SUMMER CAMP HANDBOOK

WELCOME LETTER:

Dear Campers & Families,

Welcome to Joshua House’s Endless Adventure! We are so excited to have you join us for an unforgettable summer of adventure, friendship, and fun. Our goal is to provide a safe and engaging environment where children can grow in who they are in Christ and where campers can grow in confidence, faith, and friendship.

This handbook contains important information to help you prepare for camp. Please read it carefully, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

We can’t wait to see you!

The Endless Adventure Summer Camp Staff

Camp Mission & Values

At Joshua House, our mission is to help youth find purpose. Our vision is to see generations of young people living out all that God created them to be and do. Endless Adventure Summer Camp embodies this by:

  • fostering an environment that promotes creativity and tapping into their God-given gifts and talents

  • cultivating a healthy and active lifestyle

  • diminishing the learning gap by keeping them connected educationally throughout the summer

STAFF REQUIREMENTS

We believe the key to a successful cap is the staff. We are honored to work with an amazing group of people who are excited to bring the love of God to your camper. They hope that each camper experiences HIS love this summer in a meaningful way! Our staff is…

  • Carefully interviewed, screened, and selected for our camp. They possess current State Police, Child Abuse, FBI, and NSOR clearances.

  • Staff will also be trained in areas of child safety, water safety, classroom management, conflict resolution, and character education.

ENROLLMENT POLICY & OPTIONS

  • Space is limited

  • Registration Procedure:

    • Step 1: Go to the Camp Registration page

    • Step 2: Select your Summer Camp Package & Weeks

    • Step 3: Fill out the Registration Form

    • Step 4: Review Handbook & Sign

    • Step 5: Pay a $95 non-refundable registration fee ($45) and a camp deposit ($50) is applied to each camper. Camp Deposit is applied toward the total balance.

    • Step 6: Within 48 hours, a member of our team will reach out to confirm registration and set up a payment plan.

    • Additional Note: Each camper must be registered individually. Families may not register multiple siblings on a single form. A separate registration form must be completed for each child.

      • Please note that the $95 non-refundable registration fee and camp deposit will apply to each camper and must be submitted separately at the time of registration.

  • Registration Options:

There will be 4 packages offered. If you want to spend the whole summer with us, then select the full summer option (there are no refunds for weeks you can not attend). If you would rather select specific weeks to attend, you will want to select the individual week option and then add the weeks you wish to attend to your cart. We also have a half-day option for those who may want to take advantage of the morning portion of our day camp from 7:45 am - 12:00 pm (lunch time included).

  • Full Summer (11 weeks)

    • June 8th - August 21st

    • Reminder: no refunds are given for weeks you can not attend

  • Individual Week(s)

    • Select which week(s) you want your camper to participate in

    • No limit to how many weeks are chosen

  • Half Days - Full Summer (Monday - Thursday)

    • June 8th - August 21st

    • Reminder: no refunds are given for weeks you can not attend

    • 7:45 am - 12:00 pm

    • Educationally Fit portion of camp

    • Lunch time included

  • Half Days - Individual Week(s) (Monday - Thursday)

    • Select which week(s) you want your camper to participate in

    • No limit to how many weeks are chosen

    • 7:45 am - 12:00 pm

    • Educationally Fit portion of camp

    • Lunch time included

PAYMENT PROCEDURE:

  • A $95 non-refundable registration fee ($45) and a camp deposit ($50) are applied to each camper.

  • Camp Deposit is applied toward the total balance.

  • Parents/Guardians will then have two options for the remaining balance.

    • Pay in Full

      • Due on June 1st

    • 3-Month Payment Plan

      • Due on June 1st, July 1st, August 1st

      • Payments received later will include a $5 late fee per day

      • Payments can be made on our website or via check - NO CASH

  • Discounts:

    • Multiple Sibling Discount

      • Each additional sibling would receive a 10% discount per child on the total balance (does not apply to registration fee and deposit).

    • Joshua House Monthly Partner

      • Receive ONE FREE week if you partner with Joshua House monthly by giving a minimum of $50 a month.

A DAY AT CAMP

A day at camp is where all the memories are made! Each camper’s morning will start with our morning meeting, where we discuss the theme for the week and our weekly bible verse. Campers will rotate through Educationally Fit sessions, where campers will participate in academic learning centers, physical fitness, and creative learning. And of course, our mornings include a snack (pack healthy snacks to energize their day!) After our Educationally Fit sessions, campers will break for lunch before heading into rotations for our Afternoon Adventures. In the afternoon, campers will participate in creative workshops focusing on the theme of the week and time at the park! At the end of the day, we will debrief in our final camp meeting, and away they go back to you! Below are very important camp notes for our daily routine to go smoothly!

Drop Off/Pick Up Location and Times: (Location Subject to Change)

  • Drop off

    • Begins at 7:45 am and ends at 8:15 am

    • Arrows Christian Academy at Center City Church

      • Drop off in the alley between 12th Ave and 13th Ave

  • Pick Up

    • Begins at 3:45 pm and ends at 4:15 pm

    • Same location as drop off

    • FOR EARLY PICK UP: Call our office at (814) 201-2454. Please note that you may have to pick up at an off-site location.

    • A $10 late fee will be added for pick-ups after 4:30 pm. If pick up exceeds 4:30 pm, an additional $2 per minute will be charged.

