Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center

Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center A community-wide circle of friendship! We are a fun, educational and adventurous day camp.

Founded in 1950, our mission is to enrich the lives of children, youth and families through active outdoor environmental activities, hands on educational programs, community building and camp experience. Our programing consists of: archery lessons, arts & crafts sessions, canoeing, fishing, garden education, nature exploration, pottery sessions, swim time, team-building activities, tree house fun, ziplining (& other high ropes)!

Even with camp over for the season, we are still enjoying all the photos from this summer. Today we are sharing a few fa...
08/24/2026

Even with camp over for the season, we are still enjoying all the photos from this summer. Today we are sharing a few favorites featuring one of Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah’s most famous legends: The Platigator.

The Platigator lives in Long Lake and has been part of camp stories for generations. Counselors often mention it while reminding campers to keep a safe distance from the water when fishing along the banks. The Platigator is half alligator and half platypus, although there are many theories about which half is which. Campers love debating it, and the mystery only adds to the fun.

This summer, campers designed and decorated their own Platigator creations in the art shelter. The results were wonderfully imaginative. You can tell there is plenty of uncertainty about its color scheme too. Some Platigators were bright and bold, others earthy and mysterious, and each one reflected the creativity of the camper who made it.

We loved seeing this camp legend come to life in so many different ways. It is a reminder of how stories, imagination, and a little bit of camp magic can inspire art all summer long.

🌲 Camp Scenes SaturdayHappy Camp Scenes Saturday, friends! Each week we share a moment from our staff group chat that gi...
08/22/2026

🌲 Camp Scenes Saturday

Happy Camp Scenes Saturday, friends! Each week we share a moment from our staff group chat that gives a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse into the magic of camp.

This week’s scene comes from the heart of our outdoor kitchen life: two boxes of fire starters ready for a soggy summer day. Counselors and campers use dozens of these each season to help get lunch campfires going when rain has left the firewood stubborn and slow to light. Building a campfire and cooking on cast iron is a timeless experience, and for many campers it’s something they try for the very first time while at camp.

We are grateful for volunteers and friends who donated these firestarters for our 75th summer. Their care helped show campers and counselors just how many people in this community are cheering them on, even at lunchtime.

More camp moments coming your way next Saturday.

🌲On Wednesday the CKBY team closed the office and devoted a full day to connecting as a team and planning for the year a...
08/21/2026

🌲On Wednesday the CKBY team closed the office and devoted a full day to connecting as a team and planning for the year ahead. We spent time dreaming, brainstorming, and thinking together about how camp can continue to grow and serve our community well.

We wrapped up the day with a bakery themed escape room at One Way Out - Lynchburg Escape Room, and we are pleased to report that we made it out with six minutes to spare! It was a fun way to celebrate the work we had done and enjoy time together.

We are grateful for the chance to gather as a team and excited for the possibilities ahead as we continue this mission beyond our 75th summer. We look forward to meeting the needs of our community in new and meaningful ways in the future.

We are deeply grateful to the Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation for partnering with us as the presenting spons...
08/20/2026

We are deeply grateful to the Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation for partnering with us as the presenting sponsor for this month’s Ripple of Inclusion event. LCS Ed Foundation has been a longtime friend to Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center, supporting field trips, classroom collaborations, and countless connections between camp and Lynchburg City Schools.

On August 29, we will celebrate the incredible documentary created by Adalyn Sheaffer and Sydney Huffman, two longtime campers and young historians. Their project began in Ms. Burke’s classroom at Linkhorne Middle School, Lynchburg, VA, advanced through local and regional contests, earned top honors at Virginia History Day, and went on to the National History Day National Contest in Washington D.C. Their film was also showcased in the Oprah Winfrey Theater at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a remarkable honor.

We cannot wait to share their work with our community.

🌲We are grateful for our longtime friends at Genworth, whose care and commitment have supported Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature C...
08/19/2026

🌲We are grateful for our longtime friends at Genworth, whose care and commitment have supported Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center for many years. Genworth volunteers have helped sustain our camp garden season after season, keeping it a thriving space for learning, exploration, and community.

This year, Genworth has made a generous grant to support year‑round learning opportunities at camp. Their investment helps ensure that school field trips and hands‑on experiences in nature are available to students all across our community. These moments grow minds, build friendships, and connect young people to the natural world in meaningful ways.

Thank you, Genworth, for your continued partnership and for helping us offer these experiences in the year ahead.

Good morning, Camp Friends!The Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center offices will be closed today, Wednesday the 19th, for a sta...
08/19/2026

Good morning, Camp Friends!

The Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center offices will be closed today, Wednesday the 19th, for a staff retreat. We are excited to share this time together and planning for the year ahead!

We will resume normal operations tomorrow.

Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the work we do. Wishing everyone a wonderful day.

🌲 Happy First Day of School, Camp FriendsToday is the first day of school for Lynchburg City Schools, and we are cheerin...
08/18/2026

🌲 Happy First Day of School, Camp Friends

Today is the first day of school for Lynchburg City Schools, and we are cheering on all our campers as they head into a new year of learning and growth. We hope your day is full of curiosity, confidence, and the joy of seeing old friends again.

We are also grateful for the wonderful educators in our community, including many former campers and counselors who now inspire students every day. Their dedication makes a tremendous difference.

We look forward to welcoming many of you back to Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center this fall and spring for field trips and outdoor adventures. Have a great first day and an amazing school year.

Even with camp over for the season, we are still going through photos and loving every moment we find. Today we are exci...
08/17/2026

Even with camp over for the season, we are still going through photos and loving every moment we find. Today we are excited to share some highlights from the second half of the summer in our art shelter under the guidance of our Arts Director, Robyn.

One of the big projects this season was creating mythic creatures, and campers brought their own creativity and ideas to their work. Each project reflected the imagination and personality of the camper who made it, and the art shelter was full of joy and discovery all summer long.

Robyn also introduced a wonderful idea this year. Many projects incorporated natural elements from Camp’s forty seven acre campus. Leaves, twigs, stones, bamboo cane, and other treasures from the woods became part of the artwork, helping campers connect their creations to the land they explored each day. It added a beautiful layer of meaning and encouraged campers to see the natural world as a source of inspiration.

We are grateful for the joy, creativity, and confidence that grew in the art shelter this summer. These projects are a reminder of how much magic campers can make when they are given space to imagine and explore.

Address

4415 Boonsboro Road
Lynchburg, VA
24503

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14343841755

Website

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