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2023 Summer Camp: June 19-July 28, 2023

Week 1 (June 19-23), Week 2 (June 26-30), Week 3 (July 3-July 7), 
Week 4 (July 10-14), Week 5 (July 17-21), Week 6 (July 24-28)

Lee County Parks & Recreation offers a variety of camp programs to help make the summer fun. Many camps fill quickly, so register early. Camp Registration starts February 27 at 7 a.m.. Camps are offered on a weekly basis. Register for the camps that interest you, on the weeks that work for you. Register online  or call (239) 533-7275. 

Click each title below to see more details

Summer Camp Open House

Traditional: Thursday, June 15, 4-5 p.m.
Estero Recreation Center
Traditional & Middle School: Thursday, June 15, 6-8 p.m.
Karl Drews Community Center
Camp All-Star & Camp Sunshine: Thursday, June 15, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lakes Park
Specialty: Thursday, June 15, 4-6 p.m.
Manatee Park
Eco-Detectives: Thursday, June 15, 4-6 p.m.
Traditional & Middle School: Thursday, June 15, 5-7 p.m.
Olga Community Center
Traditional: Thursday, June 15, 4-6 p.m.
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Slough Secrets, Summer Naturalists, Wilderness Explorers & Art in Nature: Friday, June 16, 4-6 p.m. 
Veterans Park Recreation Center
Traditional & Middle School: Friday, June 16, 5-7 p.m.
Pine Island Open House

Traditional: Wednesday, June 14 from 5-7 p.m.


Come out and meet your counselors, fill out any missing paperwork and tour the camp site! Open house is the perfect opportunity to make sure you and your children are ready for the summer.

Traditional Camp (Completed kindergarten-5th grade)

All six weeks

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - $75/child per week

These camps offer a full day of excitement. They are the kind of camps you remember when you went to day camp. Day camp activities include arts and crafts, sports, organized games, quiet play, water activities and outdoor activities. Safety is our number one concern, so our staff-to-camper ratio is 1-to-15. Some of our camp locations have numerous outdoor activities, while others have a combination of both indoor/outdoor activities. As a part of Lee County Parks & Recreation’s commitment to fitness and environment, all camps will have outdoor activities each day. 

Middle School Camp (6th-8th grade)

All six weeks
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - $75/child per week
This is not your typical camp! Middle schoolers will participate in "non-traditional" activities geared towards their interest. Each camp offers a variety of weekly themes in order to provide focus on a particular topic. Activities will be tied to the theme and will include indoor and outdoor activities, games and much more.

Specialty Camps (Weeks and ages vary)

Eco-Detectives Camp 1

Manatee Park
Week 1: June 19-23
9 a.m.-4 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 8-12)  per week
Campers will spend the week learning about the many ecosystems represented in Manatee Park. They will go on outdoor adventures including kayak trips. There will be speakers and activities that educate and inspire your camper to care for the world around them

Slough Secrets Camp

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Week 2: June 26-30 
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 8-9)
Campers experience boardwalk explorations, scavenger hunts, and other activities to find out how animals and plants work together to make the Slough such a special place.

Eco-Detectives Camp 2

Manatee Park
Week 3: July 3-7
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 8-12)  per week
Campers will spend the week learning about the many ecosystems represented in Manatee Park. They will go on outdoor adventures including kayak trips. There will be speakers and activities that educate and inspire your camper to care for the world around them

Summer Naturalists

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 
Week 4: July 10-14
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 10-12) 
Summer Naturalists love searching for animals in the Slough. Campers learn nature awareness techniques to notice wildlife, identify animal signs and understand how their presence can influence animals behavior. Hands-on learning occurs in every session and will include using binoculars, spotting scopes and artifacts. The week will culminate in a wet walk into the interior of the Slough.

Wilderness Explorers Camp

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Week 5: July 17-21
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 13-16)
Campers challenge themselves in the areas of tracking, animal study, awareness and primitive skills. Examples of skills include fiber twining, shelter building and fire by friction.

Art in Nature Camp

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 
Week 6: July 24-28
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – $75 per child (ages 10-13) 
Campers will learn awareness techniques to build a connection between art and nature. We introduce art skills such as sketching, painting, photography, creative writing and more

Lakes Park Exploration Camp

Lakes Park
Weeks to be announced
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. – $75 per child/week (3rd-6th Grade)
Campers will have a full day of excitement and activities in this primarily outdoor camp at Lakes Park.

Special Needs Camps (Ages 6-21)

Camp Sunshine

Karl Drews Special Needs Center

All six weeks
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - $75 per child (ages 6-12) per week
These camps are designed for participants with special physical and/or developmental delays. All potential special needs camp participants are required to complete an assessment by the department’s Special Needs staff in order to register. Call (239) 267-2181 to set up an interview. A copy of the participant’s IEP and behavior plan will be needed before the interview takes place. Campers with varying disabilities have the opportunity to register in the Special Needs summer camp programs upon completion of the assessment. Working with the inclusion team, campers are ensured to have a successful and enjoyable summer camp.

Camp All-Star

Karl Drews Special Needs Center

All six weeks
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - $75 per child (ages 13-21) per week
These camps are designed for participants with special physical and/or developmental delays. All potential special needs camp participants are required to complete an assessment by the department’s Special Needs staff in order to register. Call (239) 267-2181 to set up an interview. A copy of the participant’s IEP and behavior plan will be needed before the interview takes place. Campers with varying disabilities have the opportunity to register in the Special Needs summer camp programs upon completion of the assessment. Working with the inclusion team, campers are ensured to have a successful and enjoyable summer camp.

Counselors and Summer Staff

To ensure your child has a safe and rewarding camp experience, each camp counselor is carefully chosen. They have passed a background check and must be current in CPR/First Aid.  All staff undergo an intense training that includes behavior management, safety procedures, proper planning and programming skills, department standards and expectations. Camp counselors are trained to take the time to listen and help build your child's self-esteem and self-confidence. More than 60 percent of summer staff has worked with Lee County Parks & Recreation for two to three years and in some cases, as many as six to seven years. This high return of counselors is a mark of endorsement and knowledge of their passion to work with your child in a fun and rewarding environment. 

Summer Camp Coloring Contest Winners

The Summer Camp Coloring Contest is to celebrate and acknowledge July as National Parks & Recreation Month. The contest was broken up into five age groups; 6 years and under, 7-8 years old, 9-10 years old, 11-12 years old, and Middle School. Participants were judged on neatness, creativity and overall appearance. Congratulations to our winners!


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