With options for every age group, our summer camps are carefully designed to nurture independence, confidence, and connection. Through age-appropriate adventures, team-building games, and caring mentorship, we help kids grow into their best selves. Camp Kern offers more than just summer fun—it’s where kids unplug from technology and reconnect with nature, friendships, and themselves.
Basic Info:
Address: 5291 State Route 350, Oregonia, OH 45054
Phone: (513) 932-3756
Email: [email protected]
Website: campkern.org
Type of Camp or Summer Program: Day, Residential, Travel
Basic Categories: Adventure/Tripping, Family Camp, Sports, Traditional
Gender of Campers: Co-ed
Special Needs Offered: No
Dates: June 1st to July 31st
Hours: Sunday 3pm to Friday 6pm
Ages: 7 to 17
Activities: Archery, Climbing, Canoeing, Arts and Crafts, Swimming, Nature, Hikes, Petting Zoo, Gaga Ball, BB guns, Zip Line, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Campfires, Cookouts, Field games, Slip n slide, Mine shaft.
Q&A with YMCA Camp Kern:
What makes YMCA Camp Kern unique?
We are the best camp in the nation because we hire the best staff from around the country and around the world. Our staff excel at connecting with each camper, meeting them where they are and providing a safe, nurturing environment where our campers can take risks, step outside of their comfort zone and make lifelong friendships.
What activities are offered?
Every camper that comes to Camp Kern will have the chance to participate in 5 essential camp activities (Climbing, Archery, Canoeing, Arts & Crafts, and Swimming). Throughout the day our counselors will fill in with unique activities such as nature hikes, fishing, visiting the petting zoo, or soaring through the heights by participating in our high adventure elements, such as Ozone Zip Line, Twin Zip Line, Giant Swing, and High Ropes.
What is the camper-to-counselor ratio?
10 campers to 2 staff
How much time do the campers spend outside?
Up to 14 hours a day
Does Camp Kern provide lunch/snacks, or do parents need to provide them?
All meals and snacks are provided for our overnight camp programs. Morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack are provided for our day camp programs.
What is the typical daily schedule for campers?
- 7:00 am – Wake up & Cabin Clean up
- 7:45 am – Breakfast
- 9:00 am – Morning Assembly
- 9:15 am – Choice Activity (Canoeing, Archery, Arts & Crafts, etc)
- 10:30 am – Cabin Act (Unique activities created by each cabin counselor)
- 12:00 pm – Lunch
- 1:00 pm – Rest hour
- 2:15 pm – Clubs (Campers choose their clubs on Monday and go to these every afternoon)
- 3:30 pm – Swimming at the swimming pool
- 5:00 pm – Dinner
- 6:00 pm – Kern Zone (Free choice activities)
- 7:00 pm – Evening Program (Village games, cookouts, carnival games, etc)
- 8:30 pm – Cabin time and group reflection
- 9:00 pm – Lights out (Younger campers)
- 10:00 pm – Lights out (Older Campers)
How old are the counselors and how are they trained?
We hire counselors as young as 17 for junior counselor positions, and as old as 27 for senior counselor positions. Our staff undergo up to three weeks of on-site training going over topics such as behavior management and prevention, appropriate staff to camper interactions, making magic at camp, emergency action plan, and skills specific trainings such as belaying, lifeguarding, archery and BBs facilitation.
What accommodations are made for campers with special needs?
Our counselors and leadership staff do a great job at facilitating healthy interactions between all campers. Families that want their children with special needs to participate in summer camp at Camp Kern are encouraged to contact our director team to discuss how we can accomplish a successful camp experience tailored to each camper and their needs.
Why should I send my camper to Camp Kern?
The gift of memories is what our campers love the most about Camp Kern. Camp Kern is one of the top overnight summer camps in Ohio. With a tradition in camping of over 115 years we take the experience of our campers as the utmost priority. We do the best because we hire the best. Our staff is thoroughly screened, vetted, and trained to ensure that only the best are put in charge of the campers we serve. Our 485-acre facility in Oregonia, Ohio, provides room for all camp fun, magic, and whimsy for campers of all backgrounds and experiences.
Is this an overnight camp?
Yes
Overnight Camp Q&A with YMCA Camp Kern:
What does the camper’s living situation look like?
All of our cabins have AC units and heaters. Our cabins have top of the line metal bunk beds and host up to 12 campers and 2 staff per group. All of our sleeping spaces have a fire extinguisher, emergency exits, and ample windows for lighting and ventilation.
How do parents and campers communicate?
Parents are encouraged to drop off letters for their campers during check in, or they can choose to send messages to their campers through the Campanion App. Campers can write letters to their parents/guardians, we can mail them or scan them and email them.
How does YMCA Camp Kern handle homesickness?
Our staff are trained to identify and communicate when campers are starting to miss home and withdrawing from activities. Our first strategy is to acknowledge the challenge and present the camper with all the fun we will have on our week of camp. Parents will be notified and asked for advice. If the situation persists, one of our leadership staff will talk to the camper and encourage them to write a letter home. Parents will be notified and a camper-parent phone call may be arranged if the parent consents. If the challenge persists then the parents will be called to make a decision on whether or not camp is the best option for their campers at the moment.
95% of the homesickness happens during the first two evenings, so our counselors are hyper alert to divert, distract and engage with campers during these times.
What are the meals like at camp?
We provide three meals and two snacks at Camp Kern. Our meals are served family style and they cater to what campers are excited to eat. Some examples of meals served at camp are: Pasta day (Spaghetti, meatballs, sauce, garlic bread) Pizza day (Pepperoni or cheese pizza, breadsticks, broccoli) Fried chicken day (Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans). Our breakfast options include a cereal bar and a yogurt-granola-fruit bar. Our lunch options include a salad bar and a soup station, and dinner includes a salad bar.
Can parents visit the camp?
Parents are discouraged from visiting campers during their week of overnight camp. We believe that the time that campers spend away from home is crucial for them to connect with their peers and embrace the challenge of camp.
What percentage of campers return every year?
55%
Is the schedule highly structured, or do kids have a lot of free choices?
Campers have a balance between choice activities such as clubs and Kern Zone, as well as structured programming like village games and cabin activities. This allows for a well-rounded camp experience that builds off the cabin group onto the village level of engagement.
Is transportation available to and from camp?
We do not provide transportation.
