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Columbus and central Ohio: who runs camps, in their own words

Columbus Recreation and Parks prints separate registration times for Columbus residents and for the general public. Its lines, and the other operators’, are quoted below.

Listed, not checked. We have not visited, inspected, rated or endorsed any camp named on this page, and a camp being named here says nothing about how it is run. Each fact is the operator’s or the agency’s own wording, with a link to the page it came from. Read the questions to ask and put them to the camp yourself.

What does Columbus Recreation and Parks print?

City recreation

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department

Official page: columbusrecparks.com

Ages

Community centers offer themed, week-long camps for youth ages 6-12. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Registration

Online: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 | Columbus residents: 12 p.m. | General public: 7 p.m. (columbusrecparks.com) the line prints 2026
Online: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026 | Columbus residents: 12 p.m. | General public: 7 p.m. (columbusrecparks.com) the line prints 2026
Registration for Outdoor Recreation camps opens on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 12 p.m. for Columbus residents, and 7 p.m. for the general public. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Residents

Residents are those who live within the municipal boundaries of Columbus. Non-residents must pay additional fees. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Help paying

In 2026, each child will be eligible for up to $150 in scholarship support for the year, with awards provided based on eligibility. (columbusrecparks.com) the line prints 2026
the PLAY Scholarship can be applied to summer camp after the first week of camp is paid for. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Paid in full by

ALL camp session enrollment fees must be paid in full prior to the first day of camp, June 8, 2026. (columbusrecparks.com) the line prints 2026

Refunds

Refund requests submitted after May 11 will not be granted, unless accompanied by an extenuating medical circumstance. A $15 processing fee will be assessed for each refund request processed. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Late pick-up

A $15 fee applies for pick-ups between 5:30-5:45 p.m., with an additional charge of $1 per minute for arrivals after 5:45 p.m. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

Accommodation requests

All Accommodation Requests MUST be received no later than Wednesday, April 1 to allow time for the assessment process and collaboration with the camp director before the summer camp season begins. (columbusrecparks.com) no year in this line

The weekly fee was not in the page text we read.

What have Metro Parks said about the coming season?

Metro parks

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks

Official page: metroparks.net

Coming season

Summer 2027 Information will be available in January! (metroparks.net) the line prints 2027

That sentence is all we found on the page about summer when read.

What does the YMCA of Central Ohio print?

YMCA

YMCA of Central Ohio, Summer Day Camp

Official page: ymcacolumbus.org, frequently asked questions

Grades

Summer Day Camp For youth entering grades 1st - 6th (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line

Season on the page

2026 Summer Camp Weeks (ymcacolumbus.org) the line prints 2026

Deposits

Standard deposit fees are $20/week for each camp instance. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line
Deposits are not refundable or transferable at any time. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line
The balance of your camp fees is charged 10 days before each week of camp on Fridays. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line

Help paying

Scholarships or financial assistance are available. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line
Requests should be made by April 15 2026. Funding may be limited, so we recommend applying early. (ymcacolumbus.org) the line prints 2026

The YMCA’s own statements about itself

The American Camp Association (ACA) accredits all YMCA of Central Ohio Day Camp programs. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line
All YMCA of Central Ohio Day Camps are registered with the State of Ohio Department of Children & Youth. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line

The accreditation and state-registration lines are the YMCA’s own statements. The state’s own search tool is linked from the registration page.

What the YMCA says its accreditation involves: YMCA Day Camps maintain a voluntary Accreditation with the American Camp Association, Inc. This independent body establishes standards for camp operation, program quality and health and safety of campers. ACA accreditation includes an annual compliance statement and an on-site visit every three to five years. (ymcacolumbus.org) That is the operator’s description. The American Camp Association’s own pages refuse automated readers. A few lines from one of them, read in a web browser, are on the accreditation page with their read date.

How old can a camper be at Camp Willson?

YMCA · overnight

YMCA Camp Willson

Official page: ymcacampwillson.org, YMCA of Central Ohio summer camp page, YMCA of Central Ohio camp questions

Ages, on the camp’s own page

We fill each week at YMCA Camp Willson with unique experiences for kids and teens ages 6-17 (ymcacampwillson.org) no year in this line

Ages, on the YMCA of Central Ohio summer camp page

YMCA Camp Willson is the ultimate overnight camp experience for youth and teens ages 6 to 16. (ymcacolumbus.org) no year in this line

Ages, on the YMCA of Central Ohio questions page

It offers week-long summer camp stays for kids and teens ages 6-17, and 2026 registration is open! (ymcacolumbus.org) the line prints 2026

Shorter stay

Mini week camp offers campers the full camp experience condensed in four days filled with outdoor adventure for campers entering grades 1–5. (ymcacampwillson.org) no year in this line

The pages disagree about the upper age: two print 6-17 and one prints 6 to 16. We show all three and do not choose. Our suggestion: if your camper is 17, ask the camp.

What do Ohio 4-H and the Girl Scouts print?

4-H

Ohio 4-H camps (Ohio State University Extension)

Official page: ohio4h.org, camping facilities

How to attend

For more information about how to attend your county's 4-H camp, contact your local OSU Extension Office (ohio4h.org) no year in this line

What it is, in 4-H’s words

It is youth challenging themselves on a high ropes course, braiding a friendship bracelet, swimming in a lake, learning a line dance, and becoming lifelong friends with their cabinmates. (ohio4h.org) no year in this line

We found no dates or prices on the state page; it sends families to the county office.

Scouts

Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland

Official page: gsoh.org

Overnight camp

Ready for an overnight experience at our Camp Molly Lauman? (gsoh.org) no year in this line

Day camp

Get outdoors this summer with our council day camp opportunities! (gsoh.org) no year in this line

No dates, ages or prices were in the page text we read.

Two more camps describe themselves as serving campers with disabilities or serious illnesses: Recreation Unlimited and Flying Horse Farms. Their own wording is on the disabilities and medical needs page.

What does the registration law say about city and park-district programs?

The registration statute’s fifth exemption: (5) A program that provides activities for children who are five years of age or older and is operated by any county, township, municipal corporation, township park district created under section 511.18 of the Revised Code, park district created under section 1545.04 of the Revised Code, or joint recreation district established under section 755.04 of the Revised Code. (codes.ohio.gov, effective January 1, 2025) A program that fits those words is not asked to register, so its absence from the state’s list is not a warning sign. Whether a given operator’s program fits, or registers anyway, is a question for that operator. The YMCA says this about itself: All YMCA of Central Ohio Day Camps are registered with the State of Ohio Department of Children & Youth. (ymcacolumbus.org)