The Nike Cross Country Camp at Oberlin College is located 25 miles southwest of Cleveland in the small town of Oberlin, Ohio.
Oberlin College is the ideal setting for High School Cross Country runners to experience first hand what it feels like to be a collegiate athlete. Campers train in one of the best college towns in Ohio and receive comprehensive running instruction from an enthusiastic and experienced Oberlin coaching staff, including Head Coach Izzy Alexander.
Highlights Include
Overnight and Day Camp Options
Top College Coaching
Post-Camp Goal Setting and Training Tools
Camp open to XC Runners ages 12-17
Inspiring Guest Speakers
Nike Running Camp T-shirt
Camp Details
SECURE YOUR SPOT!
You can expect a high demand on these first-come-first-serve camper spots, so please be sure to register early.
The Nike XC Camp at Oberlin College helps High School XC runners of all abilities to develop and compete at the highest level.
Athletes master the fundamentals, develop proper mechanics and gain valuable race experience. The camp emphasizes training for XC/Distance Running, with the overall goal of developing good habits that lead to even better results.
Oberlin is just 35 minutes from downtown Cleveland. Families can take in a professional baseball game, a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or tremendous fine arts scene - the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra and art gallery. Just 45 minutes from campus is Cedar Point Amusement Park, home of some of the world's best roller coasters.
The staff at Oberlin has had considerable success developing young men and women student-athletes, and the coaches bring the same principles to camp.
2026 OVERVIEW
Dates: July 12-16, 2026 (Sunday-Thursday)
Age Group: 12-17
Gender: Co-ed
Camp Type: Overnight, Day
Meals: All meals are provided at the on-campus dining facility.
CAMP SCHEDULE
Check-in:
Overnight Campers: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM on Sunday, July 12th
Day Campers: 3:30 PM on Sunday, July 12th (optional first day) / 8:30 AM on Monday-Thursday (July 13th-16th)
Check-out:
Overnight Campers: 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 16th (Must be fully checked out before 12:00pm)
Day Campers: 5:30 PM on Sunday-Wednesday (July 12th-15th) / 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 16th
Lunch is included for day campers / All meals are provided for overnight campers.
Overnight campers should be prepared to run following check-in on Sunday.
PREPARE FOR CAMP: COMPLETE YOUR PRE-CAMP CHECKLIST
To view your customer account, complete your mandatory forms, pay balance dues, and review important camp information, visit Pre-Camp Checklist.
All necessary camp information is on this page. If there are any imperative changes prior to camp start, registered campers will be notified via email and this webpage will be updated!
HOUSING
Dorm: TBD
Campers Per Room: 2
Bathroom Type: Shared in hall
Roommates: Rooms are assigned by age & roommate requests. Roommate requests must be received no later than 14 days before the start of camp. If you don't have a roommate request, you will be placed in a room with someone near your age. It will be a great opportunity to meet someone new!
Linens: Not provided
Air Conditioning: No, fan recommended
Key Deposit: We do not require a room key or meal card deposit. However, if you do not return your key or meal card on the last day of camp, you will be responsible for all replacement charges from the host facility. US Sports Camps will charge the camper credit card on file for all costs due.
Staff members reside in campers’ quarters and participate in all activities.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEES:
Overnight Campers: Features several instructional sessions per day, three hot meals, and lodging in residence halls. An evening recreation program is also included.
Day Campers: This option offers the same features as the resident camp minus lodging, breakfast, and dinner (Day Campers should eat breakfast before daily check-in). Lunch is included.
INSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT & FACILITY
Ratio: 1:10
Grouped by: age, ability, current mileage, and XC experience
Equipment needed: Campers should bring at least two pairs of broken in running shoes. Racing flats/spikes are optional. Please be sure to properly mark your equipment, so that it can be easily identified.
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING:
Below is a suggested list of clothes, equipment and personal items. US Sports Camps is NOT responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.
ALL CAMPERS:
Extra Athletic clothing
1-2 pairs of broken in running shoes/ event spikes
Non-running shoes
Water bottle
Sunblock
Packed snacks for the dorm/as needed
Small gym bag/backpack
Extra spending money (suggested $40)
OVERNIGHT CAMPERS ONLY:
Athletic clothing mentioned above
Comfortable non-running clothing
Underwear and socks
Pajamas/sleepwear
Toiletries
Personal items & medications
Washcloth and bath towel
Alarm clock
Swimsuit and towel
Flip-flops
Pen and paper for notes during guest speakers
Cell phone (if you have one)
Pillow, pillowcase, bed sheets, comforter or sleeping bag (linens are NOT provided)
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is not provided. Campers are responsible for getting to and from camp on their own. There is no supervision before or after camp hours so please make arrangements to pick up your child on time.
GEAR UP FOR CAMP
All Nike Cross Country Campers receive a Nike camp t-shirt as part of their tuition. Additional Nike Camp gear is available for purchase at check-out or can be purchased at any time on our storefront.
MEDICAL PROTOCOL
Most camps have an athletic trainer on-site to help with illness or injury. In case of an emergency, campers will be transported to the nearest hospital.
COMPANY POLICIES
For information regarding our cancellation policy and all other company policies, please visit USSC Policies.
NIKE CROSS COUNTRY CAMP FAQ
For general questions about our Cross Country camps please see our FAQ page.
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Recreational activities - special lectures, pool time, bowling, games etc.
10:00pm
Curfew & room check
10:30pm
Lights out - quiet hours begin
Campers train at Oberlin College’s Bob Kahn Track and Fred Shults Field. The Bob Kahn Track is an eight-lane, Beynon, single-pour surface, similar to the track at historic Hayward Field. Campers will also run on the adjacent Oberlin College Community Trail – a fast, wood chip trail that starts just a few hundred meters from the track.
What Camper Families Say
There are no reviews for this camp just yet. Check out these Google reviews from families who've attended our other cross country programs.
The staff has created a formula that determines running groups. Groups are based on a combination of running background, age, recent mileage, season best 5k, and long runs. A change in groups can be accommodated if staff members leading those groups feel it is needed.
We welcome individual campers and teams. If you come to camp by yourself, we place you in a dorm room with another single camper, similar in age. It's a great place to meet new friends who share your enthusiasm for the sport and to have FUN!
Plenty of great stuff! We have a game night, pool night, movie night and bowling night most years.
Yes, campers are supervised by the coaches and staff. Staff members reside in the same dorms as the campers and provide supervision during instruction, dining times, evening activities, and in the dorm.
All staff members complete criminal and sex offender background checks before working the camp.
Yes, the dining hall provides well-rounded meals using locally sourced foods. From the picky eaters to those who are vegetarian/vegan, to those who require special gluten-free meals, our dining services work very hard to meet the needs for all our campers.
Yes! To be a better runner you can’t just run - you also have to get stronger and make yourself more resilient to injury. Before every running session we take all campers through a series of general strength exercises meant to strengthen the core, legs, and upper body. We also introduce campers to different weight room exercises and perform a running gait analysis on each athlete.
When you register for the camp, you have an option to submit a roommate request. If you would like to add a roommate request after registering for a camp, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We accommodate all roommate requests, made before 2 weeks before the start of camp. Campers who do not submit a roommate request will be placed in a dorm with other runners, similar age and same gender.
Dorms are NOT air-conditioned. Bring a fan.
Our Health & Release Form does not require a doctor’s signature. This form is to be completed online and is required to be filled out accurately, signed by the parent (guardian), and submitted before arrival at camp.
