About Summer Camp

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When should we Arrive?
Registration is on Sunday from 1:30p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

We spend our Sunday morning in worship and in meetings to prepare for your arrival. If you must arrive early - please respect our need for this preparation time and wait until we are ready for you. We cannot accommodate early registration.

Late registration means that your camper is missing orientation (which starts at 4:00). This is when the older camps sign up for their classes for the week.

When is Pickup Time?
Pick up time is Saturday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

We have a staff meeting scheduled at 11:30 (and this is also our lunchtime). This is necessary to get our one-week staff home and to give our summer staff an afternoon off before the next camp.

How are cabin assignments made?

We allow each camper to select ONE other camper of the same age/grade. At the Junior Camp level we try to keep the campers that paid for skiing together (so that they can go as a group), but otherwise they are separated by age/grade.

Our program utilizes four teams consisting of one cabin of boys and one cabin of girls. It is important to assign campers according to age/grade to keep the teams equal. The oldest cabin and youngest cabins tend to be of the same age/grade and the two middle cabins are mixed proportionately.

Please do not ask us to keep groups of friends together. Pair them up in groups of two and allow them to make new friends (that is what camp is about). The Youth and Varsity camps allow the camper to choose their classes - so they can still be together during the day.

Can I call or visit my camper at camp?
Calls and visits are discouraged because they sometimes cause homesickness, disrupt the program, and may create a safety concern. Should you be concerned about your camper, please call the Director with any questions you may have. We discourage homesick campers from calling home. If homesickness persists 48 hours (i.e. Tuesday) we will let them call home - they rarely stay if homesickness lasts this long. If you want homesickness managed in some other way, please speak with the director. If you need your camper to call home for some reason, send a note with your camper or email the camp director. For example, some campers come by bus and parents want to know that they arrived safe. If they do not have a phone card, they must call collect. They may ONLY call their parents (we will dial the phone). We have had issues with camper cell phones. The same rule applies. We will keep the phone in the office and they may call ONLY their parents and only make that call from the office.

What if my camper gets homesick, ill, or injured?
Usually, any homesickness subsides in the first day or two as the camper gets into the program. In rare instances the child is just not ready to be away from home. If homesickness persists longer than 48 hours will we let them call home. Otherwise we just keep them safe & busy. If you want homesickness managed in some other way, please speak with the director. If your camper becomes ill or injured (other than minor events that respond to treatment you have authorized) we will call you!

Can campers receive Mail?
Mail call is Monday-Friday at lunch. You may consider sending your first letter on the Thursday before camp so they will have a letter on Monday. They sing (with a group) for 3 letters or 1 package.

You may email up to one letter per day (Monday - Friday).
Messages sent by 8:00am will be delivered at lunch (Monday - Friday).
Email is checked between 9am & 10am Monday-Friday (Once Only)

Put campers name (& cabin number if known) in subject line of your Email.

Email: campermail@camphorizon.org {Note: This is ONLY for Camper Email)

Send other correspondence to info@camphorizon.org

NOTES ABOUT EMAIL
EMAILS DO NOT COUNT FOR SINGING. We receive as many as 60 messages per day. Duplicate mail from the same address to the same camper are deleted unread and you will be warned. A second warning will result in your address being blocked. All attachments are deleted unread. Please do not send hyperlinks to E-cards - they will not be printed. Fancy fonts look okay, but colors are not printed, so it just comes out light & fuzzy. It is best to stick to black letters only. If you know the cabin number - put it in the subject line with the camper's name. This helps us sort the mail. Emails are grouped by cabin and given to the counselor to distribute.

Additonal Costs

Skiing
The cost is an additional $30 per week.
Skiing is very popular, but we only have limited space each week.
If your camper wants to ski, plan to register early.

How much should I send for Snack-Shack?
Junior Campers have a total of 5 trips to Snack-Shack.
Youth & Varsity camps each have 10 trips to Snack-Shack.

We ask that your camper not keep any cash in their cabin. We put their money in a "bank" and keep track of purchases on a ledger and refund the balance on Saturday.

