Summer is approaching, lightning bugs will soon fill our backyards, and that means camps for the kids. Two years into the pandemic, camp options have increased extensively for 2022, and with it, comes the return of Hamburg Journal’s popular annual Summer Camp Guide!
Whether your child wants to participate in a sport, academic, or art camp, Lexington has what you need. Here is a sampling of camp options for kids of all ages throughout the Lexington area.
ASBURY
Join Asbury this summer for one (or two) residential high school camps that focus on a variety of content areas. Students choose one subject area to study for the entire week and enjoy academic sessions led by experienced faculty and talented college students multiple times each day. Students will get a five-day, college-like experience that includes all food, lodging, supplies, evening activities and hands-on exploration of an academic area in the context of a Christian community.
Tanner Fouts is serving as Camp Director at Asbury’s ImpactU 2022 this summer. He says, Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, Asbury University had always been on the outskirts of my life. When my brothers chose Asbury for college, it became part of their story. Now it is my turn. Camp has always been a big part of my life. From attending camps in my younger years to creating new camp experiences today, I love camp! The opportunities for personal growth, life long friendships, and the best memories of your life are limitless. Fun fact, it was camp that led me to being a professional Chick-fil-A cow and the job I have today.”
CAMP HORSIN’ AROUND
Camp Horsin’ Around supports organized groups to provide an outdoor camp adventure for children whose health is compromised or who have special needs.
Camp Horsin’ Around hosts non-profit organizations and groups that serve children from throughout Kentucky and surrounding states who have cancer, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, sight or hearing impairment, special needs or other illnesses. The facility also provides a camping home for organizations serving autistic children and young clients of Hospice as they deal with the loss of a loved one.
Camp Horsin’ Around is a Kentucky place to provide opportunities for adventure at every turn. Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Perryville, Kentucky, the 191 acre facility offers state-of-the-art ADA-accessible buildings, including five furnished and air-conditioned cabins, dining hall, and a medical building, and fully accessible activity areas such as a two-acre pond, swimming pool, archery and much more. In 2019 Camp Horsin’ Around was proud to achieve accreditation with the American Camp Association, assuring guests of the highest levels of quality and safety for camp facilities and programs.
CAMP KESEM
Camp Kesem is a child’s friend through and beyond a parent’s cancer. Throughout the school year, the Kesem team fundraises to send children ages 6-18 who are affected by a parent’s cancer to a free week-long summer camp. This is a student-run organization that welcomes members from all backgrounds.
Camp Kesem holds a special place in HJ’s heart, as our late designer, Kellee Edwards, was fortunate to send her daughter Kate there to make special memories in the summer of 2017.
Kellee wrote at the time, “Kate calls it cancer camp. It’s Camp Kesem for kids whose parents have cancer. After 10,021 hugs and 27 pep talks (some to Kate, some to me), she’s off, and I’m really gonna miss her. We’ve practiced taking showers and getting the shampoo rinsed out of her hair for three weeks now, and I’ve been assured someone will help her comb it. I bought two of everything on the camp list (maybe three bug sprays if you count the one that rolls on). I bought her all new underwear and socks, and I have enough matching shorts and T-shirts for three weeks. I let her pick a twin comforter and sheets to be known as ‘camp bedding.’ It’s minty and navy, very Kate. No pink for miles; sequins approved. We have a shower organizer, product containers, new toothbrushes (in case one gets lost) and fresh strawberry kids’ toothpaste from Lucky’s. We’ve pulled out all the stops. The list said she could bring a musical instrument. Kate has three: a Mexican drum, a maraca and a recorder. She was allowed to bring a disposable camera. I sent two, plus one for underwater. I sent maze books and stickers and a journal and different colored pens. Thank God the camp prohibits taking snacks. I don’t know how John would’ve carried the mini-fridge up that hill.
“But I offer no apologies for my overdone behavior. This could be my life’s equivalent of sending my daughter off to college, so it was a really big deal. We’ve never been away from each other for this long; we’ve barely ever been away from each other at all. I suspect she’ll come back older and wiser. I suspect this is good for both of us. She was so excited. She will be just fine. After all, it’s only a week. Me? I suspect I’ll be chained to the front porch by Wednesday to curb my compulsion to go get her.”
CAMP SHALOM
A typical camp day at Camp Shalom could include arts and crafts, music and movement, martial arts or yoga, swimming or park visits, field trips or a special guest, games and more.
CATHEDRAL DOMAIN
“The Domain” is located one and a half hours southeast of Lexington, KY. It covers 800 acres in the mountains of Lee County and is adjacent to the Daniel Boone National Forest.
The Cathedral Domain is accredited by the American Camp Association. Being an ACA-Accredited® camp means the Cathedral Domain meets up to 300 national standards for health, safety, and program quality.
Camp programs include athletics, hiking, caving, arts and crafts, dancing, fishing, rappelling, archery, rock climbing and more.
The Cathedral Domain recognizes that more than 1 in 4 children in Kentucky are living in poverty. The Cathedral Domain does provide scholarships to campers in financial need, and it is their policy that NO camper is turned away due to financial hardship.
For many years, expenses have been subsidized by the Cathedral Domain and the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. Tiered pricing is well below the national average, and the quality of the camper experience remains high.
