Lighthouse offers a wide array of full and half-day summer camps from June through August for young writers ages eight to 18. Whether they've got a few novels under their belt, are new but curious about poems, or are a reluctant writer, our camps offer a fun, creative, and challenging way for young people to explore and express who they are, build new friendships, and create truly beautiful works of art.

At Camp Manitowa our summer camp near St. Louis in Southern Illinois strive to provide campers an environment that fosters all the skills parents want their kids to develop early on in life. Our Rend Lake camp is a non-religions program that serves campers 2nd to 9th-grade. Kids gain independence, build self-esteem, and learn about cooperation and problem-solving, all while making new, lifelong friends. We offer a small community for campers so that they feel like they are part of the Manitowa family. By offering structured free choice activities, we encourage kids to feel a sense of belonging and control over their experience, which leaves them feeling empowered and able to learn and grow. View a typical day at Camp Manitowa and a map of the grounds. With so many water, art, sports, and nature activity options, campers will want to return to Manitowa for years to come. We serve campers from St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Denver, and the many communities of Southern and Central Illinois.