Parents that are new to sending their children to summer camp and parents that are just new to Camp Horizon often ask the question, “What does a typical day of camp look like?”
The daily schedules have been available on the staff information pages. Now there is a link on the home page and the Summer Camp 2015 page to documents used by the Program Directors including those schedules.
THEMES
The theme each week is related to both the games/competition and the spiritual message. That message permeates the entire program. We post them on the summer schedule in May. Not all weeks have been updated as of today.
SPIRITUAL CONTENT
There are two chapel times, but the entire day is about bringing glory to God. Each cabin begins and ends their day with prayer. Bible Memory is part of the competition. There is prayer and Bible reading at every meal.
Camp Horizon provides an opportunity for a child to have fun in the context of an environment where God is honored, the Bible is trusted, and campers are loved by their counselors and the staff.
We certainly hope to see every camper come to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, even children that have not come to faith in Christ respond to the fun and loving atmosphere offered at Camp Horizon. Our staff members live out their faith and are willing to share the story of their faith at any time. We do not pressure campers to believe. We believe that drawing a child to faith is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our core beliefs are found on our website (Statement of Faith).
MEALS
At each meal there is prayer and a short devotion from one of the staff members. We call it a “nugget” from God’s Word and is usually not more than 2-3 minutes. Meal times also include Mail Call at lunch (or supper if the mail is late), announcements, and skits or other program activities related to the theme of the week. Nobody leaves the dining hall hungry.
TYPICAL DAY OF CAMP SCHEDULE
WAKEY-WAKEY!
While the staff and one counselor from each cabin are at Leader’s Prep, the second counselor wakes their campers and begins cabin cleanup.
Next, while the campers and counselors are at Flag Raising getting their morning announcements and competition update the cabins are inspected (points toward the competition). Then it is off to cabin prayer.
BREAKFAST
MORNING ACTIVITIES
With the new schedule the morning is packed with activities that the camper has chosen on registration day. There are usually about a dozen options to choose from. (Swimming, Sailing, Canoeing, Ski/Tub, Basketball, Archery, Riflery, Indoor Soccer, etc). The activities chosen are for the whole week.
LUNCH
CABIN TIME keeps the campers out of the peak sun and allows time for rest and Bible Memory.
CHAPEL (the alternative schedule has chapel in the morning)
Snak Shak / Free Time
Junior campers can spend up to $3 per day for snacks. This is also free swim. We alternate boys and girls because junior campers tend to take forever in the Snak Shak line, and we have to limit the number of swimmers in the pool. This schedule addresses both issues.
Teen Camp does not have a limit and the entire time is free time. This is pretty much all the unscheduled time that there is for the day. There may be individual competition during this time (optional), or they can just hang out with friends.
AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES
We do not rotate the activities for Junior Camp. If you look at the Teen Camp schedule you can see the rotation. The purpose was originally to give waterfront activities an equal shot at smooth morning water.
DINNER
EVENING ACTIVITY
The evening activity is ALL CAMP. These are big games that everyone plays. Sometimes the teen camp schedule swaps this with chapel to play a “night game”.
Flag lowering (like flag raising) gets everyone together and helps keep us on schedule.
CHAPEL
Cabin Devotions & Bed Time
Repeat Sunday Night through Friday Night, then home on Saturday.
You are welcome to view the videos and schedules on CampHorizon.org. We put announcements on our facebook page, but our facebook group is more interactive. The members are campers, staff, and administration. Feel free to join us.
FaceBook Page: MyCampHorizon Group: camphorizon
(be careful, there are similar names)