Parent FAQ.
Answers for families about Ken's 2027 camps at Spooky Nook Sports: Pennsylvania, July 11–22, 2027, and Ohio, June 19–24, 2027. Tap a question to open it. If yours isn't here, email the camp office at camps@kenchertow.com.
How do I pick the right camp?
Start with the grade your wrestler enters in fall 2027. Future Champions is for kids entering grades 1–4, with a parent alongside. Kids Training Camp is for kids entering grades 3–5, 6 days or 5 days. Third and fourth graders can pick Kids Training or Future Champions. It's your family's call whether your son or daughter wants the longer, more serious camp or the shorter one. Middle schoolers (entering grades 6–8) have the Middle School Gold Medal Training Camp, and high schoolers have the High School Gold Medal Training Camp, each 6 days or 5 days. Newer middle and high school wrestlers do well at the 4-day Technique Camp.
For serious wrestlers, the 12-day camps are the most complete training we offer: SuperGold Middle School for wrestlers entering grades 6–8, SuperGold for teens and SuperGirl for girls. 7th and 8th graders can choose SuperGold Middle School or SuperGold; the difference is mostly who they room with, middle schoolers or teens. Campers entering 5th grade and below need a parent staying with them to be a resident camper.
The camp chooser gives you a starting point, and Ken's team confirms every placement.
How many days can my child stay at camp?
Camps run 12, 6, 5 or 4 days.
- High school: SuperGold (12 days), the High School Gold Medal Training Camp (6 or 5 days) or the Technique Camp (4 days).
- Entering grades 6–8: SuperGold Middle School (12 days), the Middle School Gold Medal Training Camp (6 or 5 days) or the Technique Camp (4 days). 7th and 8th graders can also choose SuperGold.
- Entering grades 3–5: Kids Training Camp, 6 days (July 11–16) or 5 days (July 18–22). Serious 5th graders can also choose SuperGold Middle School.
- Entering grades 1–4: Future Champions, a 4-day camp. A parent is required to attend with their child.
- Girls: the 12-day SuperGirl camp, plus Girls Gold Medal Camps for high school and middle school (6 or 5 days) and the 4-day Girls Technique Camp.
Can beginners come to camp?
Yes. Beginner wrestlers are welcome and encouraged to attend. The 4-day Technique Camp is built for newer wrestlers, and Future Champions takes first-timers entering grades 1–4. Instruction happens in small groups, so a first-year wrestler learns at their own level.
Where is camp?
At Spooky Nook Sports. In Pennsylvania, that's Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Lancaster County (July 11–22, 2027), the largest indoor sports complex in the U.S. In Ohio, it's Spooky Nook Champion Mill in Hamilton, between Dayton and Cincinnati (June 19–24, 2027).
At both locations, our Warehouse Hotel is attached to the Sports Complex. It is very safe and convenient.
When is camp in 2027?
Pennsylvania: July 11–22, 2027, with two check-in days, Sunday, July 11 and Sunday, July 18. Every camp starts on one of them: 12-day camps July 11–22, 6-day camps July 11–16, 5-day camps July 18–22, Technique Camp July 11–14, Future Champions July 11–14 or July 18–21.
Ohio: June 19–24, 2027, one check-in, June 19. 6-day camps June 19–24; Technique Camp and Future Champions June 19–22. The 2027 coaching lineup will be announced soon.
Do Future Champions campers have the same schedule as the older campers?
Yes. Future Champions campers follow the same camp schedule, with a parent right alongside them.
Is the second week of SuperGold a repeat of the first?
No. Week two picks up where week one left off with new instruction, and the coaching gets even more personal.
What are the dates for team camps?
Teams are welcome at any of our camps, so pick the camp and dates that suit your team. For group savings, see team discounts.
What does camp cost in 2027?
| Camp | Resident | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| SuperGoldSerious teens · July 11–22 | $2,150 | $1,900 |
| SuperGirlGirls, serious teens · July 11–22 | $2,150 | $1,900 |
| SuperGold Middle SchoolEntering grades 6–8 · July 11–22 | $2,150 | $1,900 |
| SuperGirl Middle SchoolGirls, entering grades 6–8 · July 11–22 | $2,150 | $1,900 |
| Kids Training Camp, 6-dayEntering grades 3–5 · July 11–16 | $1,800 camper + parent | $950 |
| Kids Training Camp, 5-dayEntering grades 3–5 · July 18–22 | $1,550 camper + parent | $850 |
| Future Champions, 4-dayEntering grades 1–4 · July 11–14 or July 18–21 | $1,075 parent + child room | $650 |
| High School Gold Medal, 6-dayHigh school · July 11–16 | $1,050 | $950 |
| Middle School Gold Medal, 6-dayEntering grades 6–8 · July 11–16 | $1,050 | $950 |
| Gold Medal, 5-dayHigh school or grades 6–8 · July 18–22 | $950 | $850 |
| Technique Camp, 4-dayMiddle and high school · July 11–14 | $775 | $700 |
Every price includes meals. Resident campers get the hotel, three meals a day and supervision. Commuters get the training and meals. Campers entering 5th grade and below need a parent staying with them to be a resident camper.
