2008 Summer Camper Information
Print your Summer Camper Newsletter & Health Form Here!

Thanks for registering your child for a program at Crossways Camping Ministries this summer!  The start of our summer camping season is only days away!  Our summer staff will begin their training in a few days and our first round of campers will be coming in 1 week!  We're very excited to open up our camps for the summer of 2008 and hope that you and your child are getting excited to come and camp with us! 

As promised, we've got more information for you and your camper as they prepare for their experience at camp this summer.  You'll want to be sure you read and/or print the Summer Camper Newsletter and Health Form found below.

Summer Camper Newsletter
(You can also view the information below)



Health Form
A HEALTH FORM IS REQUIRED FOR EACH CAMPING SESSION!
Please bring this to camp with you!  Don't mail it ahead of time.

Remember:  All final balances on your account are due by June 1st!  Please do not wait until you come to camp to pay your final balance.  Send any balances due with additional moneys for canteen, if desired, to Crossways Camping Ministries at 16 Tri-Park Way, Appleton, WI 54914.  You may also call to put the final balance on a Credit Card. If you do not know what is due on your camper's account, you may call our office at 920-882-0023 and inquire.  If possible, please have your camper number available when you call (normally this is a 5-digit number starting with a 1 or 2).

We still have space!  Many of our programs this summer have space available for more campers!  See what sessions are available at our Summer programs page on www.CrosswaysCamps.org.  Invite a friend to come along with your child to camp this summer, or sign your child up for an additional program at camp! 

If you have any questions at all about an upcoming camping session, don't hesitate to call our Appleton Office at 920-882-0023.  

2008 Summer Camper Newsletter  ( Print this)

• Everything to need to know about coming to camp
• 2008 Bible Study Theme
• When should I come to camp?
• What should I bring to camp?
• How Canteen/Tuck Shop money works
• F.A.Q. for Parents
• Directions to Camp
• Things to leave at Home
• Camp Addresses, Phone Numbers
• Mission Project Information
• What happens at Camp?

Everything you need to know about coming to camp this summer!

Welcome to the wonderful Camps of Crossways! Summer is almost here, and that means that camp is just around the corner!

Waypost on Mission Lake near Hatley, Pine Lake Camp near Waupaca, and Imago Dei Village near Clintonville are getting ready for you and your friends to have an awesome week at camp. This newsletter is jammed with lots of
information to help you get ready to come to camp. Make sure you look it over so you are prepared for coming to camp. We are looking forward to seeing you!

ARE YOU READY FOR CAMP?? Well, you are registered to attend a Crossways Camp this summer so that’s the first step. Please check your receipt that you received earlier for the correct date and location, and get ready to have an awesome time! There will be old friends and lots of new ones to spend your time at camp with. Better yet, get on the phone right now and invite your best friend to join you at camp this year!

We’re doing everything we can to make sure your stay with us is the BEST! All of our summer staff get lots of training—they arrive two weeks before any campers. Your camp counselor is meant to be one of your best friends at camp. You can always talk to him or her about things that are bothering you, they can fix things, from getting you more food, to matching you up with the right activities at camp. You have to do your part too—talk to your counselor when you have any questions or concerns! All our staff are here to help you have the best week of camp possible!

2008 Bible Study Theme

The 2008 Bible Study Theme is “Let Justice Roll” and uses Amos 5:24 as the theme verse: “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Each camper this summer will look at the differences between the world’s view of justice and what we understand to be God’s view of justice. Using the parables of Jesus and how He described the kingdom of heaven, campers will explore how God’s justice comes in unexpected ways and overpowers our injustice. They will also talk about how we are called to participate in God’s justice and brainstorm ways that we can work to help His justice be accomplished in our world.

WHEN SHOULD I COME TO CAMP?

Arrival & Departure Times for Family Campers

Full Week Family Campers Arrive Sunday between 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm, Depart Friday at 1:00 pm

GrandparentKIDS & Family Holiday Campers Arrive between 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm on the day scheduled, Depart at 1:00 pm on the day scheduled

Family Weekend Campers (not Family Holiday) Arrive Friday at 7:00 pm, Depart Sunday at 11:00 am

What Should I Bring to Camp?

Here is a list of what most campers bring to camp. REMEMBER, you are only going to camp for a week (or for some, two weeks), so pack LIGHT!

