Kiawah Island Kids Camps

Kiawah Island kids camps provide a range of activities for children of all ages. While Kiawah Island Golf Resort has long had a reputation for its abundance of family friendly activities, seasonal programs that cater to the resort’s youngest guests ensure everyone in the family enjoys a moment that is tailored specifically for them.

Kiawah Island kids camps designed solely for young guests are divided into three main categories: Kamp Kiawah for ages 3 to 7; Camp Xtreme for ages 8 to 14; and Adventure Camp for ages 8 to 15. Seasons for each camp, while overlaping, do vary some. Kamp Kiawah for 3s to 7s runs Memorial Day through Labor Day as well as during major holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter and Easter). Kamp Kiawah for 3s to 10s runs during fall and spring. Camp Xtreme runs Memorial Day through Labor Day and during major holidays. Adventure Camp runs June through August.

Each camp is structured to offer families flexibility. Morning sessions operate 8:30 AM to noon, morning with lunch from 8:30 AM to 1:15, afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and full-day sessions run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

All camp activities are created to engage children at their age levels. Kamp Kiawah is a traditional day camp that offers daily themes with games and crafts. Camp Xtreme is designed to get kids moving and thinking, engaging both body and mind through games, STEM challenges, sports and team-building exercises to foster cooperation and collaboration. Kiawah Adventure Camp replicates a traditional summer camp experience to get tweens and early teens unplugged and immersed in nature.

Low counselor-to-kid ratio ensure children are well-monitored, but it also means each child is receiving meaningful care and engagement. The usual ratio for 3s to 4s is five-to-one, for 5s to 7s eight-to-one, and for 8s and older twelve-to-one.

Some of the most popular activities for each camp include crafts, Night at the Museum, four corners, relay races, obstacle course and science experiment (Kamp Kiawah); gaga ball, soccer, four square, world cup and disc golf (Camp Xtreme); and SUP, surfing lessons, archery, atlatl, nine square in the air and archery tag (Adventure Camp).  And of course organized Waterpark activities remain a universal favorite, especially during the hottest summer months.

Managing Drop-off — for Kids and for Parents

While the thought of drop-off for younger campers may be intimidating for both parents as well as their little tykes, Maggie Kwolek, Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Activities Manager, offers some tips to help prepare for and ease the transition. Ahead of time, parents should restrain their emotions, particularly resisting overly-wrought farewells, and calmly reassure the child what a great time they will have meeting new friends for fun activities. Upon arrival, Maggie greets the family, then while parents fill out paperwork, once she introduces herself and asks the child their name and age, she describes to them what the day will look like and how grand a time they will have together. If a child still feels hesitant, she’ll assign a counselor to personally stay with the child and talk to and play with them while Maggie chats with the parent to make sure they are comfortable. Maggie offers the reassurance, “While the first day can be difficult, by the end of the session the child is begging to stay longer.”

Kiawah Island Kids Camps To-Go

The resort realizes that in-person sessions may not fit every family’s circumstances, it still wants to make sure those young guests get a sample of camp life so that they thoroughly enjoy their visit. Camp in a Bag fits the bill by re-creating some of the traditional camp offerings, such as crafts, activities and adventures such as scavenger hunts, that can enjoyed in the family’s accommodations or elsewhere around the resort. Three differently themed bags can be purchased at Heron Park Nature Center.

For more information on Kiawah Island Kids Camps or to reserve a spot for your young camper, visit Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Recreation page or call (843) 768-6001.