Camp Kota has been sending Bloomington kids home sunburned and happy for more than 50 years, and the city says this summer was one of its best in years. Nearly 200 campers came to each of the 4 weeklong sessions in July. That's the camp's highest enrollment since 2015, according to the Parks and Recreation Department, which runs the program at Bush Lake Beach.
Campers spent their days swimming, paddleboarding, trying archery, learning outdoor skills, singing camp songs and testing their balance on the key log. The city said the overnight campout was one of the most anticipated parts of the season. It started with a family picnic and an evening program, and then campers slept in tents. Camp staff thanked the families, participants and volunteers who made the season work. Questions go to Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877 or [email protected].
The 4 sessions ran back to back from July 6 to July 31, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East Bush Lake Park. The cost was $300 for Bloomington residents and $365 for nonresidents. The city's program listing describes the camp as being for kids entering grades 2 through 7, while its end-of-season recap says campers ranged from kindergarten through 7th grade. Registration also offers separate K–1 sessions.
Getting a spot takes some planning. For 2026, priority registration for Bloomington residents opened January 5. The city held a lottery drawing on February 5, and the priority registration deadline was February 18. Open registration for both residents and nonresidents started February 19 on a first-come, first-served basis. The city hasn't posted 2027 dates yet, so families hoping for next summer should watch for a similar winter schedule.
Bush Lake now has a different operator, but the camp hasn't changed hands. Since January 1, 2025, Three Rivers Park District has operated and maintained Bloomington's regional park facilities under a cooperative agreement. Those include the beach, shelters and watercraft racks at Bush Lake. The city still owns the land, and it said when the handoff happened that it would keep offering youth programs at Bush Lake, Camp Kota among them.
