Summer Camp 2012

Christian Summer Camp

There is really nothing that can compare to a Christian summer camp experience. Our stated goal at Vanderkamp is to create a community that mirrors as closely as possible what it would be like if everyone were to accept the Peace of Christ in their hearts.
It does not matter where a child is in his or her faith journey – they will not be pressured to be anything besides exactly who they are.  We help kids learn to love themselves by strictly enforcing our “No Discount” policy – which asks summer campers and camp staff to take everything at its “full value,” and not put down others, themselves, or activities they’ve chosen.  We believe this is the safest place from being bullied or teased on the planet.  We didn’t have to send a single camper home or off-site for medical treatment – so we’ll be physically safe as well. And, well, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention we’re one of the most fun kid’s camps, too. After instituting our new approach, we saw a 457% increase in campers who signed up for 1 week, and had so much fun that they signed up for another week later in the summer! That was 18% of all of our campers!

As staff members, we try to model Christ’s love and values without forcing kids to feel like they need to be anywhere besides where they are in their faith journey.  Through this approach, we have seen incredible growth and transformation among the campers (and staff!), and have had an incredible amount of fun in the process.  With innovative games, a loving staff, and a unique approach, summer camp at Vanderkamp is truly a 1 of a kind experience.  Say good-bye to bullying (click to read about our bullying approach), teasing, and loneliness, and join us for a week of fun and faith that will change your life.  If you have any questions about the cutting edge child development theory we employ, please contact us or check out our essays on the Vanderkamp Method, which we believe can change how the adult-child interaction looks in Christian communities forever.

Now, on to the fun stuff, our 2012 offerings!

First, every kid who comes to summer camp this year will have access to our community farm and free range chickens, our cooking activities, group-building activities, and our wonderful facilities. But to find out what each week has in store? Check it out below!

Click here for Camp Forms!

From July 1st-July 7th, Vanderkamp summer campers ages 7-14 will be enjoying Freedom Week! Jesus loved the idea of freedom, and so do we! On July 4^th, kids democratically decide the schedule! We’ll also be setting off rockets, building our own rafts to try and cross the lake, playing a brand new camp-wide game called RUN AWAY!, and more! Summer barbeque with us Vanderkamp-style! Come early to summer camp, and you might just wind up staying for multiple weeks – so be careful!

Click here to register for Freedom week!

From July 8th-14th we’ll be running Choose Your Adventure week for campers ages 8-15! We’re going to push the boundaries of what Vanderkamp has to offer! What’s your definition of fun? No adventure is too big or small. Whether it’s hiking out to an old hunting cabin, kayaking across the lake to see what’s on the other side, or just relaxing with friends, a great time is in store for everyone. We’ll play Predator and Prey and Outbreak!, and track down Pirate counselors on the high seas! We’ll cap it off with Campers Vs. Wild – what more could you ask for?

Click here to register for Choose your Adventure Week!

From July 8th-July 11th, Vanderkamp is open to summer campers just 6 years in age to 8 years in age! We take special care of first timers! Come join the fun for 3 nights and see what all the fun is about! Sneak-a-Peekers who are enjoying themselves have the option to stay for the rest of the week if they would like, and as a fair warning, every single one of our Sneak-a-Peekers from last year did just that! So pack a bag for the entire week, just in case!
Click here to register for Sneak-A-Peek!

From July 15th-21st Camp S’More is back for campers ages 8-15!

Join us for s’more fun, s’more faith, and s’more friends! We’ll do the classic Camp S’More stuff – s’mores early and often! And s’more of whatever you like to do. If you love a camp activity on Monday or Tuesday – we’ll promise to repeat it for you if you ask! This picture was from our very first night swim during last year’s summer camp. We wanted to take a retreat from the heat, so we did!

Alongside Camp S’More, we’ll also offer a “Night Owls” option for campers 12+. In these groups, you’ll do all that Camp S’More has to offer, but you’ll get to stay up late and sleep in for a late breakfast. Just click “Night Owls” on the registration form.

Click here to register for Camp S’More or Night Owls!

From July 22nd to July 28th it’s going to be Sports and Creativity week for campers ages 8-15!

For those campers who need their sports or creative outlets, this is the week for you! Every day we’ll offer at least 2 hours of sports and 2 hours of creative activities. This means you can bring your trombone or violin, or your paints and brushes! We’ll have a talent show at the end of the week for kids that parents can attend. We’ll also be offering Ga Ga every day, so you won’t miss it if you don’t want to!

Click here to register for Sports and Creativity Week!

From July 29th-August 11th, Summer campers can come for two weeks, including the weekend! That’s right – OUTRAGEOUS Tweekers is back for campers 10-17!

Come for two weeks of Outrageous summer camp programs at a discounted rate, and stay over on the weekend! Never been at camp on a Saturday night before? You must be itching to know what happens! Join us for Tweekers and see a whole different side of Vanderkamp on what’s usually the day off!

Click Here to register for Outrageous Tweekers!

From July 29th to August 4th Camp OUTRAGEOUS is back for campers 10-17!

