Summer Camp 2013

Check in is at 3 PM on Sundays, and pick up is 9 AM on Saturdays. See you soon!

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.

Check out our Summer Camp Video below to see some clips from last summer, and get a better sense of what our summer camp is all about!

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.  During Summer Camp 2012, we didn’t have to send a single camper home or off-site for medical treatment, and we’re very proud of keeping kids physically safe.

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 68% increase in campers from 2011 to 2012, and 86% of eligible campers came back from 2011 to 2012! Click here to read testimonials from actual summer campers and their parents!

Wondering about our methodology? 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. We’re proud to say that our practices were featured at a workshop at the regional NEXT church conference in Rochester, New York, for its unique and forward thinking approach!

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. 

Now, on to the fun stuff, our 2013 offerings!

First, every kid who comes to summer camp this year will have access to our community farm (which raised over 2,400 pounds of produce last year – donating 1,200 to local food banks!) and free range chickens, our cooking activities, group-building activities, and our wonderful facilities. For a little bit extra, campers of all abilities can spend 2 hours a day learning horse back riding with North Riding, which has produced multiple state champions. And of course, each summer camper gets the chance to do all of our traditional activities, from archery, to arts and crafts, to group-building activities, boating, OUTRAGEOUS activities, and more! But to find out what each week has in store? Check it out below!

Click here for Camp Forms!
Camper Registration form 2013

From June 30th-July 6th, for kids ages 7-15, we’re bringing back last year’s smash hit – Freedom Week! On July 4th, kids democratically select all of their own activities! We’ll also be setting off rockets, playing a new version of Predator and Prey called “Giants, Wizards, and Elves,” and kids will have the option to build their own sleeping structure as they “escape” to the woods!

Click here to register for Freedom week!

Dive into a dream world from July 7th-13th! We’ll be running Camp Dreamworld for campers ages 7-17! A brand new, never before attempted week at camp! We’ll run all the usual fun activities, but campers who are interested can also take part in our Dreamworld activity, where every day we’ll dive into a land of make-believe. Kids can practice their acting by developing a whole new character personality, and the kids will take this world in whatever direction they please. An Alien invasion? Colonization of a new world? Creating a Wild-West gold mining town? Who knows? Only those who attend this week will decide and find out!

Click here to register for Dream World!

From July 7th-July 10th, 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 2 or 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, more than 95% our Sneak-a-Peekers do just that! So pack a bag for the entire week, just in case!

Vanderkamp is a place that is specially designed for the youngest of campers, as they are given incredibly attentive counselors, easily supervised lodging, and more personal attention than they could find at any other summer camp. The journey to self discovery starts whenever we allow a child to begin – so why not send your child to a place that will love him or her as family?

Click here to register for Sneak-A-Peek!

Come join the Celebration from July 14th-20th!

Campers from ages 7-17 are invited to get in the spirit of celebration! We spend all year looking forward to the holidays, so we’ve decided to have a holiday every day during this week! We’ll be exploring the meaning of and the best parts about six different holidays, and celebrating them as though they are happening right then and there. Want to know which ones? I guess you’ll have to sign up and see!

Click here to register Celebration Week!

From July 21st to July 27th it’s going to be Sports and Creativity week for campers ages 7-17!

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 baseball mitt, 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!

Click here to register for Sports and Creativity Week!

From July 28th-August 10th, 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!

Click Here to register for Outrageous Tweekers!

From July 28th to August 3rd Camp OUTRAGEOUS is back for campers 10-18!

We wouldn’t dream of going a summer without Camp Outrageous! Craziness reached new heights last summer. You really had to see it to believe it! The best part about Camp Outrageous is that you can get wrapped up in any number of crazy adventures, or you can just hang out with your friends. And this year, the schedule for everything will be pushed back an hour – so we’ll avoid those early wake ups! 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 4th-August 10th Camp OUTRAGEOUS is back for campers 10-18!

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!This year, we’ll definitely be taking our second trip to the edge of the Earth. Curious? Guess you’ll have to come see! The last week of camp is always the craziest, so don’t miss out!

Click here to register for Outrageous Extended!

From June 30th-July 13th, 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 will be encouraged to come back for LIT 2 next year, due to state laws which prohibit 16 year olds from being counselors, but will be given preference in the LIT 2 program.

Click here to register for Leaders in Training 1!

From July 14th-August 3rd, 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.

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.

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!

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

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!