Child 1 Age 10 - 12 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Traditional (multi activity) , Adventure (multi)
(5) Overall experience
Our daughter was nervous before her first week of overnight camp at Camp Cherith. She was excited about the activity options but still nervous to go alone and not really know anyone there. By the time we picked her up, she was beaming from ear to ear. She had the best week of her life, she said. She came home more willing to try new things, cultivating a love for the outdoors, and with more of a solid foundation for her faith. We are so grateful for a Christian camp near us that allows our kids to learn independence and survival skills, experience adventure, and grow close to God all at the same time. We have recommended it to family and friends alike. She has attended every year since and we hope to send our other children as well.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
We chose Camp Cherith because it is a well-respected Christian camp, it’s not too far from where we live, and we know some of the leadership from previous interactions. These factors rolled together made it an easy choice. The price is well worth the experience in our opinion. It’s quite affordable compared to some other overnight camps.
(5) Program quality and activities
We really like that the campers get to choose 3 activities to focus on during their week. Our daughter really enjoys the Arts & Crafts option as she has always been pretty crafty. She decided to try hiking her first year, and she fell in LOVE with it! She enjoys adventuring through the wilderness and experiencing God's creation up close. She has also become strangely fond of frogs after spending time in “Frogs&Bogs”. In fact, she now catches frogs at any opportunity and has even shared this love of frogs with her siblings. Next year she is looking forward to trying Photography if it’s available. She really enjoys using these opportunities to try new things and discover new talents. Camp Cherith puts the time and effort in, to offer a variety of options that appeal to many different kids.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
Our daughter attended her first year only knowing of one other person in her cabin. By the end of the week, she had at least 6 new best friends and a slew of stories to share with us about their fun times together. She really seemed to flourish in the camp environment and made many new friends. She was made to feel extremely welcomed, included, and accepted.
(5) Skills and growth
Our daughter gained a love for Hiking at Camp Cherith. She enjoys taking photos as she hikes, and experiencing God's creation as they walk through puddles, over logs, and through forest areas all while looking at the flowers, bugs, mushrooms, and the glorious creation that God has made. She also learned how to paddle a canoe and a kayak, how to sleep in a tent, and how to be independent and take care of herself while in a cabin of 8 people. She tried new foods and even swam in the lake! She wasn’t fond of swimming because she had heard stories that there might be leeches in the lake but she managed to push through her fear and complete her swim tests on all camp visits so far. To date, she has never seen a leech, or heard of anyone finding one - but swimming is still not her top activity of choice at Camp.
(4) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The counsellors and camp staff all seem to genuinely care about the campers. They all do their best to ensure a safe, faith-based, and fun time. Camp leadership has a true heart for helping kids grow in their faith and it’s evident with the care and dedication they have. Previous years have shown some challenges in getting detailed information from camp staff before the camp starts (especially before a first-time experience at an overnight camp). We were looking for detailed schedule information, sleeping details, meal information, etc., and had to ask several times to get all the answers we needed. I believe that information is more readily available now and easier for parents to access so that is great to see. There is usually minimal communication during the week of camp, but it’s great to see any photos they post during the week or weeks after. Parents love to see or hear any info about what their kids did at camp. Management and camp leadership is usually pretty prompt with response to any issues.
(5) Preparation and packing
Our daughter always brings a couple of books, but never gets around to reading them. She’s an avid reader at home, but at camp she’s usually too busy catching frogs in her spare time. She loves to bring a spare sheet to hang around her bunk, or extra towels to hang and give a bit of privacy. She also learned to bring a small packable backpack for her hiking trips to carry her water and camera. A laundry bag for dirty clothes is very handy. A rain poncho is also very good to bring. They fit over any outfit and are easy to hang on the clothesline to dry.
(5) Advice and tips
Check out Camp Cherith’s Facebook page and have a look at photos from previous years. Ask lots of questions, they can send you schedules and menu ideas so you have a better idea of what your kid is going to experience. In the end, take a chance and trust Camp Cherith for a valuable, memorable, wilderness experience in God's creation.
