Dogwood Acres Campground | Family Camping in South Central Pennsylvania

ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Fishing at Dogwood Acres

Joey Casting a Line

ven

Christmas at Dogwood Acres

Come see Santa

Shiver me Timbers at Dogwood Acres

Arrrgh Pirate Fun

There is always something fun happening at Dogwood Acres Campground. We offer a full schedule of planned activities throughout the season, right from April 11th to the last bonfire weekend.

Annual events and typical activities include, Cinco de Mayo Weekend, Pirate Weekend, Halloween Weekends ... and much, much more. In addition to everything that is happening right here at the campground, there is a wide range of events that are scheduled throughout the season in Cumberland County and the surrounding communities, including several major automotive events at Carlisle. Whatever weekend you choose, you can be sure that there will always be something happening at Dogwood Acres!

Activities Schedule 2026 Click to find out about our Recreation and Disc Golf
Opening Day: Monday, April 6th, 2026. ALL ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Slideshow Hidden Large Screens
April 10-12 First weekend of camping. Come and get the winter blues out. Make a campfire, roast marshmallows and enjoy being outdoors. Say hello to old friends and meet new people.
April 17-19 Clean Up Weekend Seasonals if you have not come down yet, it’s time to rake up sites and join the campground activities. Help will be needed to get camp ready for the season. Weekenders- sign up for a free night by helping Saturday morning 8:30AM-1:30PM. Followed by a Thank-You lunch for all.
April 24-26 Relax weekend and Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market, Corral and Auction. Come and relax or make plans to head over to Carlisle. Car show starts Wednesday April 22-26.

May

May 1-3
Cinco de Mayo- 21 st Chilli Cook-off lunch- cook a Chilli to entry the contest, we sell the bowls for charity.
Kentucky Derby- 5:00 social- bring snacks and drinks- we will have our own race. If you want to wear your best fascinator please do.

May 8-10
Mother’s Day Weekend
Breakfast for Mom- Meet the chaplain, Ken Rummel, worship starts for the year on Sunday at 11:00AM
Paint Party - “Here There Anywhere Painting with Gigi”.

May 15-17
Spring Corn Hole Tourney hosted by the Kaminski family
Import & Performance Nationals at Carlisle – May 15-16

May 22-25
Memorial Day Weekend (3-day minimum)
Saturday and Sunday are packed with activities for kids and adults. The swimming pool is now open. Enter the Pinewood Derby Annual Memorial Day Race. Bring your car or make one at craft time. We will have a Corn Hole Tourney, too!

May 29-31
Relax Weekend

June

June 5-7
Candy Camp Weekend and Car Show- Carlisle Nationals – Ford
Bring your sweet tooth this weekend and have fun with everything candy. Play candy Bingo, candy craft, and play candy games.
Car Show- Carlisle Nationals – Ford June 5-7

June 12-14
Wine Social
Kick off summer with your favorite wine or sparkling cider. Bring a hors-d’oeuvre to compliment your favorite spirit.

June 19-21
Father’s Day -Breakfast for Dad, Cornhole Tournament hosted by the Kaminski family
Dad’s Breakfast-in pavilion. Cornhole Tournament
Carlisle Car Show- Carlisle Nationals-GM June 19-20

June 26-28
Craft Show Weekend hosted by Terri Geiling.
Sign up to be a vendor or come to shop. Last year was a great success. Open to the public.

July

July 2-5
Fourth of July Weekend (3-day minimum):
Corn Hole
Come celebrate America’s 250th Birthday. We have a jam-packed weekend full of activities for children and adults. 22nd Create a boat race (we supply the box, you bring the materials), bass fishing contest, patriotic golf cart and glow parade, music, and fireworks.

July 10-12
Relax Weekend:
Carlisle Chrysler Nationals – July 10-12.

July 17-19
Pool Party Weekend
Come hang out at the pool, play games, listen to music. Wet wagon ride, get your water guns and ballons ready. Fierce battle on the horizon.

July 24-26
Relax Weekend:
Come sit enjoy a meal by your campfire, fish for the big one, swim in the pool, or just relax.

July 31 - August 2
Pirate Weekend hosted by Laurie Shick
18th Annual Pirate weekend- Fun for all Mateys, young and old alike. Bring your pirate gear. Dress up is encouraged. Our pirates will wake you up on Saturday morning, fun games and crafts, a wet wagon ride, treasure hunt at night.

August

August 7-9
Pool Party Weekend and Ice Cream Social
Carlisle Car Show- Carlisle Truck Nationals
Hang by the pool -games and music. Finish the afternoon with discounted ice cream with free toppings.

August 14-16
Corn Hole Tournament hosted by the Kaminski family
Great time with friends.

August 21-23
Chicken Corn Soup
Add to the pot and have a side to go along with the soup. Enjoy lunch on Saturday or take out. Monetary donations to Paw Packs.

August 28-30
Relax Weekend & Corvettes at Carlisle
Many stay here going to the Corvette show. Come on down. Spend time at the pool before the holiday.

