The Camp Experience.
Welcome campers
Parents & Guardians!
“Going to camp is exciting for campers, and can leave a lot of questions for parents. We want your camper’s experience at Presbytery Point to be the best it can be. To make sure you and your camper are ready for camp, we’ll send you a Parent/Camper Handbook by email, usually 1 month before your session begins. In the meantime, you’re welcome to read through some of the most frequently asked questions below, which should help make sure that you’re ready! If you’re wondering about something that isn’t listed here, please let us know and we’ll get you an answer as soon as possible.
-Executive Director, Peggy Kenn-Osborne
director@presbyterypoint.org // 906-869-0925—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Benefits of camp!
Summer is almost here! For most of us, we look back on the seemingly endless, carefree summer days of our childhood with fondness and joy. However, now that some of us are parents or guardians; some of us may have mixed feelings about this season for our own kids. How will we manage childcare while working? How can we avoid the “I’m bored!” comments? Are there any interactive summer activities we can get them involved in? Why is our grocery bill and electricity suddenly so much higher?
One of the best answers to these questions can be summed up in two words: SUMMER CAMP! Not only is summer camp fun, but did you know that there are a wide range of benefits of summer camp for children? Here are just a few.
SOCIALIZING AND FRIENDSHIP BUILDING
One of the greatest benefits of summer camp for youth is that they get to socialize and meet new people. During summer break, kids often find it difficult to form or maintain friendships with peers their own age. Besides their siblings or cousins, most kids would say that they mainly interact with adults when they are not in school. Not only do kids develop important life skills through socializing – such as sharing, setting boundaries, and problem-solving – they also are learning how to develop strong, healthy relationships through interacting with their peers. A summer camp program provides a safe environment for children to develop social skills, decision-making skills, and maybe even experience the great outdoors. In fact, socialization during childhood may accomplish more for growth and development than reading or eating vegetables! A fun environment like summer camp is a fantastic way to encourage this in your own children, from early childhood into adolescence.
ELIMINATING SCREEN TIME AND GETTING EXERCISE
In a world full of technology, sedentary-related conditions are on the rise. In fact, physical inactivity is currently the leading cause of disease and disabilities in the United States, and it all starts in childhood. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, doubles the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, and increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorders, depression and anxiety – which, for the most part, are entirely preventable. While some extra creativity to get your kids active and limit screen time at home during the summer is often required, summer camp is a perfect solution. Most of these programs are situated in the great outdoors and offer a number of physical activities for the children to partake in. Not only will the kids get out of the house and have some fun, but they are sure to get some solid exercise in as well – from activities such as hiking to archery, swimming, boating, and team sports. Allowing your kids to explore the outdoors and interact with new children is an excellent way to broaden their perspective and experience a whole new world for their summer break.
PERSONAL GROWTH, LEARNING, AND DEVELOPMENT
Most summer camps focus on a theme, or incorporate aspects of learning, exploring, character building, and personal growth. If you are looking for fun summer activities for your children, there are many different camp types to consider, such as sports camp, cooking camps, art camps, science camps and many more. You can be certain that your child will not only be entertained, but also educated and challenged. While they are having fun and exploring their own interests, they are also increasing their own capacities for learning, teamwork, problem solving, knowledge, and self-awareness. In fact, studies have shown that, of families who send their kids to summer camp, 70 percent of parents report that their child gained self-confidence while at camp. A strong sense of self is so important, and this is only one of the many ways that attending summer camp can positively impact your son or daughter. Learning about themselves and the world outside of the traditional classroom environment can do wonders for their growth and development.
MAKING MEMORIES
Many adults would say that some of their fondest memories were those sunny, summer camp experiences as they were growing up. Unfortunately, kids today are missing out on some of the simplicity of life before the technological era. While times have certainly changed and there is tremendous value in that, there is nothing quite like preserving those simple, unplugged, childhood memories. Aside from gaining decision-making skills, leadership skills, and social skills at a summer program, they also get plenty of physical activity as well!. Yes, your child may miss their phone, tablet, or gaming system at first, but once they start exploring, interacting with their peers, engaging in a variety of activities, and having new adventures, they are sure to leave summer camp with stories, photographs, friendships, life lessons, and memories that will last a lifetime
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What does a typical day at presbytery point look like?
