The average week of Wilderness Camp costs $315 this year, but tuition is less for Mini-Weeks and a bit more for Navigator Youth Weeks and Expeditions.  The deposit, meals, lodging, standard activities, and a tent group photo are included in the cost.  Bus service, camp DVDs, and camper spending money are not covered.  A few U-Pick-It electives have a small fee ($2-7) for materials that campers will take home.  Adventurer campers can choose an optional Specialty Track that will cost between $15 and $25 extra.  Navigator campers will have an off-site activity that is covered with the exception of a modest extra fee for horseback riding.

Financial assistance is available by application only and a $75 deposit is required to register.  If your application is not accepted for any reason, the $75 will be returned to you.  If you register but cancel, the $75 deposit will be considered nonrefundable.  For an application, select the “Forms” icon on the website and print the Campership Application Fund form. Complete and submit it upon registering for your week of choice.

Large canvas tents are placed on a 16 x 16' or 16 x 20’ raised wooden platform with 4’ tall side walls and an 8’ ridge in the center.  We have two distinct sleeping areas for the genders and 20 raised platform tents total.  Approximately eight campers sleep with their counselor(s) within the appropriate tenting area.  Each campsite has a cooking ring, picnic table and seating area.  There is no water or electric at any of the campsites. However, guys and girls each have access to two separate spacious bathhouses that are within a short walk of the tents.
There are plenty of sheltered areas around camp (pavilions, bathhouses, tents, snack shop, etc) but much of our program occurs outdoors or in open air buildings.  Insects, weather and animals can impact any outdoor camping experience, so it is important that campers come prepared for outdoor activity.  We take seriously our job to care for the physical needs of your child when at camp.
Because we are a Wilderness Camp, our activity areas are spread out and walking is a part of the daily routine.  It is about ¼ mile from the tents to the Wilderness Camp Pavilion. The Retreat Center swimming pool and snack shop are ½ mile away from the Pavilion.  The terrain can be rough and uneven, so it is important that all participants be fully mobile to participate.

When on-site, Expeditions campers sleep in two raised Adirondack-style lean-tos and have access to Wilderness Camp facilities.  When off-site, campers use four-person A-frame tents at various campgrounds and primitive sites.

We offer a wide range of activities such as sports, arts, outdoor recreation, and adventure programming.  We do offer specialized programs in Archery, GPS Navigation, Trip and Travel, and Mountain Biking.  We also have a very developed adventure program featuring an extensive Challenge Course (group cooperative course) two Ziplines, a Climbing Tower, a Power Swing (giant swing), Cliff Rappelling, and a Vertical Play Pen.  Because of the high use of our Specialized and Adventure Programs, we are able to employ a number of year-round staff who are highly skilled, experienced, and professional.
The activities and choice will vary greatly depending on the age of the camper and the program you choose.  Visit the Wilderness Resident Camp or the Off-Site Expeditions page, select the week of interest and activities will be listed under details on the left hand side.

The schedules will vary dramatically depending which week of camp you choose.  Visit the Wilderness Resident Camps or Off-site Expeditions and check out the sample schedules and itineraries available.

We do not serve special needs populations but are willing to discuss involvements on a case-by-case basis.  Our staff and training are not geared toward children with special needs or at-risk children, and all campers must be reasonably mobile in order to participate.
Spruce Lake Retreat provides the facilities for an excellent Family Camp each summer called Joni and Friends.  Their program is designed to provide a retreat for families which have a family member with special needs.  You can find more information about Joni and Friends family retreats by visiting http://www.joniandfriends.org/pg_retreats.php .

There is no formal open house, but Spruce Lake Retreat is open almost every day of the year.  If you call ahead, we'll be glad to make arrangements for you to visit the Wilderness Camp area.  The Promotional DVD is probably our best resource in showing you what our program is about.  It includes an extended version of the promotional video you see online, plus a sample video from each of the four resident camps!  Please contact us to request a free promotional video.

We offer a Parent-Child Mini-Week for children ages 7-10 to participate in with a parent or other significant adult of the same gender.  We also offer a Parent-Child Summer Adventure Expedition for children ages 11 and up who are accompanied by a significant adult of either gender as long as that adult is physically prepared for some canoeing, hiking and sleeping in a tent.
Spruce Lake Retreat also offers a variety of family camps throughout the summer.  Check out the programmed events on the main drop-down menu of the www.sprucelake.org home page.

Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp is a resident camp only and does not offer Day Camps.  Our resident programs all last three to six days with the exception of a few of our expeditions, which last up to eight days.

Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp is a Christian camp affiliated with the Franconia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. This group of churches, located primarily north of Philadelphia, accounts for about 30% of our camper population and is the reason we exist. Our mission is to "Point Young People Toward Christ" regardless of denominational background. As a result, we do not spend much time on denominational distinctives. Instead, we focus on sharing God's love, nurturing appreciation for the Bible, inviting young people to develop a personal walk with Jesus Christ, and helping them understand their call to serve others with the gifts that God has provided them.

Senior Counselors must be at least 18 ½ and at least one year out of high school.  Expedition Guides must be at least 21.  All of our staff profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Most of our counselors and guides are college students, although there are some that leave full-time employment or are employed otherwise as teachers.  Most of our counselors and guides have been campers at Spruce Lake and desire to give back to a ministry that impacted their lives.  Our counselors and guides choose to work at camp because they love young people and the atmosphere…it’s not the pay. 
See also, ‘How do you Screen and Train Staff?’

Each summer Wilderness Camp employs over 50 staff from ages 17 and older.  A quality staff is our number one asset at Wilderness Camp.  We seek to find solid Christian men and women who are living their faith authentically and with integrity, who possess the skills and gifting for the roles they are seeking.
Staff Screening - Each staff person at Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp is carefully screened.  We require each summer staff to go through the application process annually, even if previously hired.  We review applications, screen at least three confidential references, review employment/education history, and conduct personal interviews.  All potential staff members are required to sign a voluntary disclosure statement giving us permission to complete background checks with the National Sex Offender Registry, SS trace to verify address, and the National and County/State criminal history check for those we are seeking to employ.
Staff Training - All staff are required to attend a nine-day summer staff training event that covers both general subjects and subjects specific to their roles.  Our general training involves sessions on Health and Safety, Risk Management, Age Group Characteristics, Organizational Mission, Supervision and more.  More specific training is offered for staff working with campers, in leading expeditions, in the kitchen, as a supervisor and so on, depending on the role.

This ratio changes with age but on the average, we generally place seven to nine campers with at least one to two counselors in a tent.  There are nine tent units per gender. Each tent unit is supported by an experienced head counselor whose job it is to be available to and support senior counselors.  We have many other gifted and talented staff in supporting roles who are available to support counselors as needs arise.

• Discoverer Campers (7-10) range from a 1:4 to a 1:5 ratio. Two counselors for each group of 7-10 campers.
• Trekker Campers (10-12) range from a 1:6 to a 1:7 ratio with one counselor for 6-9 campers and minimum two assistants per gender.
• Adventurer Campers (12-14) range from a 1:6 to a 1:7 ratio with one counselor for 6-9 campers and minimum two assistants per gender.
• Navigators (14-18) range from a 1:6 to 1:8 ratio with one senior counselor for 6-8 campers.
• Off site Expeditions (11-17) range from a 1:4 to a 1:6 ratio with two guides for 8-12 campers.

Our goal is to provide a time to meet new people as well as enjoy existing friendships.  Here are our priorities in creating tenting assignments:

1. Honor one tent mate request for each camper.
2. Limit arranged tent mates to two or three.
3. Look for age compatibility within tent units. 
4. Group together several campers coming without a tent mate request.

Groups are welcome at camp, but campers are still treated as individuals as mentioned above.   Youth group leaders are welcome to contact us about serving while youth from their church are at camp.

We will do our very best to return whatever was left at camp to your camper.  Contact our office to provide a description of the item lost and we will contact you to let you know whether the item has or has not been found.

• Items with full camper names written or sewn in help us return lost articles with more success.
• Returns will occur at the cost of the camper family.
• Items left on the bus or in the luggage truck will be returned to Spruce Lake on the following Friday or Sunday bus run and then kept at Spruce Lake.
• Our bus can be used to return lost items without cost so long as you contact us and are willing to meet the bus at the scheduled time of arrival.
• Lost items not claimed before October of the same year, may be redistributed to a thrift store, disposed of, or set aside for future camper use.

How does the camp handle homesickness? It is common for children ages 7-11 to miss their parents and home, especially in the later hours and less structured times of day. In these situations you probably would not get a call.  It is uncommon to be homesick throughout whole days or cry or be withdrawn consistently.  It is uncommon for children to become demanding, inconsolable, or shut themselves off from the counsel of others.  In these last two situations, we would call to discuss how we can handle the issue together.
Homesickness is a natural part of a child learning to separate from their home environment and develop independence.  In fact, when handled well, it can be a major growth opportunity for your child.  Here are a few things you can do to prepare your child for going away:

• Practice by going overnight to a friend or relative's house.  If they experience mild to moderate homesickness, coach them through, do not bail them out.  Taking them out of an experience where they can cope may weaken their will to push through homesickness and adversity in the future.
• Help them know what to expect at camp and develop anticipation by watching a camp video together, talking about the activities, or visiting Spruce Lake as a family.
• Do not overload your child’s summer.  A child who goes from camp to camp or vacation into camp often experiences an increased fatigue and longing for that stable home life.
• Be sensitive to their readiness.  Readiness is a big part of the camp experience. While a parental nudge for the reluctant camper is very beneficial in getting a child to face a challenge, a parental push can often have the opposite affect.