We wouldn’t dream of going a summer without Camp Outrageous! We really dialed up the craziness last year with backwards day, pudding monsters, Camp Survivor, and of course, SLIME TIME! Whether you like to do tribal dances or go on “Magic Carpet Rides,” the fun never stops during Camp Outrageous! This is typically known as our most fun summer camp program, but spots are limited, so sign up today!

Click here to register for Camp OUTRAGEOUS!

From August 5th-August 11th Camp OUTRAGEOUS is back for campers 10-17!

More Outrageous! With a whole new set of outrageous activities for everyone to enjoy, this is a perfect week whether you come to the first week of Outrageous or not. On this particular rainy day, we decided that the rain was going to make Summer Camp even MORE fun than usual. Rain or shine, Camp Outrageous is always the best! The last week of camp is always the craziest, so don’t miss out!

Click here to register for Outrageous Extended!

From July 1st-July 14th, Leaders in Training who are interested in spending 2 weeks with us can come and learn about what it takes to be a leader in the Vanderkamp Summer Camp community. LIT 1 is open for 15-18 year olds, and is a program designed for people who want to get a head start on learning what it means to be a counselor at Vanderkamp and a Christian leader in the world.

This program will teach you cutting edge child development theory, show you the tricks to igniting the inner passions of children, help you more deeply relate to your own faith, and will build you a group of friends that just might last a lifetime. LITs stay up later than normal campers and exist in a mixed-gender community under the supervision of a counselor and the assistant director. These are weeks for serious fun, deep spirituality, and intense growth and friendship.

15 Year old LITs can only apply to work in the kitchen the following year, due to state laws, but will be given preference in the LIT 2 program.

Click here to register for Leaders in Training 1!

From July 29th-August 4th, Leaders in Training who are interested in spending 3 weeks with us can come and learn about what it takes to be a leader in the Vanderkamp Summer Camp community. LIT 2 is open for 16-18 year olds, and is a program designed for people who are serious about learning what it takes to be a spiritually grounded leader in the modern world.

Led by Kyle Davis, this program will focus on building an intensely close spiritual community with your fellow Leaders in Training. Just like LIT 1, it will teach you cutting edge child development theory, show you the tricks to igniting the inner passions of children, and help you more deeply relate to your own faith – but there will be more in depth talks and activities concerning leadership and faith. LITs stay up later than normal campers and exist in a mixed-gender community under the supervision of a counselor and the assistant director.

LIT 2 is almost guaranteed to change your life. We don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep Kyle coming back to help with this program, but we know we have him for this year. Kyle has many years of experience working with Christian leaders in training, and served as the director for team building and group initiatives at Camp Johnsonburg in NJ.

All LITs can apply to stay for extra weeks to help out during the summer, and these weeks cost $100 per week to cover camp’s expenses. What are you waiting for? Sign up and learn what a Christian Summer Camp experience is all about.

Click here to register for Leaders in Training 2!

Have a child that is too young to come to camp? You think you are too old? Come to our 2^nd annual Christian family and Vacation Bible Camp! We had an incredible time last year, as campers from ages 1-70+ (who’s counting?) grew together in God’s love. Vacation Bible Camps welcome as well, you bring kids and we’ll run it!

Families can swim, hike, bike, canoe, kayak, shoot bows and arrows, eat from our organic garden, play with our chickens, do adult and youth Christian faith discussions, and enjoy a contemporary worship each night! The list doesn’t stop there, either!

As one grandmother put it in an email shortly after camp: “We were also very blessed with the love and kindness shown to everyone. That was an experience I will never forget. The children are singing the songs and wishing they could have stayed longer.” 2011 Family Camp Grandmother

The cost for Family Camp is $200 per person for the entire week, or $45 per person per night. Lesser rates can be negotiated for families who want to sign up to sleep in a tent or in one of our rustic cabins. Children under the age of 4 come for free! The max cost for a family is $650 regardless of size – but this counts only for immediate families. Bring your family, or come by yourself – but make sure you don’t miss out!

For groups that want to sign up for less than the full time, call 315-675-3651 or email vkcenter@vk.org and we can discuss payment for fewer nights. Come for one day or the entire time, but just make sure you come! For Vacation Bible Camps – use the group registration feature to register your total number of people. There is no family discount for Vacation Bible Camps unless 4+ people from the same immediate family are in the group. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Why go far away this year? Stay near Syracuse, NY, and enjoy the week of a lifetime!

Click here to register for Family and Vacation Bible Camp!

Head over to our horseback riding information page to decide which of our top notch equestrian options is best for you! Whether you are a beginner (never ridden before, or have limited experience), an intermediate rider (know how to walk, trot, and perform patterns at a trot), or an advanced rider (know how to walk, trot, and canter, and want to learn to jump), we have an amazing offering for you! Riders at each level will go next door to North Riding for 2 hours a day, and will have access to elite trainers. Advanced level riders will be trained by Tracy Percival Foreman – an “A” rated trainer whose students have had successes all the way up to the national level!

When you sign up, feel free to sign up for more than one week if you are coming for more than one week of summer camp.
Click here to register for the Stable Club!