  • Our Daily Schedule

7:45 - 8:15 am: Drop off

8:30 - 8:45 am: Morning Meeting

8:45 - 11:30 am: Educationally Fit Sessions

11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Lunch Break

12:00 - 3:30 pm: Afternoon Adventures

3:30 - 3:45 pm: Closing Meeting

3:45 - 4:15 pm: Pick-up

  • Pick Up Procedures:

    • Campers will need to be signed in and out by a parent or designated guardian.

    • Must be at least 18 years old.

    • Campers will not be released to anyone who has not been designated prior.

    • Identification must be presented at the time of release. As staff become familiar with parents and guardians, an ID may not be required.

Field Trips and Other Locations:

We are excited about our field trips and other locations we will visit throughout the summer. Our goal is to provide your campers with a variety of recreational and educational trips to enhance their camp experience throughout the week. In years prior, as a whole camp, we would spend all day on Friday at a field trip location. However, this year, with transportation being limited, we will attend field trips in smaller groups, going half the day or on different days of the week.

  • Transportation:

    • Our camp is equipped with 2 15-passenger vans along with additional staff vehicles.

    • Some locations will be within walking distance. Staff will walk in small groups to those locations.

  • Fees:

    • All Field Trips are included in camp fees.

    • Extra spending money is not included.

  • Dress:

    • Every camper will get a Camp t-shirt, and that shirt must be worn on all field trips.

  • Lunches:

    • Please bring bagged lunches and snacks.

  • Swimming:

    • We will have a certified lifeguard with us on all trips where swimming will take place.

    • A flotation device will be required for campers who do not pass the swim test.

      • Parents must provide their own flotation devices

ITEMS NEEDED

What to Wear

  • Comfortable clothes for being active indoors and outdoors

    • Clothes will likely get dirty; please prepare accordingly.

  • Sneakers

    • No open toes or backless shoes

What to Bring

  • Extra clothes in a labeled ziplock bag, in case campers get wet or dirty

  • Hat

  • Water Bottle

  • Bagged Lunch and Snacks

  • Sunscreen

  • Please label all items brought to camp

  • Cell phones are only for emergency use.

    • We are not responsible for lost or stolen items

What NOT to Bring

  • Electronics or Video Games

  • Toys

  • Personal Items from Home

  • Valuables

  • No weapons, drugs, alcohol, or any items deemed extremely unsafe or negligent.

CAMPER RULES & EXPECTATIONS

General Camp Rules:

Show Honor

  • Highly respect all staff and campers. A daily choice and action, not based on how you feel.

Have Courage

  • Lead with a servant’s heart, obey those in authority, and be bold in asking questions

Play Fair

  • Have integrity and character. Don’t cheat or cut corners. Do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Take Care

  • Everything belongs to God. It is our job to steward all He has entrusted to us. Take care of your stuff, other campers, and every location you attend.

Unacceptable Behavior:

  • Bullying or exclusion

  • Use of bad language

  • Physical aggression

  • Disrespecting staff or fellow campers

We believe in positive reinforcement and redirection. However, if a camper consistently behaves:

  • Verbal Warning - Camper is reminded of expectations.

  • Time Away - Camper takes a break from activities.

  • Parent Contact - If issues persist, parents will be notified.

  • Dismissal from Camp - If necessary, the camper may be sent home

*Failure to follow the rules may result in a conversation with parents and dismissal from camp.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICES

Each camper’s experience, as well as their health and safety, are our most important priorities at camp. That importance is shared between both camp staff and you, as the parent. This partnership will ensure that campers get the most out of each day in safe ways. The more aware our staff is of what each camper needs, the better we can serve them. Below are some critical areas that we can partner with parents to make the most memorable experience for your camper.

Medical Conditions, Allergies, and Medications

  • Staff need to be aware of any conditions that your camper may have. Even minor irritations, bee stings, allergies, or sensitivities should be noted.

  • Any child with an inhaler or EpiPen must have proper medicine on site, and it must be in a labeled ziplock bag.

  • We cannot care for any camper who has a contagious illness. If a camper becomes ill, parents will be notified to pick their camper up immediately. Your camper will sit out of activities until picked up.

  • Medical records of campers are kept confidential.

Educational and Behavioral Needs

  • Our camp is designed to provide educational enrichment during the summer months. Our educational resources are provided by trained teacherm but not all individual educational needs can be met. It is our goal for grade-based enrichment in the subjects of reading, writing, and math.

  • Based on the above statement, if your camper has any educational or behavioral needs that staff would benefit from knowing, please share this information on the registration sheet.

  • This information can be valuable to equip staff who will provide the absolute best experience for your camper.

Parental Notification:

  • Please keep all contact info up to date.

  • For minor injuries, such as scrapes, small scratches, cuts, or minor bruises, first aid will be applied, and parents will be notified at camp pick up.

  • Parents will be notified immediately of any head injury, serious accident, injury, or allergic reaction during camp.

  • If the injury is above first aid and in need of immediate medical attention, parents and emergency contacts will be notified, and then, in the worst-case scenario, an ambulance will be called. Parent and emergency contact are very important; please keep them updated.

Thank you for partnering with Joshua House Endless Adventure Summer Camp! We can’t wait to start our summer! If you have any questions regarding any information in this handbook, please contact us at jhousesummercamp@gmail.com.