Hopscotch Highlights

👋 Hey there, glad to have you— Happy 4th!

If you missed last week’s post check it out here! It has some fun things to do this holiday weekend. With summer in full swing, we’re highlighting a handful of local camps running this coming week—the kind that still have spots open, a great range of activities, and don’t require packing a duffel the size of your car.

So whether you're looking for a one-day intro, a themed week of fun, or just a chance to give the living room a break, we’ve got you covered.

So, grab your bug spray and a snack—we’re heading to camp!

🌳 One Place to Play (and Wander)

Gunpowder Creek Nature Park (Sperti Lane, Burlington)
This hidden gem in Boone County blends nature, history, and a perfect patch of calm for families who want an easy outing without the crowds.

Explore 1.25+ miles of wooded, unpaved trails, let the kids loose on the playground, or relax in the shade near the reservable shelter. There’s even a restroom on-site (🙌), so no need to stress mid-adventure.

🧡 Bonus for the grown-ups: This park sits on land once owned by George Sperti—a local inventor and cattle breeder who helped bring us fluorescent lights, sunlamps, and even Preparation-H (yes, really). His Boonetucky Farm was famous for combining science and agriculture. Here was a blog I found interesting about the trail here.

Think of this as a quiet, woodsy retreat where Northern Kentucky’s past meets your family’s next peaceful play day.

📅 Not too late for Making Memories at Camp!

🧭 One Week of Adventure (Without Leaving Town)

Adventure Days @ Boone Woods
📅 July 7–11 | ⏰ 1:30–3:00 PM | 💸 $5
📍 Boone Woods Park | Ages 4–7 (split into two age groups)

Looking for something simple, affordable, and actually fun for your kiddo this July? Adventure Days is a week-long mini camp with a new theme and craft each day—led by Boone County park staff who know how to bring the fun without the chaos.

🌿 Two groups, same great fun:

• Ages 4–5 ➝ Activity Code: 111025-05

• Ages 6–7 ➝ Activity Code: 111025-06

Perfect for breaking up the summer blahs without overloading your schedule (or wallet). Just $5 for the whole week! Sign Up Here!

🧡 Parent tip: Bring a water bottle and expect some storytelling on the ride home.

🎸 One Camp to Rock Their Socks Off

School of Rock: Little Rockers Music Camp
📅 August 4–8 | ⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM | 💸 $375
📍 School of Rock NKY – 6415 Dixie Hwy, Florence, KY
📞 (859) 999-7625 | Ages 5–7 (Beginners Welcome!)

If your kid loves to make noise, bop to the beat, or has ever turned a spoon into a microphone—this camp is for them. Little Rockers is a fun, no-pressure way to explore the world of music, instruments, rhythm, and teamwork—all in a playful group setting.

🎶 What they’ll do:

• Try out different rock instruments

• Learn rhythm patterns, ear training & song structure

• Play music-based games

• Jam with new friends

🧡 No experience needed—just curiosity and a snack!

🎤 Final Day Showcase:
On Friday at 2:30 PM, campers will put on a short performance for family and friends to show off what they’ve learned. (It’s adorable. Bring tissues.)

📌 Camp runs Monday–Friday
Drop-off: 9:45–10:00 AM | Pick-up: 2:00–2:15 PM

💪 One Camp That Builds More Than Muscles

KidStrong 5-Day Camp
📅 July 7– Aug 15 | ⏰ 9 AM – 2:30 PM | 💸 $275
📍 2816 Town Center Blvd, Crestview Hills, KY
👧 Ages 4–11 (potty trained) | Open to members & non-members

When school’s out, KidStrong Camp steps in with a full week of high-energy fun, teamwork, and confidence-building. Kids will run, jump, climb, and stretch their brains with obstacle courses, games, STEM activities, and more—all led by certified coaches who know how to bring out the best in them.

Each day includes:
✔️ KidStrong class (camp edition)
✔️ Floor-is-lava + build-your-own obstacle fun
✔️ STEM games + cool down time
✔️ Daily awards + a special closing ceremony (parents welcome on the last day!)

🧃 What to bring:

• A full water bottle

• Lunch + snack, packed and labeled

• Comfy clothes for movement (they’ll go barefoot on the KidStrong floor)

🧡 Parent tip: No membership required—just lots of movement, learning, and confidence boosts.

