on 679 acres bordering Nolin Lake in Grayson County, approximately ten miles from Leitchfield. It is a beautiful wooded camp with plenty of open space to run and play. Campers will enjoy various adventure activities and will be challenged to come together to achieve a common goal.
8044 Anneta Road, Leitchfield, KY 42754 | (270) 242-7160
Blue Grass Christian Camp
Blue Grass Christian Camp has curated an experience designed for kids to make memories and form life-time relationships. Kids will enjoy thrilling trips, adventures, unique opportunities and lots of fun as well as Christian values and lessons all in a wonderful community setting. There’s also a week for special needs campers can enjoy the full camp experience. Registration is now open on their website.
7463 Athens Boonesboro Road Lexington, KY 40509 | (859)263-5239
Cedar Ridge Camp
Cedar Ridge Camp is a Christian summer camp, retreat center and outdoor education center near Louisville, KY. They offer day and overnight camps with a variety of different camp options available including a Bike Camp, Art Camp, Sports Camp, Water Week and a Mystery Science Week! For budding camp counselors (ages 15-16), there’s Counselor’s In Training Program where teens can learn the skills and tasks of leadership at camp. Scholarships are available for children of active military, fire, EMS, police and other first responders. Find more information on their website.
Cedar Ridge also hosts a spring break camp.
4010 Old Routt Road, Louisville, KY 40299
Boone’s Creek Baptist Camp
Boone’s Creek Baptist Camp is designed to lead campers to Christ in a gentle way through instruction and fun-filled activities. The campers are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities including hiking, performing arts, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, rollerskating and more. Dedicated boys and girls weeks as well as co-ed weeks are all available. Scholarships are available for low-income families.
1306 Trapp Goffs Corner Road, Winchester, KY 40391, 859-744-0037
Educational Summer Camps
Inkspire Writing Camp
Inkspire was born from the dream of a EKU English professor, Jacqueline Hamilton, affectionately known as Mizz JJ. The camp was born from her desire to help students grow in their writing and have fun at the same time! Inkspire includes creativity projects, great books, music, art, games, guest speakers, plenty of traditions, and of course, writing. Camp will run from 1-5 August and costs $150 for early birds, $165 from June 15-30 and $160 after June 30.
250 N. Main Street, Winchester, KY | 859-935-5153