Facilities include a recreational pavilion, playground, activity field, pool, archery range, nature center, rock climbing and repelling stations, hiking, fishing, and much more.
CODE CAMP
Every parent today wants their kids to learn how to interact with technology in a healthy way, make friends, and be prepared for a 21st-century world, including getting into college and finding a job they love and at which they will succeed. Week of Code Summer Camp at Awesome Inc is designed to accomplish that.
At Week of Code, you learn by doing — it’s hands-on, at your pace, and balanced with fun, off-computer activities. You’ll design and develop your very own website, mobile app, and video game in one week.
In addition to programming time inside, campers will interact with an upbeat team for unplugged activities and games. More than just coding — Week of Code boosts creativity, logical thinking skills, and brain power. The camp is kept small to ensure everyone gets focused attention.
Each student will need to provide his/her own laptop for the course. Either Microsoft Windows-based PCs, or Apple Mac OS X computers will work, but iPads and Chromebooks will not work for this course. Computers should be free from viruses/malware.
LEEDS CENTER’S ARTS CAMPS
Leeds Center for the Arts in nearby Winchester will offer a musical theatre intensive and an Aristocats Kids’ Workshop.
LEXINGTON CHILDREN’S THEATRE SUMMER CAMP SCHOOL
Lexington Children’s Theatre is offering a comprehensive program of Summer Theatre School offerings.
‘Playmakers’ is designed to meet the needs and interests of 5-8-year-olds. Students work to create their own play by using contemporary literature or a theme as their source material. The class will originate their own characters, dialogue, and story. The sharing will use basic costumes and scenery in a wonderful presentation at the end of the week. This class best serves rising kindergartners and above.
‘Performance Workshops’ allow participants to improve their acting and performing skills. Students receive classes in acting, improvisation, voice, and movement. Each child enrolled in the workshop receives a speaking role in the play which rehearses every day, culminating in a fully mounted performance for family and friends on Friday evening. This class best serves rising third graders and above.
Some programs like Harry Potter Double Bubble Quidditch Trouble sell out early, so register today!
LCT also provides extended care service to those parents in need of early drop-off or late pick-up.
PARKS AND REC
Registration is now open for a variety of summer camps being offered by Lexington’s division of Parks & Recreation for 2022. “We’re proud to offer an extensive selection of camps through Parks & Recreation this summer,” said Adrienne Thakur, Deputy Director of Recreation for Parks & Recreation. “We were intentional in making sure there is not only a variety of activities being offered, but that we are also serving a diverse group of communities and interests.”
There are fifteen different camp types being offered, including annual favorites such as Camp Kearney, as well as a variety of others which include activities such as art, dance, equestrian riding, golf, nature exploration, swimming, Therapeutic Recreation, and tennis. With over 70 sessions across all camps, there is something for everyone, no matter their interests.
One of the camps being offered is Therapeutic Recreation Fun Camp, which focuses on people with special needs of all ages. Camps are carefully designed for children, youth, and adults who have physical, intellectual, or other disabilities. Activities include swimming, crafts, field trips, and games. Children aged 5 – 11 can enjoy camp at Castlewood Park, with Woodland Park hosting ages 12 – 20, and Dunbar Community Center hosting ages 21 and older.
“Summertime serves such an important role in socialization for our participants,” said Jill Farmer, Manager of Therapeutic Recreation for Parks & Recreation. “It allows them to meet new people, experience exciting and fun activities, and have hands-on assistance as they explore new skills and connections, despite any disabilities they may have.”
Parks & Recreation, a division of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, oversees the programing, maintenance, and development of over 100 city parks and natural areas, six pools, five golf courses, community centers, recreational programs, and three arts venues.
SHAKER VILLAGE EXPLORER CAMP
Venture into a world of discovery with Shaker Village Explorer Summer Camp. Explorer Camp allows children ages 6-12 to learn new skills and make friends at one of the most spectacular National Historic Landmarks in the world.
During this one-week camp, trained staff will guide children through adventures in The Preserve, on The Farm, on the Kentucky River and throughout The Historic Centre.
SPINDLETOP’S All Sports Summer Camp
The Spindletop AllSports Camp is an all-day action-packed adventure in sports. Swimming, tennis, volleyball, frisbee golf, 
basketball, archery, pickleball and soccer are some of the sports on the schedule. Downtime activities such as crafts and free swim break up the day, especially if it is hot. The camp is geared for children, ages 6-13, looking for experience in a wide variety of sports and activities.
Basketball, swimming, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, soccer, games, golf, ninja and crafts make for a very busy schedule. Lunch and snacks provided.
SUMMIT AT ASBURY
What if you could have a ton of fun and make new friends all in a Christian environment and earn a $10K scholarship at the same time? SummitCamp is happening this year at Asbury University and YOU and your friends are invited to come spend a week laughing, playing, and experiencing Christ in an all new way. Rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to earn a $10K Asbury scholarship for being a part of a fun and inspirational week.
SummitCamp is open to students ages 15-19.
This article also appears on pages 8 through 11 of the May 2022 print edition of the Hamburg Journal, Lexington’s hyper-local niche magazine serving Lexington KY’s fastest growing neighborhoods.
