Questions, answered.

Day camp runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for six weeks from June 22 to July 31, 2026. You can register for one week or all six. Each week is $249.

• 8:30 a.m. — Morning rally. Songs, the day’s goals, and a head count.
• 10:00 a.m. — Adventure block. Outdoor sports, nature hikes, archery, or a scavenger hunt.
• 12:00 p.m. — Lunch & rest. A real meal in the dining hall, then quiet shade time.
• 1:30 p.m. — Choice electives. Campers choose between art, STEM, or field games.
• 4:30 p.m. — Farewell circle. Reflections, awards, and pickup.

Day campers are grouped by rising grade: Trailblazers (grades 1–2), Explorers (grades 3–4), and Navigators (grades 5–6). Groups are capped so that counselors can keep track of everyone by name.

Yes. Lunch is cooked in the dining hall and included in tuition. We accommodate allergies and dietary needs with advance notice — note them when you register.

Not currently. Drop-off begins at 8:15 a.m. and pickup runs until 4:45 p.m. If you need something outside that window, call the camp office at 828-754-7067 and we will see what we can do.

A water bottle, sunscreen applied before arrival, closed-toe shoes, a hat, and clothes that can get dirty. We provide everything else. Leave screens and valuables at home.

They share the site and the dining hall but run separate programs. Day camp groups stay with their own counselors all day.

$249 per week. Siblings receive $40 off each additional camper per week, and campers registered for three or more weeks receive $25 off each week. Camperships are available for day camp too.

$485 for Juniors (rising grades 3–5) and $545 for Middle High (6–8) and Senior High (9–12). Tuition covers six nights in a cabin, all meals, all activities, staffing, and any off-site trips within the session. There are no additional activity fees.

Sibling discount is $40 per additional camper. Multi-week discount is $50 off each additional week. Camperships can cover part or all of the cost — see the financial aid question below.

Drop-off is Sunday from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the lodge. Pick-up is Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. If you cannot make those windows, call ahead and we will arrange something.

A $100 deposit holds the spot and is applied to tuition. The balance is due two weeks before your session begins. Cancellations more than 30 days before the session are refunded in full, including the deposit.

A full packing list comes with your confirmation email. In short: clothes for five days that can get muddy, closed-toe shoes, a rain jacket, a towel, toiletries, a flashlight, a water bottle, sunscreen, and a sleeping bag or twin bedding. Do not send phones, tablets, or valuables.

Camp has a no-screens policy during the day. Campers may bring a phone for the drive but it is collected at check-in and returned at pickup. Families who need to reach a camper should call the camp office at 828-754-7067.

Main site cabins sleep 8 to 14 in bunks and do not have their own bathrooms — campers use one of the two bathhouses, a short walk away. Both bathhouses are accessible. The Boger Shuford living units have private baths in each bedroom and are used for adult groups and some family programs.

You are welcome to visit, and we would rather you call and check in than worry quietly. That said, homesickness usually resolves fastest when campers settle in for a couple of days first — we will call you if a camper is struggling. Do not be surprised if a homesick camper sounds fine by Wednesday.

Mornings open with a rally and a gathering, then an activity block — archery, climbing, canoeing, or hiking depending on the session. Afternoons are the bigger block or an off-site trip. Evenings are vespers, campfire, or a group game, with lights-out by 10:00 p.m.

For a rising third or fourth grader, a Juniors session is the gentlest introduction — same-site activities, shorter off-site time, and a counselor assigned to each cabin group. For older first-timers, Middle High sessions are a good fit. Call us if you are unsure and we will talk it through.

Probably, yes. The Campership Fund exists to remove cost as a barrier and covers part or all of tuition depending on need. Asking is confidential and completely normal — it is the fund’s highest priority and our most-used resource.

Email kevin@jrvc.org or call 828-387-5736 before registering, or register and tell us afterward.

