Age requirement: Must have completed your junior year of high school. This CIT program is an intense look into what it takes to become a counselor at YMCA Camp Lakewood. The four week course begins with two weeks of intensive child care skill training and program training. In the third week, CITs shadow camp’s best counselors in our youngest cabins while still receiving more hands-on training. In the final week, CITs will be put to the test by being assigned a cabin where they take on a leadership role. This is a highly rigorous program and all interested campers must complete an application/interview to be considered for the program.

Our one week Equestrian Camp is designed for campers who want to learn more about horsemanship, including grooming, saddling and horse handling techniques. Campers participate in trainings to enhance their riding skills and learn trotting, cantering, obstacles and other advanced techniques. Multiple trail rides are held, and campers experience an overnight with their horse. There is a field trip to visit a local horse facility, so campers can understand how other facilities operate. In addition to learning about horses, campers also get to experience many of the camp traditions including camp games, swimming and building friendships. Accommodations for the 13-16 year olds are in original rustic camp cabins and a centralized bathhouse with restrooms and showers. Accommodations for the 10-12 year old campers are in climate-controlled cabins with indoor plumbing.

iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education, with 20+ years of experience and 450,000 alumni. Programs for ages 7-19 are held at 150 prestigious campuses in the USA, Europe, and Asia, including TCU, NYU, Caltech, and Imperial College London. Led by tech rockstar instructors, students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics, creative arts, and more. Guaranteed small class sizes ensure personalized learning for all skill levels. In addition to their flagship iD Tech Camps for ages 7-17, iD Tech also offers all-girls camps, teen-only Academies, and year-round Online Private Lessons.

The one week outdoor Junior Rangers is a wonderful program for campers who enjoy spending time outdoors, have experience in camping or are a returning camper who wants to try something new. Junior Rangers learn campfire cooking, shelter building, how to work as a team and many more outdoor living skills. A majority of the Junior Rangers’ time is spent learning their Ranger skills away from the everyday life of traditional camp. They do get to experience a tiny bit of camp by choosing and participating in two morning clinics for the week. Junior Rangers spend each night at camp sleeping under the stars.

Main camp (divided into Raptor and Explorer groups based on age) is our traditional one week summer camp program. Main campers have the opportunity to choose from many great camp activities such as archery, arts & crafts, canoeing, caving, fishing, flag football, floor hockey, outdoor living skills, singing, snorkeling, soccer, yoga, cabin and unit games, and much more.. Upon their arrival, each camper is welcomed by our caring staff and introduced to their cabin mates for the week. Campers gather as a cabin each day to play, learn, bond and make lifelong friendships. Each cabin will also venture into the outdoors for an overnight, where they sleep under the stars and cook their meal over a campfire. Accommodations are climate-controlled cabins with indoor plumbing.

Has your camper ever wondered what’s on the other side of the lake or heard legend of the 97 stairs? Well now they can find those answers out for themselves as they enjoy a four-day taste of East Camp and all the excitement across the lake. Your camper will stay in the original camp cabins located on East Camp Hill, complete with bath house, pavilion and the throw-back camping we all loved as kids ourselves. This is a great introduction to East Camp for pre-teen campers.

Come to the Triangle Y Ranch for four days of intense equestrian training! Ranch campers will form their own special cabin group and spend all day, everyday at the ranch working with our highly experienced staff. Participants will advance riding skills while learning advanced horse care, history and ranch management. They will also experience the more traditional side of camp with fun camp activities.

Rangers will spend time climbing or zip lining through a majority of the climbing structures throughout camp, as well as learn proper belay techniques and knot-tying skills.

During this one week session, campers will learn different paddling techniques and “Leave No Trace” outdoor ethics. Then they will take a five-day and four-night canoe trip to explore the beautiful and scenic waters of the Current River. With plenty of excitement and natural splendor, this trip is a great way to bring out the hidden adventurer within us all.

Rangers will learn the skills of wilderness survival. Along with finding shelter, building fires and cooking their food, these Rangers will be put to the test with different survival challenges. After a week in Survival Rangers, these campers will conquer every challenge Mother Nature throws their way!