Kids Training Camp: the resident price covers the camper and a parent, with a hotel room and meals for both. A second child in the same room is $950 (6-day) or $850 (5-day), meals included. Future Champions' resident price includes a hotel room for parent and child.
Ohio: one check-in, June 19, 2027. 6-day camps run June 19–24; Technique Camp and Future Champions run June 19–22. No 12-day or 5-day camps in Ohio. Girls' versions of the Gold Medal camps and Technique Camp run on the same dates at the same prices.
What is included in the cost of camp?
Every camper gets the full training schedule and all meals. Resident campers also get their hotel stay, in four-star hotel accommodations, plus supervision.
Commuters are wrestlers staying with a parent or living nearby, and they arrange their own ride to and from camp each day. Parents' meals are included only where a resident price covers a parent (Kids Training Camp and Future Champions). For every other camp, we offer parent meal plans and discounted hotel rooms for parents.
Is room and board included in the camp fee?
Yes, for resident campers. Commuters get the training and meals, but not a hotel room.
We live close, or have family nearby. Can my wrestler commute?
Yes. Sign up as a commuter and come to camp each day. Commuters get the full training schedule and meals, then go home each night, and there is a commuter discount (see 2027 prices).
Do you offer discounts for teams?
Yes, there are team discounts. Contact Ken directly at camps@kenchertow.com for the details.
What if I cannot afford the total cost of camp right now?
You don't have to pay it all at once. You can pay part when you register and the rest before camp.
Email camps@kenchertow.com with any payment questions.
I chose the payment plan. How do I make more payments?
Email the camp office at camps@kenchertow.com and they'll help you pay the balance.
Can I cancel my registration? What is the refund policy?
When you register, you can add optional Purchase Protection, a refund service from Purchase Protection LLC (it is not an insurance policy). It refunds 100% of the camp fee if something unforeseen, like a sudden illness or injury, a hospital stay or a death in the family, keeps your wrestler from coming, usually only if it happened in the 7 days before camp and only with proof such as a note from your doctor. It does not cover a change of plans, a pre-existing condition, or a camper who starts camp and has to leave early, and every claim must be filed within 48 hours after camp. Read the provider's terms before you buy.
For any other cancellation question, email camps@kenchertow.com.
What does resident camp include?
A room with two queen beds at the Warehouse Hotel for the length of camp, in four-star hotel accommodations. Our Warehouse Hotel is attached to the Sports Complex. It is very safe and convenient. Three great meals a day. Counselors who check in at every session and every night. And a highly trained camp nurse on site for the length of camp.
Where do resident campers stay?
In four-star hotel accommodations at the Warehouse Hotel. In both Pennsylvania and Ohio, our Warehouse Hotel is attached to the Sports Complex. It is very safe and convenient.
Each room has two queen beds, a refrigerator, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
How many campers per room?
Four campers share each room, two to a queen bed. If you'd like your wrestler to have a bed to themselves, you can add a bed buyout.
What is a bed buyout?
A bed buyout gives your wrestler a queen bed to themselves. They still have a roommate. We try to room bed-buyout campers together, two to a room.
With uneven numbers that isn't always possible, so your wrestler may have two roommates instead of one. We do our best to keep it to one.
The bed buyout is $50 per night for the whole camp: $150 for a 4-day camp, $200 for 5 days, $250 for 6 days and $550 for 12 days. It is for resident campers only.
Can my child request a roommate?
Yes. The camp application has a spot to request a roommate. You can also email your request to Beth at beth@kenchertow.com.
My child has no roommate request. How do you decide who shares a room?
First by camp: wrestlers room with others in the same camp. Then we pair roommates by grade and weight.
What is the private room option?
Private rooms are for parents only. Wrestlers are not allowed to stay in a hotel room alone.
Parents can book a hotel room through us at a discounted rate. If your wrestler stays in your room, register them as a commuter and you'll get the commuter discount.
Do we have to book a parent room through you?
No. You're free to make your own arrangements. Booking through us is a service we offer at a discounted rate.
What is the parent-child camp option?
Future Champions (entering grades 1–4) is a parent-child camp, so every camper needs a parent at camp. The resident fee includes a hotel room your child shares with you, plus your meals. Kids Training Camp's resident price also covers the camper and a parent, with a hotel room and meals for both.
Campers entering 5th grade and below need a parent staying with them to be a resident camper.
Parents of older campers are welcome to come too, whatever their wrestler's age. You can add a parent hotel room and parent meals when you register.
What do campers eat?
Campers get great meals: three a day, starting with a hot breakfast buffet. Campers, counselors and coaches eat together at every meal, commuters included.
