Miami Township Launches First-Ever Full-Day “CAMP POP!” This Summer

For the first time in more than two decades of youth programming, Miami Township will offer a full-day summer camp designed with working families in mind — and it’s bringing a pop culture twist along with it.

Ryan Himes, Recreation Director for Miami Township, says the new program — called CAMP POP Pop! — fills a long-standing gap in local summer offerings.

“We’ve had camps here for 20-some years, but we’ve never had full-day offerings,” Himes said. “We heard from our community that it would be super helpful, especially for working parents.”

Built for Working Families

In previous years, the township offered primarily half-day camps. While popular, those programs often required parents to coordinate mid-day pickups or rely on grandparents and babysitters.

CAMP POP! changes that.

The full-day camp runs from 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning June 1 and continuing through July 31. That’s nine weeks of programming, covering the bulk of summer break.

“It’s really meant to support the working family,” Himes said.

Registration opens Monday, March 9 at 9 a.m., and township officials say there has already been significant interest online.

What Is CAMP POP!?

CAMP POP! — the exclamation point is intentional — is centered on pop culture themes, with each week inspired by a song title.

“We wanted to make it fun and exciting — not just sports camp this week, water camp that week,” Himes said. “Cassidy (Craig), our program coordinator, and I are both creative people. We came up with the themes first, then found songs to match.”

Each week has a unique focus:

• “Let’s Get It Started” – Icebreakers and team-building to kick off summer, including a trip to Arcade Legacy in Sharonville.

• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – Celebrating all things local, including a visit to Scene75.

• “We Are the Champions” – A sports-themed week capped off with a trip to a Cincinnati Reds game.

• “I Need a Hero” – Featuring Miami Township police and fire departments and a field trip to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton.

• “The Three R’s” – A sustainability-focused week centered on reduce, reuse and recycle.

• “Welcome to the Jungle” – Animal-themed adventures and a zoo trip.

• “It’s a Beautiful Day” – Celebrating quirky national holidays, including a visit to Young’s Jersey Dairy.

• “What a Wonderful World” – STEM and discovery learning, including a trip to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.

• “Bye Bye Bye” – A greatest-hits week culminating in a large end-of-summer carnival on July 31.

Each week includes a field trip (except the final carnival week), and all trip costs are included in registration fees.

A Home Base in Community Park

CAMP POP! will be based at the Leming House in Miami Township Community Park, giving campers access to green space, basketball courts, sand volleyball, pickleball courts and more.

The daily schedule is structured but flexible:

• 7:45–9 a.m. – Supervised free play and morning drop-off

• 9 a.m.–4 p.m. – Themed activities and field trips

• 4–5:15 p.m. – Structured free play and pickup

Campers will also visit the Clermont County Public Library branch on Buckwheat Road once a week to participate in reading activities. Children without library cards will have the opportunity to get one.

“We want to keep them engaged so school doesn’t hit them like a ton of bricks in August,” Himes said.

Cost and Capacity

A typical five-day week costs:

• $275 for Miami Township residents

• $300 for non-residents

Holiday weeks (Juneteenth and July 4th) are prorated to four days.

The camp is initially capped at 40 campers, though township officials say they have the staffing flexibility to expand if demand requires it. Families are encouraged to register early.

The fee covers field trips and all camp programming. Families are asked to send two snacks and a packed lunch each day.

When broken down hourly, Himes noted, the cost averages just over $5 per hour.

Staff and Safety

CAMP POP! will be staffed primarily by local high school and college students, including students from Loveland and Milford. All staff members will undergo a full week of training prior to camp, including CPR and AED certification, child abuse awareness training, and preparation on working with children in a structured camp setting.

Even returning staff members will repeat the training to ensure consistency and team cohesion.

“It’s about giving them as many tools in their toolbox as possible,” Himes said.

Looking Ahead

Though this is the township’s first year offering a full-day model, officials say CAMP POP! is here to stay.

“This isn’t a test run,” Himes said. “We’re excited to get started and see where it leads.”

Half-day camps will continue alongside the new full-day option, but township leaders hope CAMP POP! becomes a cornerstone of summer programming for local families.

For more information or to register beginning March 9, families can visit https://register.miamitwpoh.gov/