• YOUR HEALTH HISTORY FORM! you can’t stay in camp without it, and it must be signed by a parent or guardian. No need for a doctor/health care provider’s signature.  Print one now!
• Enough clothes for warm and cool weather, things like t-shirts, shorts, jeans, sweatshirt or jacket, and underwear.
• T-Shirts & tops must cover the waist—NO “belly shirts” or bare mid-riffs!
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, deodorant, etc.)
• Hat and sunscreen for playing out in the sun
• Swimsuit for active use. (Please be appropriate. Modest two-pieces allowed. NO string bikinis)
• Rain gear is important for all high adventure trips and helpful at camp too
• Tennis shoes (2 pairs are suggested), sandals for walking to the waterfront. (Water shoes with backs (or old sneakers) for campers at Waypost)
• Towels—1 bath and 1 beach
• Bug repellent—non-aerosol types
• Canteen Money (see below!)
• YOUR BIBLE, paper and a pencil

OPTIONAL ITEMS

• Camera and film
• Stationary, stamps, envelopes
• Sunglasses
• Water Bottle
• White T-Shirt for A&C tie-dye. (or available in Canteen/Tuck Shop)
• Your Fun Mug (if you are a returning camper at Imago Dei Village or Waypost and still have yours!)

How Canteen/"Tuck Shop" Money Works

The Camp Store (or “Tuck Shop” for those at Waypost ) is generally open twice daily for you to purchase soda, candy, healthy snacks and clothing. We do not allow snacks in your cabins, so please do not bring them. Campers are limited in the amount of food items purchased each day; $10 for half-weeks and $20 for full-weeks are plenty for snacks. Additional money may be added for cool camp clothing, water bottle, etc. T-shirts generally run from $10-$12. Sweatshirts generally run from $16 - $24.

When you get to camp you will be able to add funds onto your canteen card. You may also send your canteen money ahead of time with your final payment so that we have your canteen card ready for you. This saves time when you get to camp. Money left on your account is refunded at the end of the week. Campers may not keep cash in their cabins.

FUN MUGS!  In an effort to reduce waste and promote recycling, we’re asking returning campers to bring back their Crossways fun mugs (that you can buy from the canteen/"Tuck Shop") from year to year. We do our best to care for God’s creation by reducing waste and recycling but you can imagine the amount of garbage that +3000 people create over the course of a summer. This is an easy way to cut back on that waste! So if you are a returning camper from Imago Dei Village or Waypost Camp and still have your Crossways fun mug from last year, bring it back and we’ll fill ‘er up for you! We can all pitch in to be good stewards of the earth that God has entrusted to us to care for!

F.A.Q. for Parents

We want to assure you that we are doing everything possible so your child(ren) have a great experience at camp this summer. Our staff is carefully chosen (including a background check) and trained to provide a safe environment for your child(ren). You can help make this a wonderful experience for them too!

• How do we get to camp?
  Included in this newsletter are maps for all three camps. Check your registration confirmation and follow the directions to the camp your child is registered to attend. You can also find them on our website: www.CrosswaysCamps.org.
   
• How safe are the camps?
  Our camps have an excellent reputation as safe and healthy environments. The 2008 Health Form MUST be brought to the camp for every camper. The Health Form is included in this newsletter and is also available on our website: www.CrosswaysCamps.org. If medical problems occur, the camps of Crossways use local clinics and hospitals to treat medical conditions or accidents. Medical expenses will be billed to you through these clinics. Crossways does not carry medical coverage for campers.
   
• Can my child leave during the week?
  We discourage parents from taking campers away from camp during the week. Campers miss fun activities and their absence affects the community that is built between the campers. No camper is allowed to leave the premises with a visitor (even a relative) during the week without a signed permission slip from the parent who registered the camper. Visits that are absolutely necessary should be scheduled in advance to avoid confusion. All visitors MUST check-in with our camp offices.  
  
  Also, as a part of the program your child may leave site with staff for camp activities.  At Village and Waypost, campers in Junior High and up may participate in a 2 hour canoe trip.  At Pine Lake, high school campers may participate in a nursing home visit. 
   
• My child has a food allergy. How is the food at camp?
  Campers are fed balanced meals and a salad bar and sandwiches are available at almost every meal. If your camper has special medical or dietary needs, please call the camp that they are attending to discuss the need as soon as possible. Food preferences are NOT considered medical necessities.
   
• Can my senior high camper drive him/herself to camp?
  This decision is best made by the parents and the camper. If you choose to allow your child to drive to camp they will not be permitted to drive the vehicle at any time during the week. We make every effort to collect car keys from campers who drive. Your help in alerting us that your child is driving to camp is appreciated.
   
• What if my child gets homesick at camp?
  Homesickness is probably the most common but most preventable issue we see in our campers each summer. Your influence on your child’s experience starts well before you arrive at camp. 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.
  Please do not tell your child that they can call home anytime they like. Our staff are excellent in handling these situations, which happen quite regularly at camp. We’ve found it much more successful to work with your child to acknowledge that their feelings are normal and to provide support for them as they participate in the healthy Christian community. Should we have extended problems beyond normal fears, the Camp Director will call you to share our experiences and ask for your input.
   