Our camp is rooted in the Christian faith and the belief that God’s love invites us into a life of discovery, compassion, and community. Our welcome extends to campers and families of all backgrounds and faith traditions. Whether faith is familiar, new, uncertain, or still being explored, we welcome your questions, your curiosity, and your unique gifts — wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here.

Read our full Statement of Faith →

Every staff member and volunteer completes a national criminal background check, provides references we contact, and is interviewed before an offer. All staff complete a pre-camp training week covering supervision and ratio requirements, activity safety, emergency procedures, and mandated-reporter obligations for child protection.

Residential cabin groups run at one counselor per 6–8 campers, and day camp groups at one counselor per 8–10. Ratios tighten for younger grades and for water and climbing activities, which are supervised by certified instructors at ratios specific to the activity.

Yes. A health officer is on site for the full duration of every session, holds current first aid and CPR certification, and manages all medications and health forms. The nearest hospital is in Lenoir, roughly 30 minutes away, and we call 911 for anything urgent.

JRVC follows American Camp Association standards for staffing, supervision, health, and activity safety. If you need the current accreditation status for a specific program, call the camp office at 828-754-7067 and we will confirm it directly rather than have you rely on a website.

Medical information is collected on the health form at registration and reviewed by the health officer before your camper arrives. All medication is turned in at check-in, stored securely, and dispensed by staff — campers do not keep medication in cabins. The kitchen accommodates food allergies and dietary restrictions with advance notice; tell us at registration.

Staff render first aid immediately, the health officer is called, and for anything beyond a minor injury we contact the parent or guardian and arrange transport. We call 911 for emergencies. Parents are notified of every injury requiring more than a bandage.

All water activities require a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, which we provide. Lifeguards hold current certification. Campers are swim-tested at the start of each session, and non-swimmers are grouped accordingly with increased supervision. The swimming area is bounded and checked before use.

The property is private and signed, and visitors check in at the office. Campers stay with their groups and counselors at all times, and we run a buddy system for travel between buildings. All staff and volunteers are background-checked and trained as mandated reporters, and any allegation is handled under our child protection policy with the appropriate authorities notified.

Phones are collected at check-in and returned at pickup. This is a deliberate part of the program and most campers thank us by Thursday. If you need to reach your camper, call the camp office and we will get a message to them.

Nightly rental rates are $95 per lodge room for Non-UCC guests or $80 for members of United Church of Christ congregations, $120 for the entire Mt. Zion Cabin, and $75 per standard cabin. Camping is $18 per tent or $25 per Camper/RV site per night. Facility rentals are priced per day: Dining Hall and kitchen $160, Bridge Unit $135, and Outdoor Chapel $500. See our full rental rate sheet for details and capacities.

Every month except June and July, when summer camp takes the property. Spring and fall fill first — groups typically book six to nine months ahead for those seasons.

A 25% deposit holds your dates. Final head count is due two weeks before arrival, and the balance is due on arrival. Cancellations more than 45 days out are refunded in full; inside 45 days the deposit is applied to a future booking within 12 months.

Yes. The Boger Shuford units and Mt. Zion Cabin have full kitchens. You can take all meals in the dining hall, cook in your unit, or mix the two — you are only billed for the meals you take.

The Boger Shuford units, Mt. Zion Cabin, both bathhouses, the dining hall, and the recreation room are accessible. The main site is on a slope with paved paths between the principal buildings; some trails and the Outpost are not accessible. Tell us at booking and we will place your group in the most suitable lodging.

Meeting spaces have wireless internet and the lodge has good coverage. Cell reception is limited on parts of the property and along the last stretch of NC-90. If reliable connectivity matters to your program, tell us and we will place you in the building with the strongest signal.

Yes, and the outdoor chapels are why many people do. We host weddings, memorials, family reunions, retirement parties, and quilting retreats. Tell us what you are planning in the inquiry form and we will walk through space, seating, and catering.

Yes — youth groups at $395 per person and college teams at $250 per student, with staff and faculty advisors free. That covers lodging, meals, tools, materials, and a project leader. See mission trips.