Camp Lakewood Open Houses are designed to give you and your children or teens the opportunity to meet the camp directors, ask questions and see the beautiful property. You'll get a tour of the camp, be able to speak with camp staff and be reassured that your camper will have the experience of a lifetime at YMCA Camp Lakewood.
2023 Open House Dates:
Sunday, March 19
Sunday, April 2
Sunday, April 23
YMCA Camp Lakewood is not just any summer camp. It's that special time at the perfect place, with friends and memories your children will take with them throughout the rest of their lives. Help them to high-five every accomplishment, celebrate their growing independence and wonder of the world around them through the gift of overnight summer camp.
While campers love the sports, horseback riding, arts & crafts, water activities, caving, climbing, ziplining, camp games and more, great kids are grown into well-rounded individuals by also teaching respect, responsibility, belonging and accomplishment. Children gain knowledge of the world around them through culturally diverse staff, all within the incredibly fun and safe environment of the Y. This is why campers call Camp Lakewood "My Camp!"
Camp Lakewood offers four-day, one-week and four-week programs, including mini-sessions, traditional, ranch, leadership and wilderness programs. Open Houses are held from noon to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
More information: camplakewood.org
It's the Not-So-Haunted House that is oh-so-fun, where storybook characters come alive! Kids are invited to dress in their most "boo-tiful" Halloween costumes and have a ghoulishly good time going on a spook-tacular scavenger hunt throughout The Magic House to find trick-or-treat locations and seeing their favorite storybook characters.
Get into the Halloween spirit with some spooky fun and celebrate with the animals at Grant's Farm. Enjoy Halloween tram rides featuring Halloween lights, spooky scenes, live actors, scare zones, a Halloween-themed show, monster mash party and more. Costumes are encouraged.
The Best of Missouri Market at the Missouri Botanical Garden features more than 150 vendors offering handcrafted items, locally produced food, native plants, herbs, live music and local brews, plus a two-acre Kid's Corner with farm animals (like llamas, alpacas and sheep!), circus performers, face painting, crafts, and a pumpkin patch with decorating let by Perennial.
Families can enjoy the Fall Fest Kids Zone and all the fun of the farm at the Grant's Farm Fall Fest. There will be seasonal treats, animal feedings, a petting zoo, themed photo spots, and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales too!
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.