FAQ: YOUTH CAMPS

is your organization a nonprofit?

Coldstream is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. All donations are tax deductible.

What is your mission?

The mission of our youth camp programs is to partner with families and churches in raising up generations of grace, encouraging people to be transformed and encouraged by the Good News of the Gospel.

When does registration open for youth camps?

Registration opens February 1 every year! Follow our Facebook and Instagram and sign up for our email list to be the first to know.

When do applications open for youth camps staff (college and high school aged)?

Applications for Senior Staff (college aged staff) and Junior Staff (high school aged staff) open January 1. Follow our Facebook and Instagram and sign up for our email list to be the first to know!

I want to volunteer, even just for a day or two. Who do I ask?

We’d love to have you on our team, even for a short period of time! We do have a screening process for volunteers, so please email us info@coldstreamchristiancamp.org to get started.

I need a scholarship or other financial aid to send my child to camp.

No child should be turned away because they can’t pay. Email us at info@coldstreamchristiancamp.org and we’ll set you up with a scholarship application.

When will waitlists open? How do they work?

If a camp is full and you were not able to secure your spot, place your child on the waitlist ASAP! This will ensure you are the first to know when a spot opens up for them.

The wait list is first come, first serve, so everyone has an equal chance to sign up their child when a spot opens. Make sure coldstream@jumbula.com is added to your contacts so our emails don’t go to spam, and keep an eye on your email inbox- you receive an email that is a spot has opened, act quickly!

What denomination is Coldstream?

Coldstream is non-denominational and hires staff from a variety of denominational backgrounds, as long as they are in agreement with our statement of faith. We do teach from a traditionally reformed background.

DO YOUR STAFF UNDERGO BACKGROUND CHECKS?

Staff who are 18+ (the legal minimum for background checks) and spending time in close-contact with campers all undergo criminal background checks during the hiring process.

Staff are all required to follow a rule of three, ensuring no two individuals (whatever their age) are left alone together in a private or secluded place for any length of time. Staff also undergo significant training on abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting.

Read all about the safety measures we take here.

when are drop-off/pick-up times for camps?

Drop-off times for each overnight camp begin at 10 am. Closing ceremonies, which parents are welcome to attend, begin at 11 am each Friday. Closing ceremonies end at 12 pm and campers are released at that time.

Day camp begins at 9 am each regularly scheduled day. Pickup time is 4 pm that same day; closing ceremonies for day camp begin at 4 pm on the last day of camp (parents are welcome to attend).

ALL PARENTS & GUARDIANS MUST BE ON THE APPROVED DRIVING LIST AND PRESENT ID TO PICK UP THEIR CHILD.

MY CHILD HAS COMPLETED SECOND GRADE/FIFTH GRADE/EIGHTH GRADE. WHAT CAMP DO I SIGN THEM UP FOR?

We enroll for our camps based on the grade your camper will be in next fall. Therefore, if you have an eighth grader who will be a freshman in the fall, they will register for high school camp. Students who have completed second grade will be eligible for elementary camp. Those who have finished fifth grade will be eligible for middle school camp.

Seniors who have recently graduated may attend high school camp.

HOW DO YOUR CO-ED CAMPS WORK? WHAT DOES HOUSING LOOK LIKE? SHOWERING?

Boys and girls are separated into boys and girls cabins. Each cabin is strictly male OR female and has a minimum of 2 male OR female staff. No cabins are mixed gender. Male and female bathrooms are all separate with privacy curtains and frosted windows. Boys and girls (staff and campers) are all required to follow the 'rule of three' and all mixed-gender groups are supervised by adults at all times. Counselors spend the night in the cabins and are with their campers 24 hours a day.

do you offer discounts for churches?

Any organization that brings a group of 10 or more campers (across all weeks of camp, not just one) is eligible for a discount. Email us directly to learn more!

can i chaperone?

Chaperones for groups are only available based on our staffing needs that year, and are not guaranteed. If we have a position on our staffing team we need filling (i.e., games or kitchen) and we have you on our list, we will reach out about filling that spot. You will be required to go through our screening process and provide references.

We ask that all chaperones (even parents!) give campers the freedom to enjoy their week of camp and the independence that comes with it. Every child deserves the chance to experience camp at their own pace.

are you allergy friendly?

We are able to accommodate some allergies, such as gluten or lactose intolerance, peanut, etc. If your child has a very severe contact allergy, can have a reaction through cross-contamination in the kitchen, or is unable to eat ingredients found in commonly processed foods (i.e., corn syrup or red dye) please reach out to us. Although we strive to make camp accessible to as many children as possible, safety is always our top priority.

HAVE A QUESTION NOT LISTED?

Check out our Facilities FAQ here.

For all other questions, please contact us directly.