This summer, families can enjoy all of the fun of Great Wolf Lodge’s Water Park plus campfires, s’mores, craft-making, and other camping inspired activities without the hassle of pitching a tent during Great Wolf Lodge’s Summer Camp-In celebration. Happening now until August 25, 2025, all 22 U.S.-based Great Wolf Lodge locations are transforming into the ultimate indoor campground where families can immerse themselves in classic summer camp fun – no sunscreen required! It has become one of our kids favorite summer traditions! We have visited Great Wolf Lodge with toddlers, tweens and even grandparents over the years. Here are some tips for your Great Wolf Lodge visit.
TIP – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SEASONAL THEMED PROGRAMS. All of the programs are complimentary to hotel guests!
On the app, in the lobby and at check-in, families can find all of the programs available for each day. One fun way to experience Summer Camp In is to embark on the Trail Blazer Challenge. Kiddos can earn badges by participating in a wide variety of interactive games and activities like bean bag toss and family trivia. Plus, kids can get creative with crafts and make keepsakes like friendship bracelets that will keep the summer spirit alive long after the dog days of summer start to sink in. Our family decorated flags for the bunk beds in our hotel room. As the sun sets, guests can cozy up by the fire in the Grand Lobby for a nostalgic evening of campfire sing-alongs, lively dance parties, and bedtime stories. Our kids aren’t quite old enough to go to sleep away camp so Great Wolf Lodge’s Summer Camp In is a fun way to experience camp.
TIP – FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AS A FAMILY. It is helpful to remind everyone that you might not get to do it all and each family member has things that might be special to them. As much as we enjoy dancing, we only made it to the Camp Jamboree and not the Splash & Dance Pool Party.
Some of the programs and activities available during Great Wolf Lodge’s Summer Camp-In include:
● Splash & Dance Pool Party*: There is nothing more iconic than the songs of summer, and guests are encouraged to bring their favorite dance moves to our daily pool party! Along with shaking a groove to special choreographed dances, guests will enjoy a variety of games and activities like ring toss, freeze dance, hula hoop and more.
● Character Appearances: Families will enjoy special appearances from Great Wolf Lodge’s very own Wiley the Wolf, Violet Wolf and other characters throughout the day.
● Trailblazer Challenge: Campers up for a challenge can select activities and earn a badge for each one they complete. To win bragging rights, collect 5 badges and earn the ultimate honor – the title of Trailblazer.
● Arts & Crafts: Craft making is a core camping activity, and young guests will be able to create their own buttons, make DIY flags, friendship bracelets and origami tents.
● Yoga Tails: Great Wolf’s family-friendly morning yoga program designed around stories and tales. This is one of our favorites!
● Summer Camp-In Jamboree: Near the end of a long day of play in the water park, guests gather in the lobby for a sing-along and dance party that includes easy to learn choreographed dances.
TIP – It is okay to take a break! As much as we love doing it all, don’t be afraid to stop and get a snack or lay down for a nap, don’t feel like you have to do it all in one take. We also find it helpful to divide and conquer. Some of our family is very adventurous and like to go down the fast slides, while others are okay with chilling in the lazy river. We love when our extended family comes with us too. Grandma has gone down the family water slide and grandpa has been on toddler duty at the splash pad.
TIP – Add a Wolf, Pup or Paw Pass for other offerings. Each has a variety of activities as part of the paid pass.
Along with these Summer Camp-In offerings, Great Wolf Lodge has a wide variety of amenities available year-round to guests including family-friendly attractions like Ten Paw Alley, Build-A-Bear, Northern Lights Arcade, Great Wolf Lodge’s live action adventure game MagiQuest, and more. Our family enjoys doing all of these things after a long day in the water park.
TIP: Have a bowling tournament! With bumpers, smaller balls and shorter lanes, Ten Paw Alley is great for bowlers of all ages! Each time we go to Great Wolf Lodge, we look forward to who will win at bowling and mini golf.
TIP: If your kiddo loves Build-A-Bear, consider getting one of the passes. We enjoy making a Build-A-Bear each time we visit. Even the bears and wolves get to come to our Summer Camp Ins over the years.
If you are looking for even more tips, head here.
We were hosted by Great Wolf Lodge. All of our thoughts and opinions are our own.
