Teen & Leadership Camps
Is your teen ready to make a difference? With our Teen & Leadership Camps, we develop our campers into the leaders of tomorrow by focusing on character building, leadership development, teamwork, and physical, mental, and emotional growth. Whether they want to be counselors at Camp Kern or do good in their community, our goal is to help every camper succeed in the future while also having an exciting summer camp experience.
Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday
This 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, an extended canoe river trip, and numerous other high adventure activities!
2025 Dates:
Session 1: June 1-6
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 9: July 27-August 1
Availability
- Session 1
- Session 3
- Session 5
- Session 7
- Session 9
$875
Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday
Our infamous, premier character building program has been revamped and improved for 2025! Spend your week out in Survivor Village while competing in daily challenges with and against friends. Living quarters will be rustic (no A/C), challenges will be difficult, and the opportunities to build character and meet new friends will be endless! Daily Tribal Councils help the Survivors reflect on the day, learn from each other, create lifelong bonds, and help develop one another into true leaders. At the end of each session we'll name Kern's Ultimate Survivor - voted by their peers- who will receive a FREE WEEK of camp next summer.
2025 Dates:
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 8: July 20-25
Availability
- Session 2
- Session 6
- Session 8
$875
Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday - Friday
Our infamous, premier character building program has been revamped and improved for 2025! Spend your week out in Survivor Village while competing in daily challenges with and against friends. Living quarters will be rustic (no A/C), challenges will be difficult, and the opportunities to build character and meet new friends will be endless! Daily Tribal Councils help the Survivors reflect on the day, learn from each other, create lifelong bonds, and help develop one another into true leaders. At the end of each session we'll name Kern's Ultimate Survivor - voted by their peers- who will receive a FREE WEEK of camp next summer.
2025 Dates:
Session 4: June 22-27
Availability
- Session 4
$875
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 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.
2025 Dates:
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 6: July 6-11
Availability
- Session 2
- Session 4
- Session 6
$850
Weeklong Residential/Overnight Camp w/ Service Projects: Sunday - Friday
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.
2025 Dates:
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 8: July 20-25
Availability
- Session 3
- Session 8
$700
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. CITs attend one training week and then can be registered for any combination of In-Cabin sessions that take place after their Training Week. Training Weeks will be 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.
2025 CIT Dates & Session Pricing:
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Attend Training Week Session 1 (June 1-6) $700 |
Attend Training Week Session 5 (June 29-July 4) $700 |
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In-Cabin Session Options: Session 2: June 8-13 ($150) Session 3: June 15-20 ($150) Session 4: June 22-27 ($150) Session 5: June 29-July 4 ($150) Session 6: July 6-11 ($150) Session 7: July 13-18 ($150) Session 8: July 20-25 ($150) Session 9: July 27-August 2 ($150) |
In-Cabin Session Options: Session 6: July 6-11 ($150) Session 7: July 13-18 ($150) Session 8: July 20-25 ($150) Session 9: July 27-August 1 ($150) |
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
$700 for Training Week, $150 for each In-Cabin Session
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 held on Saturday, April 5 at 1PM. The program's director, MacKallie Householder, will send out an invitation link closer to the date of the meeting.
This program will be listed under "Adventure Trips" on the Camper Application.
2025 Dates:
Session 3: June 15-20 (SOLD OUT, waitlist available)
Availability
- Session 3 (Sold out)
$980
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, attending a local sports game and more!
This program will be listed under "Adventure Trips" on the Camper Application.
2025 Dates:
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 6: July 6-11
Availability
- Session 4
- Session 6
$925
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 SOLD OUT
Session 7-8 Weekend: July 18-20
Availability
$120
2025 Summer Camp 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
If you have questions about our Teen & Leadership 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).