2027 Summer Camp Activities!

Highlights:

• • Fred Howard Park Beach
  • Real Camping Adventures
  • Tampa Zoo
  • Epic Hiking Trails
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Adventure Island Water Park
  • Busch Gardens
  • Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Tour
  • Keystone Castle Day: Enjoy a full day at camp with swimming, pickleball, games, and activities.
  • Skyway Fishing Pier
  • Paddling Adventures
  • Bowling
  • Pickleball & Games
  • Swim & Water Adventures
  • Decision Night

The first two weeks at Summerland Camps are all about getting started. For many campers, this is their first extended break from gaming, social media, and excessive screen use, and we want them to quickly discover that stepping away from technology can open the door to an incredible summer of adventure, friendship, and personal growth. As a therapeutic summer camp for teens struggling with screen addiction and excessive technology use, Summerland combines meaningful behavior-change work with an unforgettable Florida adventure.

From the beginning, campers are immersed in activities that get them moving, thinking, exploring, and connecting with others. They’ll swim and explore at Fred Howard Park Beach, hike scenic trails at Brooker Creek and along the River Rapids Trail, and experience authentic camping adventures where campers set up camp and work together as a team.

The water provides even more opportunities for adventure. Campers can kayak, canoe, fish, and explore Florida’s natural environment, including a freshwater fishing adventure and a visit to the iconic Skyway Fishing Pier. They’ll also cool off at Adventure Island, experience the rides and incredible animals at Busch Gardens, and visit the Tampa Zoo.

Away from the trails and beaches, campers will explore the historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks and enjoy bowling, pickleball, swimming, and games with their camp crew. Back at Keystone Castle, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to relax, recharge, and simply enjoy being part of a community.

These first two weeks help campers begin to experience something important: having fun, making friends, and feeling successful doesn’t require a screen.

The session concludes with Decision Night, when campers reflect on what they’ve accomplished, celebrate their progress, and begin thinking about how they can carry their new skills and healthier habits into the rest of the summer and beyond.

Highlights:

• Morning Hikes
• Lido Key Beach
• Shopping at St. Armands Circle and University Town Center
• Evening Freshwater Fishing
• Fishing and Shark Toothing at Venice Fishing Pier & Beach
• Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Tour
• Keystone Castle Day: Hike Brooker Creek, swim, play pickleball, and enjoy a variety of games and activities.
• Fred Howard Park Beach
• Wilderness Survival Class
• Universal CityWalk
• Universal’s Great Movie Escape (Jurassic Park or Back to the Future)
• Disney Springs
• Pickleball & Games
• Decision Night

After two weeks of getting settled and discovering the Summerland experience, the second two weeks are about building momentum. Campers are more comfortable with their surroundings, their fellow campers, and the routines of camp, allowing them to take on new challenges and explore even more of what Florida has to offer.

Many days begin with a morning hike, giving campers the chance to start the day outdoors and stay active. Beach adventures at Lido Key and Fred Howard Park provide opportunities to swim, fish, bodyboard, play games, and spend time together. Campers will also enjoy evening freshwater fishing and a trip to Venice Fishing Pier and Beach, where they can fish, explore the shoreline, and search for shark teeth.

The adventures continue beyond the outdoors. Campers will explore St. Armands Circle, spend time together at University Town Center, and experience the energy of Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk. They’ll also return to the historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks for another opportunity to explore this unique Florida destination.

At Keystone Castle, campers will hike at Brooker Creek, swim, play pickleball, and enjoy games and group activities. They’ll also take on a Wilderness Survival Class, learning practical outdoor skills while challenging themselves in a new environment.

One of the biggest highlights is a visit to Universal Orlando for Universal’s Great Movie Escape, where campers work together through immersive Jurassic World and Back to the Future escape-room adventures. These experiences naturally encourage teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and the kind of face-to-face interaction that technology can sometimes replace.

By the end of these two weeks, campers have had even more opportunities to challenge themselves, build friendships, and experience success away from their devices.

Decision Night provides another opportunity to reflect on their progress, recognize their accomplishments, and consider how the skills they’re developing can continue to grow throughout the remainder of the summer.