📞 Questions? Call (859) 757-0201

🏕️ One Camp to Blaze a Trail

Woodland Lakes – Blaze a Trail
📅 Saturday, July 12 or 26 | ⏰ 9 AM – 4 PM | Ages 5–7
📍 Check-in & pick-up: Woodland Lakes Christian Camp | 💸 $45
💻 Register now ➝

If your little one is curious about camp but not quite ready for overnights, Blaze a Trail is the perfect one-day intro to all the fun Woodland Lakes has to offer—games, nature, new friends, and a meaningful message wrapped in adventure.

Kids will explore what it means to follow Jesus through stories, hands-on fun, and outdoor play. Inspired by Matthew 4:18–22, campers will learn how to live a life of purpose—just like Peter—by discovering that Jesus invites them into an adventure all their own.

🧡 Parent tip: This is a great first-camp experience for younger kiddos—it’s all the excitement without the sleepover!

🍽️ One Restaurant That Welcomes Chaos

PeeWee’s Place | 📍 2325 Anderson Rd, Crescent Springs, KY

PeeWee’s Place might technically be a bar and grill, but don’t let that fool you—it’s also one of the most welcoming, family-friendly spots around. Owned by local legend Tim “PeeWee” Reese, this cozy community hangout serves up comfort food favorites like burgers, chicken bites, ribs, and pies in an atmosphere that feels more like a family reunion than a restaurant.

There’s an outdoor patio (perfect for little legs that can’t sit still long), and the staff is the kind that greets you like they’ve known you forever—even if it’s your first visit! Check out their website here.

🏞️ One Outdoor Activity: Nature Parade Flag

Add a little whimsy to your next park visit or nature walk with this easy, trail-friendly craft! It’s part scavenger hunt, part creative play—no table (or cleanup) required.

🧾 What you’ll need:

• A sturdy stick (Y-shaped or straight, whatever you find!)

• Clear packing tape

• Nature treasures: leaves, petals, feathers, grass, bark, etc.

🎨 How to make it:

1. Wrap tape—sticky side out—around one end of the stick to create your “flag.”

2. As you walk, collect tiny nature finds and press them onto the sticky surface.

3. Keep adding until it looks like your own wild and wonderful woodland banner.

Let them wave it proudly on the trail, in the yard, or all the way back to the car.

🧡 Parent tip: Let kids get creative—there’s no wrong way to decorate a flag.

Here’s a video for inspiration!

🏠 One At-Home Activity: Indoor Nature Flag

No trail? No problem! You can still spark some wonder with this low-mess, low-prep craft using a few treasures from your backyard or yesterday’s walk.

🧾 What you’ll need:

• A small stick, ruler, or even a wooden spoon

• Clear packing tape or painter’s tape (sticky side out)

• Pre-collected nature finds: dried leaves, petals, feathers, grass, etc.

• Or anything they can find! Pompoms, paperclips, construction paper scraps, etc.

🎨 How to make it:

1. Wrap tape around the top of the stick, sticky side facing out.

2. Spread out your nature items on the table or floor.

3. Let your kiddo press their finds onto the sticky flag and arrange them however they like.

Set it in a mason jar, tape it to a bedroom wall, or turn it into a pretend parade at home!

🧡 Parent tip: If you’ve got extra bits from a dried bouquet or houseplants, toss those into the mix too—no foraging required.

🏕️ Why Camp Friendships Hit Different

A friend and I were just reminiscing about our experience at camp when we were kids and these were some of the ideas that we discussed. I hope you find it encouraging.

There’s something kind of magical about summer camp. Whether it’s music, crafts, church, or good old-fashioned running around outside—these little pockets of time give kids a chance to figure out who they are outside their usual routines.

It might be a shy second-grader finding her voice in a choir room, or a high-energy kid finally finding his rhythm in relay races. Camp gives kids space to try something new—and someone new to do it with.

In humid camp cabins and under craft tent canopies, they swap stories, share supplies, and quietly learn how to cheer each other on. From friendship bracelets to flashlight tag, there’s a rhythm of connection that builds almost without trying.

The loudest drummer might become best buds with the quietest violin player. A scavenger hunt win becomes more exciting because it was shared. And for just a little while, there are no cliques or cool-kid rules—just kids figuring it out together.

And honestly? Those friendships—the ones made over paint spills, campfire songs, and team huddles—often become the ones they remember most. 

Until next week…
Whether you get out and explore or just forward this to a friend while hiding in the pantry—we’re cheering you on. You’re doing amazing. We’ll be back next Friday with more easy wins, local picks, and gentle nudges to help you make the most of the messy, magical days in between.

Warmly,
Otto Neff
Creator of Hopscotch Highlights
A fellow tired parent with big playground dreams