• Can my child have a cell phone at camp? Can I call my child at camp?
  Cell phones are not allowed at camp. The success of your child's camp experience is largely built on the fact that individuals come to camp, away from the demands and distractions of the outside world, to build an intentional Christian community. Cell phones and calls from outside the community prove to be a distraction, and often, campers do not focus their energy and attention on building community, but on outside influences. In the event of an emergency or problem at camp, the camp director will contact parents.
  
  If you have a true emergency that requires you to speak with camp staff immediately, first call the camp phone number.  In the event no one answers, please leave a message.  If your true emergency is during regular business hours, you may call the Appleton office for assistance.  If you are not successful reaching anyone at the camp or at the Appleton office, you may call 920-621-8628.  This phone is monitored 24-hours a day, but is only to be used in the event of a serious emergency that requires immediate assistance.

DIRECTIONS TO CAMP

• Map to Imago Dei Village in Clintonville, WI
• Map to Pine Lake Camp in Waupaca, WI
• Map to Waypost Camp in Hatley, WI

THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME

The following items are not permitted at camp:

• Electronics—No cell phones, CD Players, iPods, MP3 Players, laptops, video games, laser pointers, TV’s. We would have to keep these things in the office anyway—they tend to get broken, lost, stolen, and just plain in the way at camp.
• Food items—No candy, chewing gum, soda. You’ll draw company, like ants, bugs, etc., and who wants those things in your sleeping bag or suitcase? We have a canteen where the soda is cold, the candy is good, the ice cream hasn’t melted and it is all reasonably priced!
• Other—NO fireworks, valuables, knives, alcohol, tobacco products, illegal substances or weapons of any kind.

DO bring your best behavior with you!
Yes, we have rules for behavior, just like at home and school. Counselors will go over them when you get to camp. Here’s a sneak peek: treat each other well, wear shoes, respect other people’s things, swim with a buddy, act safely, follow our staff’s directions. Following these guidelines makes everybody happier. If you don’t follow the rules we’ll talk to you but sometimes we have to call parents to help us. Other rules that you must obey—the State Laws. No alcohol or drugs allowed. You can’t smoke. You can’t shoot off a fire extinguisher. No explosives (firecrackers, weapons, etc)

CAMP ADDRESSES & PHONE NUMBERS

How do I get mail at camp?
There is nothing better than a letter from home when you are away at camp. Please use the following addresses for snail mail. Please do not send e-mail.

Phone contact
Campers are not able to call home during the week (see info on homesickness and cell phones). Parents may contact the camp by calling the camp office listed above. Keep in mind that during the summer our staff are busy caring for campers and aren’t always by a telephone to take your call. Please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible. You may also contact our Appleton Office at 920-882-0023 during office hours (8:30am—4:30pm).

Regarding Emergencies
If you have a true emergency that requires you to speak with camp staff immediately, first call the camp’s phone
number listed above. In the event no one answers, please leave a message.  If your true emergency is during regular business hours (8:30am—4:30pm), you may call the Appleton office at 920-882-0023 for assistance.  If you are not successful reaching anyone at the camp or at the Appleton office, you may call 920-621-8628.  This phone is monitored 24 hours a day but is only to be used in the event of a serious emergency that requires immediate assistance.

MISSION PROJECT

This summer, Crossways Camping Ministries has registered with the Tents of Hope Project. The mission of the Tents of Hope Project is to support a one-year process in which people respond as communities to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan by creating tents that are both unique works of art and ongoing focal points within communities for learning about, assisting and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan. The tents are not answers in themselves. Rather, they are points of entry for more concrete forms of Darfur advocacy.

During camp, youth and family campers will have an opportunity to design and paint a portion of a tent that will be taken to Washington DC in November for a National Event and then sent to aid refugees in Darfur, Sudan, and other places of need. A portion of the Mission Project money donated by campers will be used to purchase tents for each of the sites of Crossways to participate in this important project and to help cover the cost of getting the tents to refugee centers.
For more information about the Tents of Hope Project, please visit the following website: http://www.tentsofhope.org

WHAT HAPPENS AT CAMP

We think camp is a great time and hope you think so too! Here’s what you can expect when you come to camp this summer…

• Group building games and activities to help you meet new friends
• Worship filled with songs, music and skits
• Daily campfires
• Daily Bible study—explore Bible themes in words and activities that you can understand and relate to
• Recreation—swimming, boating, canoe journeys, field games, sports activities
• Arts & Crafts—opportunities for being creative with a variety of craft activities
• ‘All camp’ games for boisterous fun with lots of other kids your own age
• Nature activities—explore wonders of God’s world

Coming Events

ONLINE
REGISTRATION

DOWNLOAD
REGISTRATION
FORM