by Mike Sokol
For a summer camp director, choosing a venue isn’t just another decision. It’s one of the most important investments you’ll make.
The right property becomes more than a location—it becomes part of your camp’s identity. It shapes the experience your campers have, the memories they create, and the confidence parents place in your program.
That’s why five consecutive summers speak louder than any advertisement.
Since 2022, Kukenam Camp has chosen Orange Springs Retreat Center as the home of its Florida Sleepaway Camp, returning year after year to create unforgettable experiences for campers ages 7–15.
When an established camp continues returning to the same venue, it reflects something every camp director values: consistency, trust, and a partnership that works in the real world. Here is the story of how Kukenam found their perfect location when searching for a summer camp rental in Florida…
About Kukenam Camp
Founded by experienced camp directors Andreina Valenzuela and Andres Vidal, Kukenam Camp was built around a simple but powerful mission: “Where Adventures Shape Leaders.”
With more than 28 years of combined camp leadership experience, they have created an immersive overnight camp that helps young people grow through adventure, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and meaningful friendships.
Their bilingual (English and Spanish) program welcomes campers from across South Florida for an eight-day summer experience designed to help children unplug, build confidence, and create memories that last long after camp ends.
Rather than simply entertaining campers, every activity is designed to encourage:
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Creativity
- Respect for others and the environment
- Self-confidence
- Healthy competition
- Lifelong friendships
The Challenge: Finding the Right Summer Camp Home
Every successful overnight camp needs more than cabins and a dining hall. Camp directors need a venue that allows them to focus on campers—not logistics. That was the challenge Andres and Andreina faces when searching for a summer camp in Florida to rent.
That means finding a property that offers:
- Exclusive use of the entire campus
- Comfortable, air-conditioned lodging
- Excellent meals that campers actually enjoy
- Diverse activities that keep every day exciting
- Reliable facilities and responsive staff
- Plenty of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
- A safe, distraction-free environment
Finding all of those in one location isn’t easy. For Kukenam Camp, Orange Springs Retreat Center became that long-term solution.
Why Orange Springs Retreat Center Was the Right Fit
Kukenam Camp has shared that the property feels ideal because the facilities are designed with camp programs in mind. That partnership works because the venue naturally supports the type of immersive, high-energy experience Kukenam strives to create.
Campers enjoy access to:
- A private spring-fed lake with a white-sand beach
- Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding
- Inflatable waterfront attractions
- Rock climbing wall and high/low ropes course
- Archery
- Basketball and tennis courts
- Large athletic fields
- Evening campfires
- Air-conditioned meeting spaces
- Comfortable climate-controlled cabins
- Chef-prepared, customizable group meals
Instead of transporting campers to multiple locations, everything they need is available on one private, exclusive-use campus. That creates a smoother experience for camp leadership while giving campers more time to enjoy the week. Learn more about our youth and high school retreat options.
On-the-Ground Experience: Transportation, Meals & Daily Flow
What sets long-term partnerships apart is how the venue performs in real daily operations—not just on paper. Kukenam’s directors have highlighted several practical advantages that directly support their program goals.
Transportation & Logistics Wins
Because the entire 100+ acre property is reserved exclusively for one group at a time, Kukenam eliminated the daily shuttling common at multi-site venues. Campers could move seamlessly between waterfront activities (kayaking, paddleboarding, and inflatables on the private spring-fed lake), the ropes course and climbing wall, sports fields, archery, and dining facilities — all without losing time or energy to transportation. Directors noted this kept the program pace energetic, reduced supervision complexity, and gave campers more hours of actual adventure and team-building each day.
Meals That Supported High-Energy Days
Chef-prepared meals served in group-sized portions with customizable options helped maintain camper energy and morale during long, active days. The on-site dining setup minimized logistical friction around dietary needs and timing. Kukenam directors observed strong camper satisfaction with the food quality and variety — a detail that matters when parents ask what their children experienced during the week.
Daily Rhythm & Program Flow
The campus layout naturally supported a balanced rhythm: mornings and afternoons could feature high-adventure or skill-building activities (waterfront, ropes, team challenges), while evenings transitioned smoothly into campfires and reflective or social programming. Dedicated indoor and outdoor gathering spaces made it easy to shift between structured activities and downtime without friction. This flow reinforced Kukenam’s mission of building leadership, confidence, and friendships in a low-distraction environment.
These on-the-ground details — single-campus convenience, reliable meals, and natural activity flow — are exactly why Kukenam has chosen to return for five consecutive summers.