September

September 469-443-2807
Labor Day (3 day minimum)
Papa Jack Disc Tournament- Thank you Yoder family for officiating. Last weekend for the pool.

September 11-13
9/11 25-year tribute, First Responders Weekend hosted by the Cline and Price families
Please come and thank our first responders. Reflection and Gratitude.

September 18-20
Relax Weekend

September 25-27
Christmas Weekend
Bringing Christmas back. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, potluck dinner on Saturday. Decorate your sites.

October

October 2-4
Oktoberfest Weekend, Craft Show Hosted by Terri Geiling
Cornhole Tournament, and last car show for the year at Carlisle.
Pork provided by DAC. Bring covered dish for Oktoberfest. Enjoy the foliage! The Blue Mountain starts to change colors.
Craft Show-Hosted by Terri Geiling. Sign up as a vendor or shop on Saturday! Open to the public. Fall Carlisle, Collector Car Flea Market, Corral & Auction

October 9-11
Halloween Extravaganza #1 (2-day minimum):
Children’s social, pumpkin picking, carving or painting your pumpkin, lunch included in the social price, an additional craft, trick or treat with costume judging and parade. Site contest for best decorated.

October 16-18
Halloween Extravaganza #2 (2-day minimum):
Children’s social, pumpkin picking, carving or painting your pumpkin, lunch included in the social price, an additional craft, trick or treat with costume judging and parade. Site contest for best decorated.

October 23-25
Bonfire Weekend:
Last official weekend of the 2026 camping season!

Weekends are 2 night minimum. All Holidays are a 3 night minimum.
Events may change due to weather or non participation. Check website for changes.
Wagon rides Saturday afternoon.
Worship service starts May 10 and ends September 27.

Recreation & Disc Golf
Dogwood Acres provides campers with a full range of top quality recreational amenities. As our guest, you will enjoy access to everything you need to ensure that every member of your family will have an enjoyable stay. In addition to the amenities that you would expect to find, we also offer a fishing pond which contains sizable fish, not just wishes, pedal cart rentals, hiking trails a short drive around the block, and a 9-hole disc golf course which was remodeled for 2009. Have a great time around the swimming pool. Youngsters 5-12 can experience our “Hundred Acre Wood” wooden playground climbing experience. Many of our planned activities are centered around our recreation hall and other recreational amenities. Whatever your recreational pursuits, our goal is to exceed your expectations.
• Swimming Pool • Snack Shack • Fishing Pond • Wooden Playground • Disc (Frisbee) Golf • Pedal Cart Rentals • • Paddle Boat Rentals • Basketball • Volleyball • Shuffleboard • • Recreation Hall • Game Room • Bike and Hiking Trails Nearby •
Hiking Trails
There is a wide range of excellent hiking opportunities within immediate proximity of Dogwood Acres, ranging from short hikes suitable for families to longer, more challenging treks for more experienced hikers. The campground offers close access to the Flat Rock Trail, with a 2.5 mile hike up to Flat Rock’s beautifully scenic vista of the Cumberland Valley. Another nearby hike is on the Tuscarora Trail, the northernmost portion of an Appalachian Trail bypass route that may be followed to reach the Appalachian Trail. Other nearby hiking options include the Opossum Lake, Woodburn Trail, and King’s Gap Environmental Center. Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch is a 20 minute drive down Route 944 to Route 74. Sit atop Waggoner’s Gap and see both sides of Cumberland and Perry Counties. Observe raptors in migration.
Disc Golf
Disc golf has a long history at Dogwood Acres. Early in the 1970s Papajack Roddick and his son Dan “Stork” Roddick installed a nine hole course using modified tractor trailer tires as ground baskets. The result was one of the earliest disc golf courses in the country. At present there are over 2500 courses shown in the PDGA course directory as well as many unlisted ones hiding in parks, campgrounds and playgrounds all over the country. Most of them can be played for free, needing only one or two golf discs usually costing under ten dollars, surely making this the best bargain in sports. The tires have long since been replaced with basket targets. These were fabricated by camper Charlie Witman using materials bought by some of the golfers anxious to leave the ground basket world. The original holes continue to move to accommodate the changing nature of the campground.
With the installation of our new swimming pool in 2009 came the need to move some holes, and we took the opportunity to completely remodel the course. New holes were plotted with increased risk=reward potential. We now take advantage of many trees, hills and the lake to make a course which players find more challenging and interesting than before. Rubber Fly Pad tee pads were installed on all holes, making footing perfect for those long throws now needed to clear the lake on holes #2, #5 and #6. Hole #4, from a high hill to a basket guarded by trees on the left and the lake on the right is probably our signature hole, although the return to old hole #9 is the favorite of many. Campers play almost every weekend and the annual Labor Day tournament, now named the Papa Jack Open is in its 24th year. Whether you are a serious player or a casual player with a new interest in the sport, you will surely enjoy the disc golf course at Dogwood Acres!