Teen Camps

Group of Kids in Zip-Line Gear

Camp Kern is dedicated to developing our young adults into thoughtful, positive influencers in the world, through a variety of programs. Each of the programs listed below offers something a little above and beyond a normal week at camp, but what they all share in common is a committed focus on giving teens experiences and memories that will help them succeed in the future.

Register for Summer Camp

Each of these programs keeps the same group of teens together with the same group of carefully selected counselors to ensure that real relationships can be formed and near-peer mentorship can happen. Check out the programs below, and decide which one is right for you.

If you have questions on our Teen Camps, please contact MacKallie Householder, Teen & Family Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (513)932-3756 ext. 1530.

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

This newly redesigned program is designed for the camper who has a spirit for adventure and is ready to take on new challenges. Test your sense of adventure while tackling challenges like our high ropes course, 9-mile canoe trip, and other numerous high adventure activities!

2024 Session Dates
Session 1: June 2-7
Session 3: June 16-21
Session 5: June 30-July 5
Session 7: July 14-19
Session 9: July 28-August 2

Availability

  • Session 1
  • Session 3
  • Session 5
  • Session 7
  • Session 9

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

Challenge yourself to a week of living in the outdoors while competing with and against friends. Living quarters will be rustic, challenges will be difficult and the opportunities to build character and meet new friends will be endless! At the end of each session, we’ll name Kern’s Ultimate Character Survivor, who will receive a free week of camp the next summer. Camper's will stay in our rustic (no A/C) Survivor Village. 

2024 Session Dates
Session 6: July 7-12
Session 8: July 21-26

Availability

  • Session 6
  • Session 8

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

This is the ultimate program to test yourself, make lifelong friends, and experience Camp Kern in a way you have never imagined! What challenges await you? Who will be this year’s Ultimate Teen Survivor?! The prize is still the same: a new and improved self-image, along with a free week of camp for the week’s winner. Campers will stay in our rustic (no A/C) Survivor Village. 

2024 Session Dates
Session 2: June 9-14
Session 4: June 23-28

Availability

  • Session 2
  • Session 4

Learn to be a Leader!

Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday

The LIT program develops group dynamics, problem-solving, and the camping skills we look for in future staff members. While living in the rustic Brisben village (No A/C) campers will grow in character and appreciation for camp by participating in this program. LIT’s will participate in team building and character development activities that help them to learn more about themselves and different leadership styles. Ultimately, LIT’s will leave their mark on camp by being having a hand in leading activities and participating in a group-designed service project for camp. This training is a steppingstone for teens who are interested in transitioning into future leaders, but still enjoy the magic of being a camper.

2024 Session Dates
Session 1: June 2-7 (Girls' spots sold out - waitlist forming)
Session 4: June 23-28 
Session 6: July 7-12 (Girls' spots sold out - waitlist forming)

Availability

  • Session 1
  • Session 4
  • Session 6

New for 2024!

Residential/Overnight Camp:

New for 2024! Ready to make a difference? Grow your leadership skills through acts of service at Camp Kern. Campers will participate in a mix of behind-the-scenes service projects at camp, structured leadership skill-building sessions, and assorted fun camp activities. Want to continue your camp journey and a three-week or full-summer commitment doesn't fit in your schedule? Crew Service Camp is the program for you. Upon completion receive a letter from Camp Kern validating your service hours.

2024 Session Dates
Session 2: June 9-14
Session 8: July 21-26

Availability

  • Session 2
  • Session 8

Weeks of Growth!

This program is an opportunity to enhance and develop self-confidence, self-awareness, communication skills, tolerance for adversity, and personal leadership style. New to this summer, with successful completion of their first two weeks, participants stay for a third week of camp. Your training as a CIT will begin with a full week focused on team building, leadership skill development, and learning behavior management skills with your peer CIT’s. This program offers endless possibilities to be a positive role model and to make new friends. We ask you to push yourself to experience the real magic of camp! To take part in the CIT program, campers will require two references and take part in a mock interview process. 

Learn more here!

2024 CIT Sessions:

CIT-A: Sessions 1-3 (June 2-7/ June 9-14/ June 16-21)

CIT-B: Sessions 3-5 (June 16-21/June 23-28/June 30-July 5)

CIT-C: Sessions 5-7 (June 30-July5/ July 7-12/ July 14-19)

CIT-D: Sessions 7-9 (July 14-19/ July 21-26/ July 28-August 2)

Please note that a weekend stayover is not automatically built-in to the CIT schedule to allow participants time away from camp to rest and recharge. If you would like your CIT to stay in between their sessions, please make sure to select a Weekend Stayover on your Camper Application. 

Availability

  • Session 1
  • Session 3
  • Session 5
  • Session 7

$996 for three weeks

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West Virginia is not for the faint of heart! Come prepared to push yourself and meet some life-long friends as you make memories. Travel to ACE Adventure Resort in West Virginia and begin with a run down the Lower New River in Class II to IV rapids (those are big!). Next, challenge and competition await on the paintball field. Run a professional vendor, this is your chance to show off some paint marking skills. Following paintball, the entire group is challenged to complete a unique Mud Obstacle course! To request any additional information, or if you have any questions regarding our Kern Adventure Trips programs, contact MacKallie Householder at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 513-932-3756 x1530. 

An informational Zoom meeting for parents/guardians of campers registered for this trip will be hosted on Saturday, April 6th at 1:00 pm.  

2024 Session Dates
Session 2: June 9-14 - SOLD OUT, Waitlist forming

Availability

  • Session 2 (Sold out)

Weeklong Residential/Overnight Camp w/ Daily Off-Site Excursions: Sunday - Friday

Formerly Extreme Camp, this program will still feature off-site excursions each day but will offer a more mellow, broad range of activities. Campers stay in Camp Kern lodging and are chaperoned by camp counselors on daily off-site excursions to local attractions in the southwest Ohio area. Planned excursions include trips to Kings Island, Soak City Waterpark, Laser Tag, a Cincinnati Reds game and more!

2024 Session Dates
Session 4: June 23-28
Session 6: July 7-12 (Boys spots sold out, waitlist forming)

Availability

  • Session 4
  • Session 6

Fun All Weekend Long!

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Want to experience the magic of camp for two weeks or more in a row? Stay the weekend in between at Kern!  The weeks must be consecutive weeks at camp. All campers laundry is cleaned in between weeks. Campers will participate in various activities at camp over the weekend before they are signed in for their next week of camp!

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

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

The following Free Weekend Stayovers are planned for summer 2024:

Sessions 3-4: June 21-23

Sessions 4-5: June 28-30 SOLD OUT

Sessions 5-6: July 5-7 SOLD OUT

Sessions 7-8: July 19-21

We are also offering "Super Stayovers" on other weekends that include a trip to Kings Island. These Super Stayovers will have a fee to cover park admission and food. Click the "Add On: Super Weekend Stayovers" tab to learn more.

Availability

Stay for the weeeeeeeeeeee-kend

Super Stay 1

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 and transportation. 

Weekend stays are only available to campers attending weeklong residential camp programs. Weekend Stayovers are not available for campers attending Sunrise Day Camp, Lil' Farmes Day Camp,  First Camp, Taste of Kern, 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. 

The following Super Weekend Stayovers are planned for summer 2024:

Sessions 2-3: June 14-16

Sessions 6-7: July 12-14

We are also offering Free Stayovers on other weekends that do not include a Kings Island excursion. Click the "Add On: Free Weekend Stayovers" tab to learn more. 

Availability