Summer Camp FAQs

The “camp store” on your online account ONLY refers to the Canteen, the place where campers buy snacks throughout the week. Any money deposited into this “camp store” account can ONLY be used for the Canteen.

The Shirt Shack is where camp shirts, sweatshirts, and souvenirs can be bought. Shirt Shack purchases can only be made in person at camp. We have the Shirt Shack open on Sundays as you arrive and Fridays as you depart. It is not open to campers the rest of the week.

If you have accidentally deposited money into the “camp store” section thinking it was for the Shirt Shack, call our office at 812-342-4815 and we can take care of it for you.

Your final payment is due TWO WEEKS before the start of your camp session. You can make payments at any time by logging in to your online account.

If you need to set up a payment plan, please call our office at 812-342-4815 and talk with us. We will work with you to figure something out.

For all of our programs, grade level refers to the grade your child is CURRENTLY in (or the grade they were in BEFORE the summer started).

We strive to provide a positive and memorable experience for all campers. If your child has a special need, please contact our office so that we can work together to create a plan to provide a positive camp experience for your child. 

During a week at camp, campers have the opportunity to buy snacks and drinks from our canteen twice a day.  Most items are around $1, and they can get a maximum of 3 items each time.  We recommend putting $20-30 in an account for a week-long session and $5-10 for a three-day session.  For our Family programs we do not create canteen accounts-you simply pay in cash.

At their final canteen time, campers with remaining money are given the option to donate to our summer mission project or receive the money back.  For our mission project, we support former camp staff members serving in the mission field.  It’s a great way for campers to see how people can continue serving in the Kingdom of God even after camp, and donating canteen money is an awesome way for campers to practice living out their faith!

Pro Tip: It can be helpful to tell your camper ahead of time what you would prefer they do with their extra canteen money. 

Our Shirt Shack is different than the canteen and has camp shirts, sweatshirts, and souvenirs for sale.  The Shirt Shack is ONLY open during check-in on Sunday and pick-up on Friday.  Please be aware that money deposited into your camper’s canteen account can NOT be transferred to pay for items in the Shirt Shack. 

Yes! Check out how to sign up for the wait list and learn exactly how it works HERE.

Refunds will be granted 14 days prior to your scheduled arrival for all but $25 of your deposit. No refunds will be granted within 14 days of the start of your session except in cases of illness, injury, or family emergencies.

Please call us as soon as you know you will not be attending your session! Many sessions have a waitlist in case a spot opens up. The sooner we know of a cancellation, the more likely we will be able to move someone off the waitlist.

Yes!  Scholarship are available to help with the cost of camp. We want EVERYONE to be able to come to camp, regardless of financial situation. Click HERE for more information and to download an application.

Our housing assignments for all programs are made the week before the program begins.

Only campers of the same sex are housed together. Similar-aged campers are housed together.

You may make Cabin Mate Requests by logging in to your online account and going to the “Optional Items” section of your dashboard.

Please minimize requests as much as possible. The camp experience is enhanced when campers have space to make new friends. The maximum number of requests allowed is four, but ONE or TWO is greatly preferred.  Cabin mates must mutually choose each other for requests to be honored.  

Campers are not allowed to bring cell phones to camp.  At camp we believe strongly in the value of showing campers how to build close relationships and live in community.  Providing an atmosphere free from cell phones helps create this community.  If found, staff will confiscate the cell phone for the remainder of the session.  Please do NOT pack a cell phone for your camper.  If you are concerned about needing to get in touch with your camper during the week, please call our office so that we can make a plan together.

Talking with your child before they leave for camp will help to ease the transition away from cell phones and other electronics. Let your child know that if they are feeling sad, afraid, or lonely, there is always someone they can reach out to at camp, whether it is their counselor, another staff member, the First Aid Coordinator, or even the Camp Director.

Each meal served at camp includes the main dish, as well as a second option in case a camper does not like the main meal.  We serve child-friendly meals such as chicken nuggets, spaghetti, hamburgers, and pizza. Cereal is available at breakfast, PB&J is available at lunch and dinner, and fruit is available at each meal. 

Campers are able to bring their own snacks to camp as well. Please bring any snacks in resealable bags or containers to help limit the mess. Please do not bring any snacks that contain peanuts as this is a common food allergy.  

