A familiar Louisville institution is starting a new traditional outdoor summer camp to serve Louisville kids.
Camp Kids’ Great Adventure is the latest iteration of Camp KGA offered by Kentucky Gymnastics Academy. Instead of a gymnastics focus inside of a gym, this new Camp KGA offers more than 15 activities on a 30-acre property that includes a lake, nature trails, sports fields and more.
“KGA has had a summer camp for as long as I can remember,” said KGA Owner Shannon Wickel. “We’ve always had a great time and had a waiting list, but we’ve never been able to offer much outdoors. Then I bought this new property.”
The new property is located at 2800 South English Station Road in Middletown. The size allows KGA to create more opportunities and increase the number of kids able to take part. With so much land at their disposal, Camp KGA will have a more well-rounded camp experience that goes far beyond gymnastics.
Aimed toward children aged 5 to 12, the camp offers more than 15 activities including swimming, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, sports like soccer and basketball, animal care, gymnastics, and even a water trampoline. Kids will have the option to switch up their itinerary to create the best experience possible, with special offerings like Tie Dye Tuesdays and Water Wars Wednesdays also available each day of the week. Campers can bring prepackaged lunches or choose from a variety of pre-purchased meals. A Kids’ Café will have ice cream, drinks and snacks available for purchase throughout the day. Parents can drop off their campers at 8:45 a.m. each day, then pick them up at 3 p.m.
Wickel wants Camp KGA to be a worry-free experience for parents. A 10:1 camper-to-counselor ratio ensures each child receives personalized attention in a supportive environment. Each counselor is trained in first aid and CPR, and many staff members are long-time KGA athletes, coaches and staff with ample experience. A nurse is on-site full time, and specially trained lifeguards help make sure the lake remains fun and safe for every camper. The camp is device-free, and campers are organized into groups of similar age.
Wickel said expanding the camp, from being gymnastics oriented at the gym to the larger operation on the property, has been a main priority. “Kids need to move and be active, and the resources are limited,” Wickel said. “Many camps in our city have waiting lists, so you have kids that have nowhere to go.”
Traditionally KGA has had a waiting list for its camp; the new camp is able to accommodate up to 200 kids per week. Most campers register for a full week, but Camp KGA has a special offering for those who can’t commit to a full five days. The “a la carte” option allows parents to choose single days for their child, which gives more kids access to everything the camp offers. “Not many summer camps offer that,” Wickel said. “That has worked well for us and is important to me to keep as part of the program. There are a lot of families who can’t afford a whole week, but they can swing one or two days.”
KGA will also offer a TumbleBugs Camp at its main gym, located at 1160 Avoca Station Court. Open to kids aged 2 to 5, TumbleBugs Camp is a half-day camp with activities like open gym play, learning, arts and crafts, and outdoor fun. It’s designed to introduce young campers to summer fun, while also engaging their minds and bodies. By moving the bigger camp to the new property, KGA will be able to open up more spots for its popular TumbleBugs.
Both camps begin June 2 and run through the last week of July. Prices start at $350 for the full week of Camp KGA and $200 for TumbleBugs, with daily options available at $85 and $57.75, respectively.
Eventually KGA will also move to the property on South English Station Road, and originally, Wickel’s plan was to start the camp after the gym was relocated. However, Wickel saw an opportunity to start the camp first, and she isn’t looking back. She hopes to honor the legacy of the land that was a family farm previously.
“I’m in love with this property,” Wickel said. “I’m very excited to finally show it to people and invite others to enjoy the property as much as I have.”
For more information about Camp Kids’ Great Adventure or TumbleBugs Camp, or to register, please visit kgagym.com.