By the Numbers & Real Outcomes
Five consecutive summers of partnership — the strongest proof of consistent, reliable operations
100+ acre private lakefront campus with everything on one exclusive-use site
Zero daily shuttling between activity locations — more programming time, less fatigue
Private spring-fed lake with white-sand beach and full waterfront programming
Climate-controlled lodging supporting groups up to 200+
Chef-prepared, customizable meals that kept energy high and satisfaction strong
Full adventure + waterfront access without leaving the property — simpler logistics, richer experience
Voices from Kukenam Camp Leadership
Real feedback from the directors who keep coming back:
“Every year I find myself counting down the months until we return to Orange Springs. There’s something truly special about that private lakefront with the white sandy beach — it’s the only place in Florida where we can truly recreate the kind of traditional summer camp experience we run at our location in Venezuela. The setting, the space, and the overall feeling allow us to deliver the same quality program our families have come to expect, and that’s why we keep coming back summer after summer“
— Andreina Valenzuela, Co-Director & Co-Founder, Kukenam Camp
When we were touring potential summer camp venues across Florida looking for the right home for our sleepaway program, Orange Springs Retreat Center stood out immediately. The combination of the private lakefront, wide open fields, and full ropes course — all on one exclusive-use campus — checked every box we needed. We knew right away this was the place where we could run the program the way we wanted, without the logistics headaches we’d seen elsewhere. Five years later, that initial feeling has only been confirmed.
— Andres Vidal, Co-Director & Co-Founder, Kukenam Camp
Five Years of Partnership
Returning for a fifth consecutive summer isn’t something that happens by accident. Successful camp organizations return because the venue delivers in practice, day after day.
Over five summers, Orange Springs Retreat Center has consistently provided the facilities, accommodations, dining, and on-site support that allow Kukenam Camp’s leadership team to focus on what matters most — creating an outstanding experience for their campers.
That long-term relationship demonstrates the value of dependable operations, flexible facilities, and a venue designed specifically for youth groups and overnight camps. See what other groups say on our FAQs and testimonials.
What Other Camp Directors Can Learn
Kukenam Camp’s continued partnership offers an important lesson for any organization planning an overnight camp or youth program.
The venue you choose directly affects your ability to deliver the experience you envision — not just in theory, but in the daily realities of transportation, meals, supervision, and energy levels.
When your entire group has exclusive use of the property, schedules become simpler and transitions disappear.
When activities, lodging, and dining are all in one location, campers spend more time engaged instead of traveling.
When meals and facilities are designed to support high-activity days, camp leaders can devote more energy to their campers instead of managing logistics.
That’s exactly why long-term venue partnerships built on real-world performance matter.
| Aspect | Typical Summer Camp Rental Options in Florida | Orange Springs Retreat Center |
| Property Access | Often shared with other groups or outside guests | Entire 100+ acre property reserved exclusively for your group |
| Schedule Flexibility | Limited by other groups on site | Complete control over your own schedule |
| Lodging | Basic or standard accommodations | Climate-controlled cabins |
| Waterfront & Activities | Limited or requires transportation between locations | Private spring-fed lake with white-sand beach + ropes course, climbing wall & more — all on one campus |
| Meals | Often basic, self-catered, or shared dining | Chef-prepared, customizable group meals |
| Distractions | Other groups and outside guests on the property | Completely private — no shared spaces or outside interruptions |
| Logistics | Frequent shuttling between activities and locations | Everything on one campus — zero daily transportation needed |
| Best For | Smaller or less structured groups | Youth camps, church groups, schools & organizations wanting a focused, high-quality sleepaway experience |
Planning Your Own Overnight Camp or Weekend/Weeklong retreat?
Whether you’re launching a brand-new sleepaway camp or relocating an established program, choosing the right venue to rent can shape your success for years to come.
Orange Springs Retreat Center specializes in hosting private youth camps, church camps, leadership retreats, school programs, and outdoor education experiences for rental groups of approximately 60–200+ guests.
Your group enjoys exclusive use of our entire 100+ acre campus, including comfortable lodging, chef-prepared meals, meeting facilities, sports fields, challenge activities, and a beautiful spring-fed lake — all in one peaceful, distraction-free setting.
Like Kukenam Camp, many organizations return year after year because they know they can count on a venue designed to help their program succeed in practice.
If you’re planning your next overnight camp, we’d love to show you why Orange Springs Retreat truly is a unique summer camp venue for groups in Florida!
“Written by Mike Sokol, Owner of Orange Springs Retreat Center since 2002. With over 20 years of experience hosting youth camps and group retreats, Mike shares insights to help camp directors find the right venue.”
📞 561-221-7773
Located just south of Gainesville, Florida, Orange Springs Retreat Center offers Group Retreat Rentals, Fall & Spring School/Church Camp venue, and an ideal Summer Camp Location. What separates us from other retreat venues is true exclusivity:
“One Group At a Time Always- No Shared Spaces, No Outside Guests”
Check out how Orange Springs Retreat Center was featured in the New York Times.