You can find this information in the Information Packet for you program, found HERE.

Packing lists for each camp session can be found by downloading the Information Packet for your program, found on the Camp Forms page.  Temperatures at camp tend to range from the mid 70s to mid 90s during the day, and drop to the high 60s/low 70s at night.  It also tends to rain quite a bit, so packing some extra socks and a rain jacket is a good idea.  In general, don’t bring anything that you mind getting dirty, and make sure to label everything with your camper’s name.

Your camper will sleep in a cabin that has bunk beds and is air conditioned.  All our cabins are separated by gender.  Campers share a common shower/bathroom area that is located by their cabin.  Our summer staff and junior staff stay in the cabins with the campers at night so that they are supervised 24/7.

On the Camp Lakeview side, campers do their daily activities in a “Family Group” made up of two cabins of 10 campers each. On the Villages side, campers do their daily activities in a “Village Group” made up of a Village of four cabins of 5 campers each. Our staff are intentional about creating a strong community in the cabin/village so that everyone makes friends with the rest of their cabin and feels like they belong.

A week of camp includes worship, games, outdoor time, yummy meals, community building, campfires, playing in the lake, and more. Your camper will have an incredible experience built on the foundation of authentic community, outstanding staff, unique activities, and intentional faith building. You can view a sample schedule for each program we offer on the main program page for our Camp Lakeview, Villages, and Family Program pages.

You can email your camper HERE.  Emails will be printed off and delivered to campers once a day at lunchtime.  During check-in time you can drop off letters and packages  at the first check-in table to be delivered during the week.  Regular mail can also be sent to the following addresses:

Every camper is allowed to e-mail messages out during afternoon free time using the camp’s email system.  Campers wishing to do so should bring e-mail addresses with them.  We often receive messages from parents concerned because they have not heard from their camper during the week.  Please know that if you don’t hear from your camper, it’s because they’re too busy having fun at camp!

Campers are not able to call home during the week unless you have arranged something in advance with camp staff.  If there is ever a significant issue or concern with your camper, we will contact you as soon as possible. You may contact camp by calling the camp office at 812-342-4815.

Cell Phone Policy
Campers are NOT allowed to bring cell phones to camp.  At camp we believe strongly in the value of showing campers how to build close relationships and live in community.  Providing an atmosphere free from cell phones helps create this community.  If found, staff will confiscate the cell phone for the remainder of the session.  Please do NOT pack a cell phone for your camper.  If you are concerned about needing to get in touch with your camper during the week, please call our office so we can make a plan together. 

If your child has a food allergy, please list those needs in the Allergies section that you fill out during online registration. You can also edit this information in the Medical section of your online dashboard. 

We are able to provide basic alternatives for typical food allergies such as gluten or dairy. If your child has more severe or extensive allergies it is recommended that you bring supplemental food items to camp. Our kitchen staff is able to cook, microwave, or prepare separate food items for campers at meals.  We can also provide a menu for your week at camp to help you better plan and prepare.     

Please email our kitchen team (food@lakeview.camp) to talk through specific food needs you have or to find out more information about our menu options.  During check-in you will be able to drop food off and talk through specific details of your food allergy needs.

Homesickness is a very normal and often temporary response to being away from home. With sensitive handling by you and our staff most homesickness can be prevented or overcome, leading your camper to feelings of independence, pride, and self-assurance.

Talk with your child before they leave for camp to create a game plan for homesickness. Here are some things you can encourage them to do if they feel homesick:

• Send an email home.
• Think of one thing they’re looking forward to at camp.
• Hold an item from home (such as a stuffed animal, picture, etc.)
• Focus on one activity at a time.
• Share how they’re feeling with their counselor or junior counselor.

Please do not tell your child they can call home or be picked up early, as this often makes homesickness worse and makes it hard for them to fully invest in the camp experience. It is also very difficult as a parent to hear your child feeling sad on the phone and not immediately plan to pick them up. Tell them they can email you for encouragement!

If your camper is experiencing homesickness to the point that it is significantly impacting their camp experience, we will call you to let you know and ask for your input on how you would like us to handle it. 

Our staff is well-trained in handling homesickness and will work with your camper to keep them well occupied and having fun.  We never dismiss how a camper is feeling but rather acknowledge their feelings as normal and help provide support for them to become comfortable and confident at camp.

