In the morning kids have a morning meeting as an entire camp, followed by activities in smaller groups based on age levels.  Usually we offer arts and crafts, games, and Bible stories in the morning. After lunch and recess, our youngest kids (3-6) will have more playtime and hands on activities, while our older kids will choose from a variety of activities (choir, theater. cooking, sewing, science, etc) for the afternoon.  At the end of the day we have a closing activity all together before pick up.  We also usually go to the water park one afternoon (a big hit with the kids) and spend time playing in the park every day.  

Our camp is staffed by church staff and volunteers, most of whom have served at our camp for many years, and all of whom have completed background checks and training in how to safely care for children.  A number of our volunteers are retired teachers and all of them have a love of kids and a special place in their heart for this summer camp. We always have two adults with any group of kids, and no group of kids is larger than 12 (and usually closer to 6-10). 

Yes.  Our camp does have a faith based component grounded in the Episcopal branch of the Christian church. However, our faith makes space for questions and thinking for oneself.  Our Sunday school curriculum, for example, invites kids to wonder about Bible stories and asks questions like “What do you think is the most important part of this story?” to which there are no wrong answers. 

Our goal is for kids to have an experience in which they know they are loved by God and that church is a safe space. We want kids to be free to explore spiritual practices and to learn the stories of our faith in a way that feels meaningful to them. 

Everyone is always welcome at St Stephen’s (that’s kind of our thing), but you are under no obligation to attend church on Sunday mornings.  On the Sunday following camp (June 14 this year) kids often perform music, dance, and plays during the worship at 10:15 but we know not all kids will be participating and you do not need to come if you do not feel comfortable. 

You are also always welcome to come by the church during the week of camp if that works better for you or for your children, or to visit us during office hours if you would like to learn more about the church before you sign your kid(s) up? 

We make every effort to meet special needs of our kiddos, whether it is dietary restrictions and allergies or ADHD and autism.  The teacher who works with our youngest kids is a retired special education preschool teacher and usually works with parents to go over the best way to make modifications and accommodations.  Our camp chef makes sure we have options to meet everyone’s dietary needs. 

Absolutely. We have both teachers and staff as well as campers who identify as LGBTQ+ and we work to make a safe space for everyone. 

We know that childcare is hard to come by and necessary for working parents.  We offer this camp as a gift to our community in support of families.  The church collects donations to cover food, snacks, and supplies, and most of the people who work with the kids volunteer their time so that we can offer the camp for a low cost. 

‍ ‍You can reach out to our Rector, the Rev. Kate Bradsen, a former middle school special ed teacher turned summer camp director, with any questions or concerns you might have.