Columbus Youth Camp
Private
Outdoor day camp on 137 wooded acres outside Columbus, run by the nonprofit Foundation For Youth and accredited by the American Camp Association. Its Summer of Exploration program serves incoming 1st-6th graders, who choose week by week between staying at the Boys & Girls Club for STEAM activities and riding the bus out to camp for outdoor adventure. The property has seven miles of trails, eleven cabins, a lake, a mountain bike trail, two challenge courses and an outdoor theater. A companion program, M.E.T.A.S., pairs camp activities with daily academic enrichment for Latino students in Bartholomew County.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Columbus Youth Camp directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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Accreditations & licensing
As stated by the camp or listed in the accrediting organization's directory — confirm current status with the accreditor.
Google Reviews
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★★★★★Cory FowlerCame for a graduation party. I have not been here since I was little.
★★★★★Jess McGuireWe love the youth camp! Lots of fun things for the kiddos!
★★★★★John E. OwensDaughter enjoyed herself very much and wants to go again next year
★★★★★Andrew WatsonThis camp boasts many attractions for youth and adults alike. The facilities are a mixture of rustic ans contemporary. Many update have already been make, including climate controlled bunk houses and modern outdoor activities. The director proclaims that many more updates are in the works and I have no doubt this it true with the vast volunteer groups and support from local businesses in the area. This is a great place for summer youth camp or off season retreats. Check it out for yourself.
★★★★★Andrew YoungI send my two girls and a friend to CYC every year for day camp. They swim in the beautiful lake every day (aside from rain), eat healthy lunches (vegetables and fruit are always included), and there are MORE than enough other activities going on to keep everyone busy and outdoors all day long. Every day when I pack them into the van within a few minutes the girls are passed out asleep. A few highlights are: Turtle Catching and Pole Fishing Canoes and Kayaks Ziplines and High Ropes RC and BMX bump track GaGa Ball pit GIANT slip n' Slide and Water Kickball (picture) Archery and Paintball Overnights Science-Based Activities including a giant Lab Rustic spaces to explore, hike, and investigate More crafts than you can shake a stick at! The counselors become their best friends for the summer. They have led them in every way possible and kept them safe. A special shout out to Liz who my daughter could not stop talking about! This is a camp for kids who learn by DOING. This is a place where you come home dirty and wet, maybe a little scraped but grinning because of everything that HAPPENED to you that day. The EXPERIENCE of trusting their own intuition and placing trust in their counselors has been invaluable for my girls.