How are campers supervised?
Camp is highly supervised, with an 8:1 staff-to-camper ratio, and 6:1 in youth camps. Each resident camper has an assigned counselor who takes roll at every session and runs bed check every night. That counselor makes sure your wrestler is in bed at curfew and up for the first session each morning.
Campers may not leave the premises unless a parent signs them out, and they may not be out of their assigned hotel room after curfew.
What is the staff-to-camper ratio?
8:1, and 6:1 in our youth camps. Camp is highly supervised, and at that ratio the coaches get to know your wrestler and what they need to improve.
What time is curfew?
10 p.m. Resident campers must be in their rooms by then, and it's lights out.
Is there a nurse at camp?
Yes. We hire a camp nurse for the length of camp, and they are always highly trained. Report any illness to the camp nurse right away. Parents who want to talk with the nurse about medications or concerns can do so at check-in.
Who's in charge day to day?
Ken runs the training every day, all day, with a hand-picked staff of championship coaches and college wrestlers. His wife, Beth, is the camp administrator and runs everything off the mat. Beth taught school for 22 years. She is the mother of two daughters and a son who wrestled at Ken's camps for years, and a grandmother of two, and she treats every camper the way she would her own children or students.
How are training partners chosen?
We ask wrestlers to choose partners close to their own age and weight. Staff watch the pairs to keep training safe and productive.
Is there internet? Are there security cameras?
Yes to both. High-speed internet is available. Security cameras cover most common areas. There are no cameras in guest rooms.
How do I know what to bring to camp and what to expect?
We email a camp newsletter to families in early spring and post it on the website. It tells you what to pack and what to expect at camp.
My child takes medication daily. What should we do?
If your child is old enough and responsible enough to take it on their own, that's fine, as long as the medication is listed on the camp application. If not, please see the nurse at check-in.
Is there a camp for girls?
Yes. Ken runs three girls camps: the 12-day SuperGirl camp, the Girls Gold Medal Camps (6 or 5 days) and the 4-day Girls Technique Camp, with some of the best coaches in women's wrestling, and role models your daughter will look up to. It has its own site: visit SuperGirl.
Where is your girls camp located?
At Spooky Nook Sports. The 12-day SuperGirl camp is in Pennsylvania, at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim (July 11–22, 2027). The 6-day Girls Gold Medal Camps (high school and middle school) and the 4-day Girls Technique Camp run in both Pennsylvania and Ohio; the 5-day Girls Gold Medal Camps run in Pennsylvania, July 18–22. The Ohio camp is at Spooky Nook Champion Mill in Hamilton (June 19–24, 2027).
Resident girls stay at the Warehouse Hotel, which is attached to the Sports Complex. It is very safe and convenient.
Is SuperGirl girls-only?
For training, yes. Girls drill and wrestle live in girls-only groups. They share mat space with the boys' camps, and our SuperGirls get the same world-class guest clinicians as the boys. That covers the 12-day SuperGirl camp, the Girls Gold Medal Camps (6 or 5 days) and the 4-day Girls Technique Camp.
Can younger girls come?
Yes. Future Champions, the parent-child camp for kids entering grades 1–4, and Kids Training Camp, for kids entering grades 3–5, are open to girls and boys in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. Middle school girls have their own Girls Gold Medal Camp and the 4-day Girls Technique Camp.
When is check-in for camp?
Check-in is at Spooky Nook on the first day of your camp. Pennsylvania has two check-in days, Sunday, July 11 and Sunday, July 18, 2027, and every camp starts on one of them. Ohio has one check-in day, June 19, 2027 (camp runs June 19–24, 2027).
Check-in times for each 2027 camp are still being set. If you need them to book travel, email camps@kenchertow.com.
When is check-out?
Check-out times for each 2027 camp are being set along with check-in. Email camps@kenchertow.com if you need them now.
Can I take my child out for dinner during camp?
Yes. If your wrestler is a commuter, you don't need to let us know. If they're a resident camper, sign them out at the camp store first.
Do you provide transportation to and from the airport?
Yes. We provide rides to and from the Harrisburg airport for the Pennsylvania camp and the Cincinnati airport for the Ohio camp. You can choose this option when you register your wrestler.
The ride is $50 per person each way, or $100 round trip. Email camps@kenchertow.com for the payment deadline.
How do I make transportation arrangements?
Email Beth at beth@kenchertow.com. She needs your wrestler's name, their cell phone number (we give it to the shuttle driver for pickup) and the flight itinerary. If a flight changes, please let her know.
Is there a July 4th celebration?
When camp overlaps the holiday, campers can take part in our July 4th celebration at the facility. The 2027 camps don't include July 4: Ohio runs June 19–24 and Pennsylvania runs July 11–22.
Ask the camp office.
Email camps@kenchertow.com. Most Gold Medal summer camps fill up fast, so save your wrestler's spot early.