Students may arrive late to or leave early from the retreat, but they may not come and go multiple times for other activities. If your student will need to arrive late or leave early, please let Jake know.

**Please be aware that we cannot offer price reductions if a student will not be able to be there for the entire time.

While we do not allow parent visits at camp, there are other ways to encourage your student while they are away, such as leaving notes for them in their bags.

We know that being away from home for several nights in a row can be a big adjustment for many students, and that’s okay! It’s totally normal to have some reservations and nerves. Here’s some tips to keep in mind that might help:

• Camp isn’t everything. While we believe summer camp is a special week for many reasons, the most important thing we do at camp is draw near to God together through his Word, prayer, and community, which we seek to do every week at youth group. In other words, there’s no secret sauce or magic formula at camp. God can do just as much on any other night of the year. If you can’t make it, that’s okay!

• Give it time. In our experience, while the first few hours (or day) might be intimidating, students quickly settle in, adjust, and have a ton of fun!

• If they need to leave early, that’s okay. While most students do end up settling in and having a great time, sometimes camp isn’t for everyone, and there’s no shame in that! Students are always welcome to use a leader’s phone to call home to talk to a parent and decide if they’d like to come home early.

• There’s always next year! If your student isn’t quite ready to come to camp, either due to age, nervousness, or something else, that’s okay! In our opinion, it’s much better to wait until they’re ready than to go and have a bad experience. Moreover, the Winter Retreat can be a much better way to ease into retreats, as it takes place at CCF, with the overnight portion being at host homes.

Campers should pack…

Backpack containing:

• Bible 

• Journal 

• Pen/pencil

• Water bottle!!

Travel bag/suitcase containing: 

• Clothing for five days 

• Athletic/tennis shoes

• Clothes that can get wet

• Shoes that can get wet

• Rain gear

• Dark clothes for night game 

• Sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• Bedding (sheets/pillow/blanket/sleeping bag) 

• Toiletries (toothbrush and paste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, etc.)

• Towels (we recommend at least 2)

• Swimwear (guys must wear a shirt, and girls must wear a one piece)

• Plastic bag for wet/dirty clothing

• Flashlight 

• If necessary: prescription medications (please see medication policy [new for 2026] on registration form)

Optional:

• Snacks

• Hammock

• Rainy day games/ activities

• Digital or polaroid camera  

• Fishing gear (they have a stocked pond)

• Hat(s)

• Alarm clock

What NOT to pack: 

• Phones 

• Electronics (gaming devices, tablets, or anything with internet access). 

• Weapons

• Lighters

Registration will close on June 22nd.

**Please be aware that we will not be able to take registrations or offer refunds after this date.

This is a phone-free retreat. All devices with internet access (including phones, tablets, gaming consoles, etc.) must be left at home and are not allowed at camp for the duration of the retreat. Students may use their phone to get to camp, but must turn it in when they arrive. We will securely keep all phones in a lockbox for the duration of the retreat, and will return phones to students on the last day.

Jake’s contact info, in addition to the contact info for your student’s small group leaders will be provided after registration closes.

**If your student needs to have their phone for medical purposes or other special needs, please reach out to Jake.

Yes, all costs are totally refundable before registration closes on June 25th, 2025. After that date, we will not be able to provide refunds.

Summer camp is only for current middle school and high school students. Those going into their 6th grade year are encouraged to attend Youth Rising at the end of the summer as their first youth event. For more info on Youth Rising, please check out the calendar on the Youth Ministry page.

KidMin offers credits to youth students who serve during CCF member meetings, which can then be put towards the cost of youth retreats. This can be a great way to make camp more affordable for families. If your student has served in this capacity, you can expect to receive a discount code from Kate Flaum around the time when registration opens for camp.

To serve in KidMin, students must be at least 13 years old and go through the KidMin volunteer screening process. If you think you should have gotten a code but didn’t, or if you have other questions about serving in KidMin, feel free to reach out to kate@centervillechristian.org.

We understand that camp is expensive, and that families have varying abilities to pay based on income or other life circumstances. This year, we have done everything we can to lower the cost of camp in hopes that more students will be able to participate. Moreover, KidMin offers credits to students who serve during CCF member meetings, which can then be put towards the cost of youth retreats. This can be a great way to make camp more affordable, and we would encourage this as first step for those looking for ways to lower the cost.

Additional financial assistance for retreats is available through an application process for those in times of financial hardship or crisis. Families who are in need of financial assistance are encouraged to apply. For more information, please see CCF’s Retreat Sponsorship Policy. To apply for a sponsorship, please fill out this form.

Sponsorships limited in number and are given on a case-by-case basis and may provide partial to full coverage of the retreat or activity, contingent upon available funds.