There is no spending limit (that is for you to decide). However - candy is not allowed in the cabins. They may only purchase what they can eat during Snack-Shack time. We suggest a minimum of $15 for Junior Camps and $25 for Youth and Varsity Camps for snacks and a camp water bottle.

Tee Shirts (Christian Message + Camp Logo) are also available for sale in the Snack Shack [estimated cost: $12].


CAMPER CHECKLIST

What should my camper bring to camp?
Be sure to pack enough clothing for SIX days. Your camper will be in and out of the pool - lake - gym - playing field - showers. It is suggested that they bring an extra swimsuit - extra towels (3-4) and extra socks and underwear.

  • Pillow, sleeping bag or single sheets
  • Towels - at least 3-4
  • Sports and play clothes-enough for 6 active days
  • Please: No short shorts or halter tops - the belly must be covered
  • Dress outfit for Friday evening banquet
  • Shoes - Two pair of sneakers (1 old), sandals or water socks, and dress shoes for banquet
  • Insect repellent
  • Flashlight
  • Bible
  • Pen, notepaper and stamps
  • Swimsuits - two one-piece suits
  • Bikinis / 2-piece suits are not allowed)
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, deodorant etc.
  • All clothing should be modest.
  • MARK ALL ITEMS WITH YOUR NAME

What should my camper NOT bring to camp?

  • Radios, audio/video players, electronic devices (games, cell phone, TV)
  • CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CABINS
    Cell phones must be kept in the office and may only be used to call parents.
  • Knives (or any dangerous objects)
  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Skateboards
  • Pets
  • Comics, & cards are not allowed at camp
  • These items will be confiscated on arrival or on discovery
    & returned to the adult responsible for their transporation home.

Campers may be expelled for reason of misconduct with no refund.

  • Possession or use of tobacco
  • Possession or use of alcoholic beverages
  • Intoxicants or drugs of any kind are strictly prohibited (see below).
  • Violent or disruptive behavior or language..
  • Failure to follow instructions.
  • Possesion of illegal substances (must also be reported to the sheriff).

What is Camp Horizon Like?

We are a Bible Camp.

Our counselors, cooks, craft instructors, and support staff are volunteers who are recommended by the leaders of their local church.

We have chapel both morning and evening at each of the camps. The speakers are selected to meet the needs of the age group of the campers.

Each cabin has group devotions and prayer time. At the older camps there is time for individual devotions as well.

Bible memory is a part of the competition. The campers are encouraged to memorize at least one verse from God's Word each day.

We are a FUN Camp

At Junior Camp, we keep the cabin together all day. They eat their meals together, sit in chapel together, and rotate through the available activities together as a group.

This allows the younger campers an opportunity to sample all of the craft areas we have to offer. They swim in the pool every day.

At the older camps (Youth and Varsity) they sit together by teams at meals. The campers choose their craft activities for the week. Youth Camp offers four craft times and Varsity Camp allows for three.

We also schedule in some free time each day.

The Program Director comes prepared with a theme that is developed through the week. They include at least one ALL-CAMP activity each day in their plan.

Camp Crafts and Activities

Swimming
Both ends of our pool are shallow to allow for pool games like water polo and water-volleyball as well as for swimming instruction.

Canoeing
The Youth and Varsity campers may choose to go on a canoe trip at the end of the week.

Sailing
We have a variety of boats including Sunfish, Hobie Cat, and Day Sailer.

Skiing
There is limited enrollment in this activity. We use a Ski-Nautique to pull skiers and tubers.

Archery
Our archery range is nestled back in the forest. This is a popular camp activity for all ages.

Riflery
We use air rifles for the Junior Camps and 22s for the older camps. Some days we allow them to shoot a shot gun or black powder rifle as well.

Handicrafts
This is part of the rotation for Junior Camp. It is sometimes substituted with projects like scrapbook class at the older camps.

Other Craft Choices may include:

  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Games (Variety)
  • Drama and/or Music
  • Nature
  • Physical Fitness
  • Bible Study with the Speaker


The schedule is designed to keep your camper busy all day from the time they wake up until the time they go to sleep.

 

For more information, contact us.