An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Regrettably, due to the construction of a new dining hall, Camp Wallace will not be operational during the 2025 summer season.Campers will have an opportunity to attend either Camp Currie or Camp Webb.
REGISTER NOW*
Camp Earl Wallace is located just outside of beautiful Kentucky Lake Cumberland in the south-central region of Kentucky. Registration opens on January 6th, and Kentucky students attend for eight weeks every summer (June through August). These camps provide an excellent co-educational opportunity for Kentucky students in grades 4 - 6 (as of April 1st) and not older than 13. Since 1951, Camp Currie has been creating memories that last a lifetime.
Camp DirectorEmily Hogueemily.hogue@ky.gov
Registration is $300.00.
Payment must be completed online using a credit card payment. We do not accept personal checks or money orders. If you do not have a credit card, consider purchasing a prepaid debit card to purchase your child’s camp registration.
Be sure to register for camp as early as possible. Registration fees are accepted as spots are available. Spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain weeks may be full well before the registration deadline. If your desired week is full, contact your child’s Conservation Educator for other options.
Each registration fee includes lodging, meals, camper insurance*, transportation to and from camp, and a Youth Sportsman’s License. *Restrictions may apply to camp insurance. Camp insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. The camper’s health insurance may be billed first if a medical need arises.
All refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Camp Director.
Full refunds will be issued if a written request is made thirty (30) days before the camper’s designated camp week. Refunds will only be issued within the thirty days of the camper’s week for medical reasons with a doctor’s note excusing the camper due to illness/injury.
Refunds will not be given for "no shows" or early departures due to homesickness or discipline.
Campers are divided into cabins by sex. There are four girl cabins and four boy cabins. Each cabin is assigned to a certain bathhouse. Each bathhouse has four stalls, four sinks, and four showers. There is also a clothesline outside of each cabin.
Campers will be fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner during their time at camp. Meals are prepared by three summer cooks, who we appreciate dearly! If your camper has any dietary restrictions, please provide them during the application process.
Each day, campers have time to play on our large playground. Our playground activities include kickball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and football. There is also a shelter and picnic area where campers may visit the canteen to purchase snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. Please ask you to send campers with small bills and quarters in a wallet or bag. Our amphitheater hosts our evening movies, talent shows, and end-of-week award ceremony.
Campers receive instruction at each activity and are encouraged to participate. If a camper does not wish to participate in a certain activity, they may abstain. However, if they abstain, they will not be eligible to earn the activity patch or the outdoorsman or woman award. Firearm Safety, Archery, Nature, and Outdoor Survival activities will contain portions of the Kentucky Hunter Education Certification tests. Students who complete all portions will earn their Hunter Education Card (aka Orange Card), a lifetime certification.
Campers are instructed on firearm safety by a certified Hunter Education Instructor followed by the rifle range, field course, and shotgun range.
Campers are instructed on archery safety by a certified Hunter Education Instructor followed by the archery range.
Campers receive nature and outdoor survival lessons along with a trail hike.
Campers are instructed on basic swim lessons and have swim time at either the in-ground pool or lake swim dock depending on their swimming capabilities. All pool and waterfront activities have certified American Red Cross lifeguards.
Campers receive instruction on motor boating and canoeing and have the opportunity to operate a 9HP motor boat and canoe.
Campers receive a fishing lesson and have the opportunity to catch a fish and practice casting at our floating casting targets.
In spring 2022, thirty new artificial structures were placed in the water around the fishing pier to increase campers' opportunities to catch fish successfully.
Camp Director
Read BIO
Jasmine graduated from Midway University with a bachelor's in Sports Management. She worked as a counselor for two summers and a seasonal supervisor at Camp Earl Wallace before becoming a conservation educator with KY. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources. She is a basic archery instructor trainer, hunter education instructor, CPR/First-Aid certified, and lifeguard/lifeguard instructor.
Conservation Educator
Jamie graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management. Certifications include: Standard First Aid, CPR/AED, KY WILD, Basic Canoe Instructor, Hunter Education Instructor, and Archery Instructor. He worked as a camp counselor at Camp Wallace during the summer of 2006 and 2007. He then worked as an aquatic educator for the next five years where I would help at camp and other fishing-related events throughout Kentucky. He started working as a conservation educator in 2013. This will be his eleventh summer working at Camp Wallace.
Eric has a bachelor's degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Kentucky. He is a certified Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, Hunter Education Instructor, Basic Archery Instructor, Bowhunter Education Instructor, and Project WILD Instructor, and is trained in Recognizing, Reporting, and Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect. Eric has worked at Camp Earl Wallace since 2010, when he began as a counselor.
Abby Johnson is a Conservation Educator I for Jefferson County. She started working for the department as a Camp Earl Wallace counselor in 2018. Abby, who is from Berea, will provide conservation programs to students in the Louisville area and during the summer will be working at Camp Earl Wallace. Abby attended Eastern Kentucky University and graduated in 2022 with a degree in wildlife management. After hours, Abby enjoys reading, spending time with her nephew, watching “The Office” and hiking.
Leigha recently joined the Central District Branch (Camp Wallace). She graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation Biology with an emphasis in conservation education. Leigha previously worked as a counselor at Camp Currie. She is a lifeguard, First AID CPR certified, hunter education instructor, and basic archery instructor. In her spare time, Leigha enjoys fishing and waterfowl hunting.
Jamie is a native of Eastern KY and growing up in Olive Hill afforded her time and space to explore Tygart’s Creek and the cave systems of Carter Caves State Park. So began her love of the outdoors. She still recalls the visits from Mr. Ray McCoy, the Conservation Educator who visited her 4th grade classroom and the impact learning about the fish and wildlife of KY had on her outlook and future interests. Graduating from Morehead State University with a master’s degree in biology and environmental education, Jamie spent 30.5 years in the high school classroom, including 28 wonderful summers with the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program teaching Biological and Environmental Issues and Healthcare Industry.
Upon retirement from the classroom, Jamie’s passion for KY, young people, and the outdoors (plus a desire to wear a brown uniform and sport a cool park ranger hat) led her to the KDFWR and Conservation Education. Mrs. Hester and her husband, Jeff, have a small farm in Central KY where they have reared three children, have two donkeys, two dogs, and are brand-new grandparents!
In 1997, while in the classroom, Mrs. Hester’s students joined KDFWR to witness the release of elk into the mountains of Eastern Ky. They later joined the elk biologists for an elk calf capture. What an experience!
Superintendent
David Beck began working for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources 6 years ago. David has been with the state for over 20 years. He is certified in Wastewater Management, a skilled carpenter, and has electricity skills. David enjoys spending time outdoors on the lake, fishing, hunting, and time with his family.