Presbytery Point’s camp day is pretty full - we only get one week with your camper, so we pack everything in! Below is a typical day at one of our youth camps (family camps and elementary camps can vary)
Registration Day (Sunday)
3:30pm - 5:00pm - Welcome & Registration at The Dining Hall
5:30pm-6:30pm - Dinner with Cabin’s & Camp Orientation
7:00pm-8:15 - Evening Activity
8:30pm - Opening Vespers at The Point
9:00pm -10:00pm - Campfire & Evening Snack
9:45pm-10:30pm - Get ready for bed!
11:00pm - Lights out (earlier for younger age groups)
Full Camp Day
7:30am Wake-up
8:30am Breakfast
9:15am - Cabin Clean-up & Flag-Pole
10:00am Morning Worship & Morning Watch
11:00am Small Group Devotionals & Morning Rotation (Field Games, Arts & Crafts, Fishing…)
12:30pm Lunch & Announcements
1:15pm FOB (Rest Hour)
2:15pm Camp Store
3:00pm-5:30pm Waterfront
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Evening Activity
8:30pm Vespers & Campfire (Senior High has Coffee House after campfire)
10:30pm Lights Out (somewhat earlier for younger campers)
last day of camp
7:30am Wake-up & Pack-up
8:30am - Closing Flagpole & Morning Worship (Camper families are welcome!)
9:30-10:30am - Pick Up
Where do campers sleep?
Campers at our youth camps sleep in one of Presbytery Point’s 6 cabins fully supervised by 1-2 of our 18+ Cabin Leaders, which can each host 8 campers and 2 staff per side (east & west sides of each cabin.) They are fully contained buildings with walls, doors, screened windows and 4 sets of bunks with mattresses. The bathhouse’s are a short walk away from our cabins.
What type of activities do you do at camp?
Presbytery Point is a traditional church camp. That means that we focus heavily on time-tested camp activities like fishing, waterfront & boating, arts & crafts, field games, basketball, beach volleyball, Gaga Ball, talent nights, capture the flag, and hiking up to Mt. Baldy. Each morning we have time devoted to morning worship, individual devotional time, small group discussion, and an evening vesper’s service. We sometimes have special guest’s who arrive for age appropriate programming. We also have the Old Lodge for rainy days, hang-out time, and ping-pong. The costs for all of our activities are included in your camp fees.
Does my camper need to take a swim test?
All campers and staff are required to perform a swim test if they want to swim or boat at camp. This is not just to help them decide where to swim safely, but also to provide our lifeguarding staff with a general idea of how many campers will be using which parts of our waterfront facilities.
Those who pass our swim test (swim unassisted and tread water for 2 minutes) are able to swim in the deep end of our waterfront area without a lifejacket. Any time there are campers at the waterfront, Presbytery Point has qualified and trained lifeguards present to make sure that they are safe.
Do you have medical staff at Camp?
Presbytery Point has a health officer at every camp session. On registration day, camper’s & their parent’s will check-in with our Health Officer to go over their Health Forms and any individual needs.
Camp is close to local walk-in clinics and pharmacies, and is a short drive to the nearest hospital in Ishpeming (20 minutes). In the case where campers need care that cannot be provided at Presbytery Point, we have procedures in place to ensure immediate and effective care and parent/guardian’s will be notified immediately.
*WHAT IF MY CAMPER HAS MEDICATION?
When your camper arrives at camp, we'll collect any prescription medication during the registration process. We'll also double check with you about the times of day and dosage that our medical staff will administer. Records are kept every time a camper receives medication (prescribed or from our infirmary).
At the end of the camp session, we'll return the medication to you when you pick up your camper.
How can I stay in touch with my camper?
Programs, activities, and getting to know new friends all take a lot of time and work, and we want our campers focused on having fun! Please only call camp for emergencies. It is a special treat for campers to receive "snail mail", so we always encourage that! As our sessions are at most -a week long, we suggest that you may want to send a letter the week before they leave for camp, so that it arrives in time. You can also leave "mail" with us on the first day for us to deliver to your camper on specific days. Please clearly label the mail with your camper's name and session (ex: John Smith, Elementary Camp, Tuesday).
Another option is to send an email to your camper. You can email them at director@presbyterypoint.org, and we'll deliver the printed email to them at meal time. Please note that campers cannot reply to emails, and we don't recommend sending more than 2-3 emails during the week, as this can cause homesickness at times for campers.