A Perfect Mix of Elective and Scheduled Activities For Children
Camp Lakota offers seven age-based programs for campers ages 6 to 16, each one designed for where your child actually is, developmentally and socially. From the Braves, our youngest first-time campers, through to our CIT Teen Leadership Program, every division builds on the last. Campers don’t just attend the same camp every year, they move through it, taking on more independence, more responsibility, and more of the experience that’s waiting for them at the next stage.
Our approach is inclusive and skills-focused. Every camper is welcomed regardless of experience level, and every program balances structured activities with room for real exploration. As an ACA-accredited camp, our programming, facilities, and staff all meet nationally recognized standards. Explore a day at Camp Lakota or meet our leadership team to learn more about what makes a Lakota summer different!
Lower camp is designed to introduce younger campers to the Lakota experience: building confidence, making friends, and learning how to be part of a community, all with higher levels of counselor support and structured routine to help them feel safe and settled from day one.
6-9 years old
Braves are our youngest campers, and for most, it’s their first time at sleepaway camp. The Braves program is built around a nurturing, structured environment where children heading into 1st through 4th grade can start building independence while feeling genuinely supported. With a higher counselor-to-camper ratio and our dedicated Camp Moms, no Brave goes unnoticed.
View Braves Program
10 years old
Hawks are fully settled into the Lakota rhythm and ready for more. With expanded elective options, later bedtimes, and a wider range of excursions, the Hawks program gives 10-year-olds more choices while keeping the supportive structure that helps them thrive.
View Hawks Program
11 years old
Scouts are the eldest of lower camp, and they know it. With more independence, more activity choices, and a growing sense of identity within the Lakota community, Scouts are preparing for the transition to upper camp and everything that comes with it.
View Scouts ProgramUpper camp is where independence, leadership, and identity take center stage. Campers in upper camp have earned real autonomy over how they spend elective time, how they engage with their community, and what kind of role they play in the Lakota experience. This is camp as teenagers need it: challenging, social, and genuinely meaningful.
12 years old
Trackers step into upper camp with curfew every night and expanded elective freedom. At 12, friendships are deepening and interests are crystallizing; our program gives Trackers the space to explore both.
View Trackers Program
13 years old
Warriors enjoy greater freedom, specialized activity tracks, and a dedicated overnight trip; past Warriors have headed to Hershey Park. This is upper camp in full swing, built for teens who are ready to direct more of their own experience.
View Warriors Program
14-15 years old
Chiefs are the most experienced and celebrated campers at Lakota. They lead by example during College Olympics and campus-wide events, mentor younger campers, and take an annual trip; past Chiefs have visited Boston. This is the peak of the Lakota camper journey.
View Chiefs Program
16 Years Old
Our Teen Leadership Program gives 16-year-olds the chance to transition from camper to counselor. CITs live alongside their peers, take on increasing leadership responsibilities, and develop real skills in communication, mentorship, and accountability. It’s the summer that changes how they see themselves, and how others see them.
View CIT ProgramWhile there is no right or wrong age to start sleepaway camp, our youngest campers — Braves (Age 6-9) and Hawks (Age 10) — begin their camp adventure not knowing anyone. Camp Lakota’s nurturing environment gives campers the chance to learn independence while still feeling secure and supported.
Yes, but a well-designed teen program looks quite different from a younger camper program. Teens benefit from more independence, peer-driven experiences, and opportunities to take on real responsibility.
At Camp Lakota, our teen programs are built around exactly that: Trackers (age 12) and Warriors (age 13) enjoy more freedom and overnight trips, while Chiefs (ages 14–15) step into a leadership role for younger campers, and CITs (age 16) train alongside our counselor staff in a hands-on program that includes a teen travel tour experience.
Some of the benefits of sleepaway camp include creating new friendships, spending less time looking at screens and more time interacting with peers, building independence and leadership skills, and developing confidence by trying new things in a supportive environment.
For many teens, camp is one of the most formative experiences they have, and one of the few places left where they’re genuinely off their phones, building friendships face-to-face. As social pressures and screen time increase during the teen years, the structure and community of a sleepaway camp become more valuable, not less.
Older campers at Camp Lakota take on increasing independence and leadership responsibilities each year, which gives them something most summers simply can’t: a real sense of purpose and growth.
At Camp Lakota your child will have adventure-packed days that include outdoor activities like our climbing wall and nature trails, horseback riding with experienced instructors, gymnastics training, water sports on Masten Lake, our creative arts program, and a variety of sports. Of course there are also plenty of special activities and the special traditions that we share every summer.
Most overnight camps offer sessions ranging from two to eight weeks. Shorter sessions work well for first-time campers or those with scheduling constraints, while longer sessions allow for a deeper experience in which friendships have time to develop, routines feel natural, and campers return home noticeably more confident and independent.
At Camp Lakota, we offer a 3-week session and a 6-week session. See our Dates & Tuition page for current session dates, or read our guide on choosing a summer camp length if you’re not sure which is best for your child.
Camp gives children something increasingly rare: unstructured time with peers, away from screens, in an environment designed around growth rather than performance. Beyond the fun, research consistently shows that camp experiences build confidence, resilience, and social skills that carry into the school year.
For families looking for more than just childcare during the summer, camp is often the most meaningful investment they make, one their kids talk about long after it’s over. See why families choose Camp Lakota.
The best teen camp programs balance structure with autonomy, with enough guidance to keep the experience meaningful and enough freedom to let teens feel trusted and independent. Activities matter too, but social experience tends to be what teens value most by the end of summer.
At Camp Lakota, older campers, like Warriors and Chiefs, gain progressively more independence, participate in overnight trips, and take on mentorship roles for younger campers. These are all experiences that are genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere.
While there is no right or wrong age to start sleepaway camp, our youngest campers — Braves (Age 6-9) and Hawks (Age 10) — begin their camp adventure not knowing anyone. Camp Lakota’s nurturing environment gives campers the chance to learn independence while still feeling secure and supported.
Some of the benefits of sleepaway camp include creating new friendships, spending less time looking at screens and more time interacting with peers, building independence and leadership skills, and developing confidence by trying new things in a supportive environment.
At Camp Lakota, your child will have adventure-packed days that include outdoor activities like our climbing wall and nature trails, horseback riding with experienced instructors, gymnastics training, water sports on Masten Lake, our creative arts program, and a variety of sports. Of course, there are also plenty of special activities and the special traditions that we share every summer.