Summer Camps

The Forest offers summer camps for ages 5 to 15.

Click here for the summer camp booklet
Click here for registration form

Summer Adventures
Each provides children an immersion experience in the natural world. They take on the roles of naturalist, scientist, and explorer as they discover new things about the forest, and the creatures that inhabit it. By combining educational activities and learning experiences with traditional summer camp fun, your child will have an educational adventure to remember for a lifetime.

Camp activities include nature study, crafts, science experiments, games, journaling, hikes and animal contact with the Forest’s education animals. Each session runs for one week. Each child receives a Jefferson Memorial Forest water bottle.
Each day begins promptly at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Each of these camps are for ages 7 to 12. Additional age groups are listed at the bottom.

Adventure Camp
Is your child an explorer? Do they crave adventure? They are sure to find it here! Campers explore the trails deep in the forest, climb our alpine tower, and learn skills such as fire and shelter building and using a map and compass.
Dates: June 13-17, and July 11-15

Creature Trek
Campers explore a variety of habitats and learn about the creatures that call these places home. Campers travel through the forest, along the forest edge, across fields and meadows, and into streams. Campers will learn what to look for when tracking animals, and what the population of animals can tell us about ourselves and how we affect the world around us.
Dates: June 20-24

Aquatic Habitats
Discover the exciting world within a pond, lake, stream and river. Campers explore a lake while canoeing, hike through a forest to a winding stream, use nets to collect specimens, and view the many tiny creatures they collect on our videoscope. Campers are engaged in crafts, journaling and science experiments. Life preservers are provided and trained staff will accompany the campers in a 1:3 ratio for our canoe excursions. Parents are welcome to join their child for canoeing field trips.
Dates: June 27-July 1

Fairies, Trolls and Gnomes
Enter the magical, hidden side of the Forest, where creatures of the imagination live. A camp that explores the fantastical hidden Forest. Campers will use their imagination and natural materials to create an enchanged land where anything is possible, while learning about the forest and its different habitats.
Dates: July 18-22

Forest Explorers
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ages 5 to 6
Search for animal tracks, discover the fascinating world of insects, find life in a small scoop of pond water, and hike the trails! Through stories, crafts and hands-on activities your child will make discoveries about the variety of habitats and the animals living in the Forest. Come explore!
Dates: July 5-8
CSI – Creature Scene Investigations
Ages 10-13
An in-depth look at the ecology and biology of the natural world. Focusing on animals, students learn about animal adaptations, how to identify animals using only their bones and teeth, how to identify animal evidence and understand how forest animals have adapted to survive. Please note: this camp will include a dissection.
Dates: July 25 - 29

ECO Extreme 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM except Thursday
Ages 13 to 15
Ready for extreme adventure? Then you have found the right camp. Canoeing, back country camping, exploring areas off the beaten path – Campers learn Leave No Trace skills, Wilderness First Responder skills and challenge themselves and each other as they go extreme. Group camps out Thursday night.
Dates: July 5th – July 8th

Forest Explorers
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ages 5 to 6
Using our brand new Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, explorers use their imagination to create art, and play areas using natural materials. Going on short hikes into the Forest, explorers search for animal tracks, discover the fascinating world of insects, and find life in a small scoop of pond water. Through stories, crafts and hands-on activities your child will make discoveries about the variety of habitats and the animals living in the Forest. Come explore!
Dates: July 5-July 8

Click here for registration form
Cost is per child, per week. Ages  Cost
Forest Adventure, Creature Trekking, Aquatic Habitats, Fairies, Trolls and Gnomes 7 to 12 $120.00
CSI - Creature Scene Investigation 10 to 13 $125.00
Forest Explorers 5 to 6 $110.00
ECO Extreme 13 to  15             $175.00

Payment options and refunds
Price includes all camp supplies, water bottle, t-shirt, and small snack. Registration forms can be mailed with check or credit card information to Jefferson Memorial Forest, P O Box 467, Fairdale, KY 40118. Reservations cannot be made over the phone. Make checks payable to Jefferson Memorial Forest. Include the session dates that your child is attending on the check. Refunds, less a $25.00 processing fee, are given only if a cancellation is made in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the first day of camp. If a camp is filled or cancelled, a full refund will be made to you. All camps are subject to maximum and minimum enrollment requirements.