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.

Age requirement: Must have completed your sophomore year of high school. This two week LIT program is a challenging camp experience designed to mold future leaders. The LIT program emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and will push campers to evaluate themselves. This is an important step towards becoming a Camp Counselor. LIT is not a counselor training program! LIT’s will focus on their own development.

Days are filled with games, pony rides, arts and crafts, nature, swimming and more. It is a closely supervised four-day introduction to camping with lots of individual attention for first-time campers. Cabin groups experience some of camp’s traditional activities together, but kids also have the opportunity to choose a few activities on their own. We maintain a ratio of at least one counselor per four campers. Understanding this is possibly a child’s first time away from home, our caring staff keeps the new camper safe and happy. Accommodations are climate-controlled cabins with indoor plumbing.

Mini Raptors Camp is a fun, exciting and safe way to introduce your camper to a residential camp experience. Swimming, archery, arts & crafts and campfires are just a few of the activities your camper will enjoy. Mini Raptors Camp is designed for the 9-10 year old first time camper to try Camp Lakewood for just four days. All campers are the same age, so every activity is geared for them. Accommodations are climate-controlled cabins with indoor plumbing.

Rangers will spend the first few days at camp learning different paddling techniques, how to build fires and shelters, and packing the essentials – all to prepare for an amazing three-day and two night canoeing trip down the Current River.

Rangers will backpack to explore and see some of the secret gems hidden on the 5,200 acres on which camp resides.

Rangers will construct towers, forts, small engineering projects, table, chairs, etc. They will also learn about and try their hand at blacksmithing.