Traditional Camp

There is never a dull moment in Frontier Village!

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

Each day is jam packed with exciting games and activities specially designed for Frontier Village. Counselors are trained to ensure a positive experience for younger campers. Frontier camps out as a village together and plays a special village game known only to Frontier each week!  

Frontier campers enjoy their own pool time for one hour each morning, where they learn some basic water safety in fun and engaging games. Campers then participate in activities with their cabin group in the morning, and choice activities in the afternoon. Frontier campers cook their own hot dogs by the fire on Tuesday night, and follow it up with stargazing and a campfire! Frontier is the best week in the world for any 7 to 9-year-old, regardless of their camp experience in the past.

2025 Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1

Availability

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6
• Session 7
• Session 8
• Session 9

Register

$850

Explorer Village Campers will enjoy a thrilling week of fun and adventure.

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

Each week includes the traditional charm of Traditional Camp, including choosing their own afternoon activities, with specialized programs only for Explorer Village. Each Tuesday features games such as Capture the Soup Stick, which is both highly entertaining and exhausting.

Explorer campers conquer the Giant Swing during their week of fun, and have their first shot at the Archery Range! To round things out, the week features optional Trail Rides, and access to all the Add-on Programs for Traditional Camp! Spending a week at Explorer Village builds friendships for life, and independence for the future!

2025 Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1

Availability

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6
• Session 7
• Session 8
• Session 9

Register

$850

No two days are the same!

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

During their Adventure Village experience, campers spend their days trying new activities and participating in some of Camp Kern’s most exciting events.

No two days are ever the same in this fun program, where campers choose their own afternoon activities for the day. Adventure participates in the themed all-camp game, along with an individualized campout experience where they camp out with their cabin mates and prepare their own “Hobo Dinner” over a campfire!

Village Game night is spent playing Raptor Tag in the evening, a game on which the future of Camp Kern rests. Every camper spends time riding the Twin Zipline, and for the first time, shooting at the Rifle Range! If you are ready for Adventure, you will go home with new friends, great memories, and completely exhausted.

2025 Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1

Availability

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6
• Session 7
• Session 8
• Session 9

Register

$850

Step up to Pioneer!

Pioneer Village is designed for the teen who still wants the Traditional Camp experience, but is ready for new challenges. We combine all the fun and excitement of Adventure Village, with bonus features reserved only for Pioneer Village.  

Pioneer Village campers will choose their own activities for the day, play themed all-camp games, and create traditions which will carry on for years to come. Pioneer Village is the only Traditional Camp program to do the High Ropes course, and features extra team-building and leadership activities. Step up to Pioneer!

2025 Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13 (Girls' spots sold out, waitlist available)
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1

Availability

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6
• Session 7
• Session 8
• Session 9

Register

$850

New for 2025!

Day Camp: Monday-Friday

NEW for 2025! We merged our Sunrise Day Camp and Traditional Camp programs to create a new day camp experience, offered for one week only and open to a wider age range. 

Join us for an exciting Monday through Friday day camp program at YMCA Camp Kern, where your child can immerse themselves in the adventure and magic of camp life! Set against the backdrop of 485 stunning acres of nature, our Traditional Day Camp provide the perfect opportunity for kids to disconnect from technology and connect with the great outdoors.

Each day is packed with engaging activities designed to foster friendships, build skills, and boost confidence. From group games and team challenges to hands-on nature exploration and camper-selected activities, your child will enjoy a balanced mix of structured fun and free play.

2025 Dates: 

Session 10: August 4-8

Availability

• Session 10

Register

$300

Make a splash!

Want to spice up your camper's traditional week of camp? Consider adding a river rafting trip to their Traditional Camp registration. Available to campers in the Explorer-Pioneer Villages, campers with this add-on will be bused to a neighboring canoe & rafting outfitter to begin their paddle trip. The optional rafting trip typically takes place on Tuesday each session, weather permitting. Camp staff will chaperone their leisurely paddle down the Little Miami River.

2025 Session Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6 SOLD OUT
Session 2: June 8-13 SOLD OUT
Session 3: June 15-20 SOLD OUT
Session 4: June 22-27 SOLD OUT
Session 5: June 29-July 4 SOLD OUT
Session 6: July 6-11 SOLD OUT
Session 7: July 13-18 SOLD OUT
Session 8: July 20-25 SOLD OUT
Session 9: July 27-August 1 SOLD OUT

Availability

• Session 1 (Sold out)
• Session 2 (Sold out)
• Session 3 (Sold out)
• Session 4 (Sold out)
• Session 5 (Sold out)
• Session 6 (Sold out)
• Session 7 (Sold out)
• Session 8 (Sold out)
• Session 9 (Sold Out)

Register

$30

Saddle up!

Won't you be our neigh-bor? Available for campers in Explorer-Pioneer Villages, campers registered for this add-on will travel to YMCA Camp Kern's Circle K Ranch for a one-hour trail ride on camp's horses accompanied by our ranch staff. Trail rides typically take place on Mondays and Wednesdays each session. In case of heavy rain, this activity will be moved to an indoor arena. 

2025 Session Dates:

Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1

Availability

• Session 1
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6
• Session 7
• Session 8
• Session 9

Register

$30

Stay for the weeeeeeeeeeee-kend

Want to experience the magic of camp for two weeks or more in a row, stay at camp over the weekend AND take a day trip to Kings Island? Stay on for a Super Weekend Stayover at Kern! Participating campers must be enrolled for consecutive weeks at camp.

All campers laundry is cleaned in between weeks. Campers will participate in various activities at camp over the weekend and take a day trip to nearby Kings Island amusement park. The fee for the Super Stayover includes park admission, food, drinks and transportation. 

Weekend Stayovers are only available to campers attending weeklong residential camp programs. Weekend Stayovers are not available for campers attending Sunrise Day Camp, Lil' Farmers Day Camp,  First Camp, Taste of Kern, Traditional Day Camp, Boots & Bits Day Camp, or Frontier Village programs.

Space is limited! Make sure to select the Super Weekend Stayover Add-on on your Camper Application. 

2025 Stayover Dates:

Session 2-3 Weekend: June 13-15
Session 3-4 Weekend: June 20-22
Session 4-5 Weekend: June 27-29
Session 5-6 Weekend: July 4-6
Session 6-7 Weekend: July 11-13
Session 7-8 Weekend: July 18-20

Availability

Register

$120