There is one question we hear a lot, from first time campers, parents, teachers and group leaders:
What is it like at camp?
This is a big question - since Walcamp is a year-round organization running lots of ministry opportunities that are attended by hundreds of campers and families each year.
This page describes common experiences of campers like you. Whatever goals or group or activity interests are bringing you to Walcamp, we hope this helps you to prepare for your stay.
See you soon!
Housing
Campers typically stay in our Main Lodge or in our Retreat Cabins.
Some campers choose programs that include outdoor camping... or they may choose to spend a night outside with their group. These options are "unplugged," with no running water or electricity available.
Outdoor options include:
Meals
Meals are served cafeteria style in our Dining Hall.
Some groups choose to spend one or more meals outdoors, cooking their food over a campfire and eating 'picnic style' in the outdoors.
7:00 am - Rise and Shine
7:45 - Lake Lessons & morning stretch
8:00 am - Breakfast
8:40 - First Word - songs and a meditation from our Pastor or a team leader.
9:00 - Activity Session #1, often our Bible Encounter
10:00 - Activity Session #2
10:00 - Activity Session #3
12:00 pm - Lunch
12:30 - Rest & Relaxation
1:30 - Activity Session #4
2:30 - Activity Session #5, often Swimming
3:30 - Activity Session #6, often a Snack Break
4:30 - Activity Session #7
5:30 pm - Dinner
6:30 - Activity Session #8
7:30 - Large group game with all of camp
8:00 - Campfire, music and devotion (and sometimes S'mores!)
9:00 - Cabin time and showers... or a night hike!
10:00 pm - Lights out
7:00 am - Rise and Shine
8:00 am - Breakfast
8:40 - Morning Devotion
9:00 - Activity Session #1
10:30 - Activity Session #2
12:00 pm - Lunch
12:30 - Rest & Relaxation
1:30 - Activity Session #3
3:00 - Snack Beak
3:30 - Activity Session #4
5:00 - Cabin time
5:30 pm - Dinner
6:30 - Evening Activity
8:00 - Campfire, music and devotion (and sometimes S'mores!)
9:00 - Cabin time and showers
10:00 pm - Lights out
At Walcamp we offer a variety of activities that include classic camp favorites, hands-on exploration, and specialized interests. There is plenty of fun waiting for both first-time and returning campers, with opportunities for exciting outdoor adventures and time for friendship and personal growth. Our programs run year-round, so there is always something new to experience with the changing seasons.
Recreational Activities
STEaM Time and Outdoor Ed Activities
Bible Encounter - Bible Encounters are interactive Bible studies where campers play games, read Bible stories
and see faith lessons come alive through hands-on activities.
Lake Lesson - We gather by the lake, where a counselor sits in a canoe and shares a scripture verse and a thought for the day.
STEaM Time - Walcamp has built STEM/STEAM activities - Science Technology Engineering Art Math - into our Outdoor Education program since the 1970s. We now also incorporate these concepts into our summer youth programs, engaging campers in hands-on activities, fun science and opportunities to take a closer look at our world.
Some activities are dependent on the season or certain weather conditions.
Attending camp is an important step in a child's life, encouraging growth in both independence and in living as part of a larger community. Whether your child's camp experience spans one day, one week, or the entire summer, here are some of the tools we use to encourage positive community at Walcamp.
To provide each person with the best value for their experience, Walcamp staff and campers are asked to act according to the following five ideals:
1. Safety First. Each person’s behaviors must ensure the safety of every individual. This includes physical, mental and emotional safety.
2. Choose Your Challenge. Each person receives opportunities to try new activities and to practice skills required to live in community. They have the opportunity to express when an activity or behavior takes them beyond their limits or feels unsafe.
3. Respect Self and Others. Each person shows respect to everyone through their words and actions, with the expectation that they will be treated in kind. It is possible to disagree with someone and still act respectfully towards them. Each person also treats our facilities with respect.
4. Give your 100%. Each person is encouraged to do their best and to give their best effort for their group. This includes joining in all group activities, not just the ones they prefer.
5. Have fun! Each person determines the level of fun within any given moment or activity. It is their actions and attitudes that make camp a great place to play and to grow through new experiences and interactions with others.
Each person at camp is asked to hold themselves accountable to these ideals, and to kindly and lovingly
encourage others to do the same.
The Full Value Contract is adapted from Project Adventure
In the event that a specific behavior needs to be addressed, our Group Leaders follow a 3-step method used by Walcamp and other youth organizations.
Behavior consequences may include:
A Program Director or other senior staff member may step in to help address behaviors that are dangerous to the camper or others, or behaviors already addressed but not corrected.
If a camper continues to act in a way that is self-harmful or harmful to the group, the Program Director may choose to take one of the following actions:
If you do not feel a situation between your child and their group leader was handled appropriately, please speak to a Program Director (Pearl or Ducky) to address your concerns or for help facilitating a discussion. Please do not confront a team member personally.