Letters and emails are the best way to communicate with campers, and we will faithfully deliver those messages to your daughter or son.  Campers will be able to mail letters and post cards, but will not have access to outgoing Phone, Fax or E-mail.  Once you register, you will have access to Parent’s Place online, which has an “E-mail Your Camper” feature as well as a “Photo Gallery” which will have tent photos uploaded on Monday and more photos at other points during the week.
E-mails received through our “E-mail Your Camper” feature by 9 a.m. will generally be delivered the same day.  We cannot accept attachments, and please do not email campers at the business email address.
Mail - If you are mailing a letter to your camper, please allow three to four days.  Some parents choose to drop off notes at registration, too.  Generally format your letters to campers as follows:

Camper Name, TENT# (If known)
Camp Session Name
SPRUCE LAKE WILDERNESS CAMP
RR #1 BOX 605
CANADENSIS, PA 18325

On an expedition - Expeditions campers generally will receive messages and e-mails only before they leave Spruce Lake and after they return.

Parents/friends are asked not to have direct contact with campers while camp is in session.  While we support good parent/camp communications, we do not support direct camper/parent phone calls or direct camper/parent visits.  The reasons for this policy are many. They include authority confusion, camper security, homesickness, misunderstandings, and limited phone lines and computers.
Camp is really about the special relationships formed in the camp setting.  This is not to say that we will not allow contact if we or you have special circumstances, but we ask you to trust Spruce Lake with checking on and reporting to you the well-being of your son or daughter.
“Camper Checks” During Camp - We will gladly check in on your son/daughter and let you know how things are going. If you request a camper check for the Wilderness Camp program, our male or female head counselor will speak personally with both your son/daughter and his/her counselor to see how the week is going.  Then, shortly after the next meal, they will give you a call personally and update you!
“Camper Checks” for expeditions are more involved because of reduced and delayed communication, but they are possible.  Our communication with expeditions involves leaving messages and waiting for call-backs.  Trip leaders are instructed to check messages nightly and provide timely call-backs as reception allows.
Visiting Spruce Lake - If you are visiting Spruce Lake or are a guest at Spruce Lake Retreat, we ask that you not visit with your camper.  If you desire to visit or become acquainted with our Wilderness Camp, please make arrangements with the office.  All visitors are asked to come to the office upon arrival, which is located in Huckleberry cabin in the Wilderness Camp area.  We will provide a VISITOR badge for you to wear until departure.  Visitors who come while the evening Fireside is in session may come directly to the pavilion because we will have the Visitor Sign-In Sheet available there at that time. Please sign-out upon departure.

Health Care at Camp - A registered nurse (RN) is on the premises at all times while camp is in session.  They are responsible to administer medications, provide care under our standing orders, and inform counseling staff of health related issues.  Numerous staff members are trained in CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguarding.  Hhospital, 911 and clinic services are also available as needed with an approximate 20-minute response time.
Medications at camp - All medications must be sent in the original container with the original label.  In an effort to reduce the number of medications that a child needs to bring, Wilderness Camp stocks many common over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Benadryl, Cough & Cold remedies and more. 
Camper Health and Safety form - This is a significant form that we need to help ensure your son/daughter's wellbeing during their time at camp.  Along with emergency contact and health related information, it gives your permission to participate, gives us permission to dismiss your son/daughter to someone other than yourself.
Illnesses/Injury - It is common to have many children see the nurse about a range of issues that are easily managed.  If the nurse sees the same child about similar issues repeatedly without progress, we would call.  We'll also call if your child needs extra medical care, stays overnight in the nurses clinic, or is kept out of activities for more than half a day.
Accident Insurance - The camp carries a limited accident insurance plan.  If your child needs treatment and you have insurance, your coverage will be applied first.  If your policy does not cover the full bill, you should inform us.  Our coverage can be applied toward all uncovered expenses.
Health & Safety on Expeditions - When your son/daughter is on an off-site expedition, the following health care and safety measures are provided:

• One or both trip guides will be certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. 
• On all trips but Parent-Child Adventure, an RN will screen campers and meet with guides prior to the trip to discuss medical/food issues related to the campers on the trip.
• At least one cell phone accompanies all trips, providing more immediate contact with camp, 911, local hospitals and clinical services. Each guide will carry a logistical contact sheet with them that includes emergency contact information, local medical care facilities, and logistical contact information. Note that cell reception may not be available in some areas.