Homesickness is a very normal and often temporary response to being away from home. With sensitive handling by you and our staff most homesickness can be prevented or overcome, leading your camper to feelings of independence, pride, and self-assurance.

Talk with your child before they leave for camp to help ease the transition. Speak of how exciting camp will be, how much fun you’re sure they will have, and how proud you are of them for trying something new. Further, let your child know that if they are feeling sad, afraid, or lonely, there is always someone they can reach out to, whether it is their counselor, another staff member, the First Aid Coordinator, or even the Camp Director.

Please do not tell your child they can call home or be picked up early, as this often makes homesickness worse, and leads to campers having trouble fully investing in the experience. Sometimes parents will receive an email from their camper talking about how homesick they are, or how they are not having fun at camp at all. Please know that whenever we observe a camper is experiencing a more difficult than average adjustment to camp, we will always call you to let you know and ask for your input.

Our staff is well-trained in handling these situations. We know that campers are most likely to feel a longing for home during “down” times, such as mealtimes and just before bed. Our staff takes intentional measures to keep campers well occupied during these times. We will work with your child to acknowledge that their feelings are normal and to provide support for them as they participate in our Christian camp community.

Every member of our summer staff is trained to take the utmost care in keeping each camper physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe. We train our staff to understand the huge responsibility that comes with being entrusted with the care of your son or daughter.

In addition to our normal summer staff, there is a First Aid Coordinator (certified in First Aid/CPR) onsite at all times to provide routine first aid care and distribute medication to campers.  This First Aid Coordinator works closely with our on-call pediatric physician who provides treatment plans for common camp injuries and illnesses. In addition, we have a full-time staff member with an EMT-certification to respond to more serious injuries.

We will always contact parents when the following occurs:

• If your camper experiences a medical concern, illness, or incident beyond the normal stomach aches, bumps, and bruises that can happen at camp
• If a camper ever needs outside treatment for an injury or illness
• If a camper is in our First Aid room for a period longer than 4 hours due to illness
• If a camper experiences an injury that leaves them unable to continue with normal camp activities

Pick up Due To Illness Policy
In general, campers with a fever lasting for more than 4 hours, suffering from vomiting, or suffering from diarrhea will need to head home for the well-being of themselves and their fellow cabin mates. Make sure to have a pick-up plan in place if your camper needs to go home early.

While we firmly believe that your camper will get the most out of their camp experience by being here for the whole time, we also recognize that sometimes life gets in the way.  

If you need to drop off your camper or pick them up outside of our usual times, please let us know ahead of time by calling our office.  Here are our guidelines for each:

LATE DROP-OFFS: The cut-off time for late drop-offs is 8:00 pm. After this time you will need to drop your camper off the next morning. 

EARLY PICK-UPS: Early pick-ups must happen at 10:00 am on the last day of your camper’s session (2:00 pm for Night Owl Session Only). Otherwise plan on picking your camper up at the normal time. If there are extenuating circumstances for why you can’t make one of these windows for an early pick-up, please call our office to make arrangements.

Gate Instructions
For the safety of our campers there are closed gates at the entrance to camp. When arriving at camp for a late drop-off or early pick-up, check in at the Welcome Center (house at the entrance to camp) during normal business hours, or follow the instructions on the gate keypad to call a staff member after hours to be let in. 

Absolutely! You can view photos from your week of camp HERE. In addition to viewing the free photo gallery, you also have the option to pay a small fee to have Waldo (our photo company) text any pictures taken of your camper using facial recognition.

Also make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for fun pictures, videos, and stories posted each week of camp.

After a camp session, we create a Camp Memory Video filled with video clips from the week of camp.  This video is emailed to families the week following your camp session.

We will attempt to return lost items to their owners while they are still at camp. Lost items will be kept until the fall, at which time they will be donated. If you have an item you believe is lost, please email our camp office with your name, the session you attended, and a detailed description of the item. 

You can help avoid lost items by:

• Labeling all clothing and items brought to camp.  A sharpie is your best friend!
• Encouraging your camper to keep up with their clothing and personal items at camp.
• Doing a quick check of your camper’s luggage before leaving camp.  Make sure everything is there.