Join us for a unique day camp experience combining summer fun with nature-based science education activities. We offer a variety of camps for ages 7-15. Campers will take on the role of naturalist, scientist, and adventurer as they explore the forest and the creatures that inhabit it. Traditional summer camp fun will round out the experience, creating an adventure to remember for a lifetime!
What makes Jefferson Memorial Forest Camps special?
• A great counselor-to-camper ratio! We have two counselors for every 15 campers. Our Forest Explorers programs work on a 1:8 ratio.
• A highly trained staff.
• Hands-on nature activities and adventures.
• Campers learn new skills and build confidence in the natural world.
• Because this camp is about exploring the natural world, campers should be able to walk on trails, walk up and down hills, and traverse flat and uneven ground.
• Campers should be prepared to be outdoors all day (learn more about preparing for camp here).
• Because campers work cooperatively together in small groups, it is necessary that your child has the ability to maintain appropriate self-control in social situations.
• Parents with questions regarding the ability of Jefferson Memorial Forest staff to meet their child’s needs should contact the Camp Director at (502) 366-5432 well in advance of the start of camp. We are happy to make reasonable accommodations to ensure all campers have the best experience.
Shuttle service will be offered from George Rogers Clark Park at Thruston Ave. and Poplar Level Rd. Parents may purchase a pass for $40 (per child, per session) that will provide transportation for the week. The service is only for children ages 7 to 15. Make reservations early.
Is your child an adventurer, ready to explore what’s around the next bend in the trail? If so, then Adventure Camp is just what your child needs! Campers explore the trails deep in the forest, climb our alpine tower, shoot bows and arrows, use map and compass to discover buried treasure, and learn outdoor survival skills.
Shelter-Water-Fire-Food: These are the four basic human needs for survival. In training for the ultimate survival challenge on Friday, campers will develop their ability to build a shelter, start a fire, and find food and water in the wilderness. Teams will be challenged to complete their survival skills and obtain their shelter, water, fire, and food emblems to make them an ultimate survivor. We have added a second session this year due to popularity!
Discover the exciting world within a pond, lake, stream and river. Campers explore a lake by canoe, play in a flowing creek, and hike through a forest to a winding stream. And of course, no water-themed camp is complete without water games! Personal floatation devices (PFDs) are provided to each camper and trained staff accompany the campers for our canoe excursion and creek play day. Parents are welcome to join their child for the canoeing excursion.
Prepare yourself for adventure on a whole new level! This is THE camp that sets itself apart from other camps! From camping out under the stars on an overnight trip to canoeing at Mitchell Hill Lake, you’re sure to get your dose of adventure at ECO X Camp, all while learning backcountry cooking, canoeing techniques, Leave No Trace skills, and more.
Enter a magical, hidden world in the Forest, where creatures of the imagination live. Campers use their creativity and natural materials to craft an enchanted land where anything is possible, while learning about the plants and animals of the forest. Looking for Lilith Theatre Company will create various drama activities with campers to develop their characters for the play on Friday. Families are invited to come out for the play and enjoy a Woodland Fairy Tea Party.
Travel back in time more than 200 years to discover nature and people through Historic Locust Grove. Discover life in the 18th and 19th centuries for the first European settlers and American Indians. This hands-on camp will take kids on a time-traveling adventure! PLEASE NOTE: Drop off and pick up will take place at Locust Grove. There will be no shuttle service for this session.
Price includes all camp supplies and field trip admissions. 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 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.
If you would like your child to be grouped with a sibling or friend, please indicate this on the registration form. This cannot be guaranteed if the children are in different age groups or if space is not available. Campers are grouped according to age. This allows for an optimum learning experience.
Prices include all supplies, back pack and admission for special field trips. To guarantee your child’s spot, you may pay with a check through the mail or pay in person by cash, check or credit card at the Forest Welcome Center. Make checks payable to Jefferson Memorial Forest. Include the session dates your child is attending on the check.
A cancellation must be received in writing no less than 2 weeks prior to the first day of camp. A refund (less a $25 processing fee) will be made. If the camp is cancelled by Louisville Parks, a full refund will be made. Refunds cannot be made due to weather. Forest Staff will make additions, omissions, and or adjustments to the schedule in the interest of group safety, well-being, and minimum staffing requirements.
It is the intent of Louisville Parks and Recreation to make all facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities; if an accommodation is necessary for your participation, please advise us of the needed service in advance. Call (502) 456-8148 (voice) or (502) 456-8183 (TDD).