If you have an emergency and cannot get through to Wilderness Camp on the phone, follow the emergency contact instructions on our message. As a last resort call 570-595-7505x1 or 800-822-7505x1 and ask if the Retreat Center is able to contact Wilderness Camp by radio.

If there is an emergency at camp, we will do everything in our power to contact the guardians as quickly as reasonably possible.  Please rest assured that in the event of a communications breakdown, such as a power outage, regional crisis, or national incident, we are doing everything in our power to care for your child.  Also, check www.wildernesscamp.org for any updates posted on our status, whatever the issue may be.

Parent’s Place is a web page specifically for parents with children attending camp.  Upon registering for camp, parents of campers will be provided a new User name and Password each year.  If you are a registered parent and have misplaced your user name and password, contact us, stating the name of your camper and the week they attended, and we will be glad to help.  The site is set up to provide the following services:

• View and print parent information.
• Use the feature for emailing your camper, available in the summer.
• View tent photos and photos from your son/daughter’s camp week. 
• See photos and brief biographies of leadership and counseling staff. 
• Complete parent evaluations of camp weeks attended by your children.

We are in the process of developing Camper’s Place. In the future it will be password protected, and after attending their week of camp, campers will be provided a new User name and Password each summer. We hope to have the following services up by this camping season:

• See fun videos from the summer
• Use personal devotional resources
• Read the Bible-reading plan
• Get updates on summer staff

Each camp description will have a complete packing list for that week of camp. In addition to clothing items, some commonly overlooked items are plate ware, sleeping bags, flashlights, and rain gear.  There will also be a list of common items not to bring. 

• Please look over the packing list at least one week prior to camp.
• Please help your son/daughter plan what to take, making sure they are bringing an appropriate amount and style of clothing, noting the modesty request.  
• Make sure that luggage and important items have your son’s/daughters full name on them.

All meals and standard activities are included in the cost of camp.
We recommend that campers bring $25-$50 for a week of camp to purchase snacks and souvenirs.  Campers will have the opportunity to buy snacks at the Retreat Center Snack Shop or buy both snacks and souvenirs at the Wilderness Camp Trading Post.
A few of the craft-oriented U-Pick-It Electives have a nominal fee of $2-$7 (leather crafts, tie dye, rocketry, etc.).

Registration is open Sundays 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. in the Wilderness Camp Pavilion.  Buses will arrive by 4:00 p.m.  Discoverer Mini-Camp registration will open Wednesday just after 10:00 a.m..  You should bring:

• Any special notes or instructions.
• Medications clearly marked in original containers.
• Camper Bank $ if not already sent.
• Camper Health & Safety Form if not already mailed (This is required in order to participate at camp.)

The Wilderness Camp entrance is located just off Route 447, about two miles north of the traffic light in Canadensis (the intersection of Routes. 390 and 447).  Traveling north on 447, you'll come to the Long Road on the left, about one mile before Spruce Lake Retreat.  Turn left onto Long Rd. by the wooden Wilderness Camp sign. Make your first right onto the dirt road through the woods, just under a mile to the Wilderness Camp Pavilion.  For more general directions for getting to this area, use the following link to get there in one step http://www.sprucelake.org/maps/index.html.

Dismissal is generally at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays.  You are invited to attend the camp’s Closing Ceremony from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.  Dismissal for Discoverer Weeklong and Mini-Camps will be at 3:30p.m. with a Closing Ceremony at 2:45p.m.
Camper Dismissal Policy - Only authorized persons will be permitted to pick up a camper from camp.  Parents/Guardians will be asked to list, on the Health & Safety Form, the authorized adults who have permission to pick up their child/children.  Campers not riding the bus will remain at their tables with their counselor and wait for an authorized adult to sign them out.  If the person picking up your child is not on the list of authorized persons (a friend or sibling), they will not be able to leave with your child until our staff contact you or another emergency contact person for permission.

Early Dismissal/Pick-up at unusual times - If your camper needs to be picked up for any reason at a time other than the normal dismissal, we ask that you make arrangements with the office ahead of time.  You or your designated authorized person should come to the office, located in Huckleberry cabin, to sign out the camper prior to departing.  Depending on the time of your departure, we may have your camper’s tent photo, unspent Camper Bank Money and a DVD if you ordered one.