Highlights:

• Adventure Island Water Park
• Bowling & In-Camp Activities
• Bonnet Springs Park
• Keystone Castle Day: Hike Brooker Creek, swim, play pickleball, and enjoy a variety of games and activities.
• Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Tour
• Fred Howard Park Beach Day
• Camping Adventures
• Busch Gardens
• Pickleball
• Decision Night

By the third two weeks, campers have had time to settle into the Summerland community and experience the benefits of spending less time on screens. Now the goal is to keep that momentum going while giving them even more opportunities to challenge themselves, explore, and build confidence.

This part of the summer brings some of the most exciting adventures yet. Campers will spend a day at Adventure Island Water Park, racing down waterslides, swimming, and enjoying the Florida sunshine. They’ll also experience the thrills of Busch Gardens, with exciting rides, attractions, and opportunities to explore.

Outdoor exploration remains at the heart of the Summerland experience. Campers will discover the trails and natural spaces at Bonnet Springs Park, hike through Brooker Creek, and enjoy a classic Florida beach day at Fred Howard Park. They’ll also take on another camping adventure, packing their gear, setting up camp, and sharing the experience with friends.

At Keystone Castle, campers can swim, play pickleball, bowl, and participate in games and activities with their camp crew. These seemingly simple moments are an important part of the Summerland experience as they give campers the chance to practice communication, cooperation, sportsmanship, and friendship while having fun together without depending on technology.

The group will also visit the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, adding another unique Florida experience to their growing collection of summer memories.

By this point in the summer, the focus is no longer simply on getting away from screens. Campers are beginning to see what they can accomplish when they are engaged in the world around them.

At Decision Night, they’ll look back at how far they’ve come, celebrate their accomplishments, and begin thinking about how to carry that progress with them into the final weeks of camp and eventually back home.

Highlights:

• Kennedy Space Center
• Beach Adventures
• Ringling Museum
• Camping Adventures
• Venice Beach: Try shark-toothing, pier fishing, swimming, and classic beach activities.
• Peace River Airboat Ride
• Siesta Key Beach
• Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Tour
• Keystone Castle Day: Hike Brooker Creek, swim, play pickleball, and enjoy a variety of games and activities.
• Anastasia State Park
• Castillo de San Marcos: Explore America’s oldest masonry fort and discover the history of St. Augustine.
• St. George Street: Shop, explore, and experience the energy of historic downtown St. Augustine.
• Transition Home Groups: Prepare for the return home by reflecting on your experiences and setting goals for continuing your progress.
• Decision Night: Celebrate your accomplishments, reflect on your summer adventures, and create a plan for what comes next.

The final two weeks bring the Summerland journey to its conclusion. By now, campers have spent weeks building friendships, taking on challenges, developing new interests, and practicing healthier ways to manage technology. The focus now shifts from experiencing the Summerland lifestyle to preparing to take what they’ve learned home.

Plenty of adventure still lies ahead. Campers will explore the Ringling Museum and its fascinating art, history, and grounds, then head out for an exciting airboat ride along the Peace River. They’ll enjoy beach adventures at Venice Beach and Siesta Key, where swimming, fishing, shark-toothing, games, and time outdoors provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy Florida together.

The group will also travel to St. Augustine to explore Anastasia State Park, the Castillo de San Marcos, and historic St. George Street. Another major highlight is a visit to Kennedy Space Center, where campers can explore the history of American space exploration and discover the science, determination, and innovation behind some of humanity’s greatest achievements.

There will also be time to enjoy the familiar routines that have become such an important part of camp life. Campers will go camping, hike at Brooker Creek, swim, play pickleball, and spend time together during a Keystone Castle Day. They’ll also visit the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks and continue building the friendships that have developed throughout the summer.

But this final session is about more than checking off the last adventures on the itinerary. As the end of camp approaches, campers begin looking ahead. Transition Home Groups help them reflect on their experiences, recognize the progress they’ve made, and develop specific goals for maintaining healthier technology habits when they return to their everyday lives.

Finally, Decision Night brings everyone together to celebrate the summer. Campers can look back on the challenges they faced, the friendships they formed, the places they explored, and the accomplishments they achieved. Most importantly, they leave with a plan for taking what they learned at Summerland into the next chapter of their lives.