About
Columbus Recreation and Parks Summer Camps include themed, week-long camps where campers take part in arts, crafts, sports, games, science experiments, and nature exploration. Camp days run with camp hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an option for before-camp drop-off from 7:30–8 a.m. and after-camp pick-up from 5–5:30 p.m. The summer camp dates run from June 8 through Aug. 14.
• Ages: 6–12 years old
• Schedule: Themed, week-long camps running June 8–Aug. 14, with daily camp hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and optional extended drop-off and pick-up times
• Price: Registration Fees* Resident: $120; Non-resident: $144 (20%). Standard fees apply for community center camps and some others, and fees for all other camps may vary.
Prior to registration, families can add desired camps to a wish list, and a confirmation email is sent immediately after registering online. An ACTIVENet account is required for registration, and Outdoor Recreation Camps, Community Center and Specialty Camps, and Therapeutic Recreation Camps have specified online and in-person registration dates and times for Columbus residents and the general public. Residents are those who live within the municipal boundaries of Columbus and qualify for resident rates if Columbus is their tax district, as confirmed via FranklinCountyAuditor.com, while non-residents must pay additional fees. Columbus Recreation and Parks Department reserves the right to adjust or cancel camps due to insufficient enrollment and unforeseen circumstances, and in such cases registrants may transfer to another camp or receive a full refund.
Columbus Recreation and Parks utilizes the ePACT Network, a health and safety software that allows secure digital sharing of health and emergency information and provides tools to message participants in the event of an illness, injury, or larger scale emergency. Collecting data electronically and checking campers in and out using ePACT’s contactless methods reduces close human contact and shared items like pens and paper sheets, and ePACT’s encryption and security features mean data on ePACT is safer than on paper and access can be limited and tracked.
Late pick-up fees are charged per camper, with one policy stating that up to 15 minutes late results in a $15 fee, and 15 minutes late or more results in a $15 fee plus an additional $1 per minute. Another stated late pick-up policy notes that 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.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department encourages the participation of a diverse population and accommodates people with varying abilities and learning styles. Inclusion services support staff develop accommodation plans for campers with, but not limited to, Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, developmental and learning disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory challenges, and emotional challenges. Reasonable accommodations are individualized techniques and resources used to enhance program participation without fundamentally altering the program, and one-on-one staffing is not provided, though campers may have a personal support person present on-site with mandatory background checks. All campers must meet the minimum participation guidelines and follow the desired behavior expectations of the department’s camp program, and 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. Contact Lindsey Zawacki at [email protected] to request the accommodation form.
The Columbus Recreation Department was established on July 15, 1910, and on Jan. 2, 1972, it merged with the Division of Forestry and Parks to become the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The department’s stated mission is to connect the people of the community through the power of nature, wellness and creativity.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 6–12 years old
• Schedule: Themed, week-long camps running June 8–Aug. 14, with daily camp hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and optional extended drop-off and pick-up times
• Price: Registration Fees* Resident: $120; Non-resident: $144 (20%). Standard fees apply for community center camps and some others, and fees for all other camps may vary.
Prior to registration, families can add desired camps to a wish list, and a confirmation email is sent immediately after registering online. An ACTIVENet account is required for registration, and Outdoor Recreation Camps, Community Center and Specialty Camps, and Therapeutic Recreation Camps have specified online and in-person registration dates and times for Columbus residents and the general public. Residents are those who live within the municipal boundaries of Columbus and qualify for resident rates if Columbus is their tax district, as confirmed via FranklinCountyAuditor.com, while non-residents must pay additional fees. Columbus Recreation and Parks Department reserves the right to adjust or cancel camps due to insufficient enrollment and unforeseen circumstances, and in such cases registrants may transfer to another camp or receive a full refund.
Columbus Recreation and Parks utilizes the ePACT Network, a health and safety software that allows secure digital sharing of health and emergency information and provides tools to message participants in the event of an illness, injury, or larger scale emergency. Collecting data electronically and checking campers in and out using ePACT’s contactless methods reduces close human contact and shared items like pens and paper sheets, and ePACT’s encryption and security features mean data on ePACT is safer than on paper and access can be limited and tracked.
Late pick-up fees are charged per camper, with one policy stating that up to 15 minutes late results in a $15 fee, and 15 minutes late or more results in a $15 fee plus an additional $1 per minute. Another stated late pick-up policy notes that 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.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department encourages the participation of a diverse population and accommodates people with varying abilities and learning styles. Inclusion services support staff develop accommodation plans for campers with, but not limited to, Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, developmental and learning disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory challenges, and emotional challenges. Reasonable accommodations are individualized techniques and resources used to enhance program participation without fundamentally altering the program, and one-on-one staffing is not provided, though campers may have a personal support person present on-site with mandatory background checks. All campers must meet the minimum participation guidelines and follow the desired behavior expectations of the department’s camp program, and 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. Contact Lindsey Zawacki at [email protected] to request the accommodation form.
The Columbus Recreation Department was established on July 15, 1910, and on Jan. 2, 1972, it merged with the Division of Forestry and Parks to become the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The department’s stated mission is to connect the people of the community through the power of nature, wellness and creativity.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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