registration and payment

Registration is open until the final deadline of MAY 15.or until the camps are full. Full payment must be received at the Conference Office by the end of the working day of the registration deadline.

**PLEASE NOTE: We ask that all campers from local UCC churches please register through their local church camp registrar. 

All campers, counselors, deans and program staff MUST also complete a health form, found on the back of the registration form.  This must be done annually. If a health form has been filled out since September 2007, a new form is not necessary.   All campers and staff must also complete a covenant for appropriate and responsible behavior while at camp. 

refund policy

Cancellation by Camper:  
Cancellations received before the May 15 deadline:
  ü Registration fees paid in full will be refunded, minus a $75 administration fee.   

Cancellations requested after the final deadline will not be refunded. A partial refund may be available if there is a waiting list and the camper can be replaced by another child of the same gender for the same camp.  We do not want to endanger the health or safety of any of our campers and camps as a whole; therefore please contact the Southwest Conference Office in the event of an emergency cancellation due to illness. (In order to be considered for an illness refund, you must have a written recommendation by a physician.)

Cancellation by Southwest Conference: In the event the Southwest Conference deems it necessary to cancel camp sessions due to safety hazards, registration fees will be refunded, minus a $25 administration fee.

complete registration check list:

____Registration form (1 per camper, please)
____Youth/Adult Covenant
____Current Health Form
____All required signatures?
____Campership Grant application (if applicable
____Camp fees and any applicable transportation fees

campership assistance

The Southwest Conference does not want any camper to be denied the opportunity to participate in the Outdoor Ministries Program due to a lack of financial resources.  Many local churches and other organizations offer full or partial scholarships for camp.  Please approach these sources before requesting Conference scholarship assistance.  The Southwest Conference Travel Fund is available for travel assistance for those coming from New Mexico and El Paso (see registration form).

If you are in need of a campership, please complete a 2008 CAMPERSHIP GRANT APPLICATION FORM (found on page 9) and return it to your local church camp registrar by their deadline.

Campership dollars are available for allocation from donations received from individuals and churches throughout the Southwest Conference who are eager to see others experience the value of a summer church camp.  If you wish to donate to our campership fund, known as "Sow the Seed," please send your gift to the Southwest Conference UCC, Sow the Seed Campership Fund, Attn: Rev. Barb Doerrer-Peacock, 4423 N. 24th Street, Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ  85016-5544.

accident/sickness insurance

Primary insurance coverage is the responsibility of the camper’s family; the camp’s insurance is a secondary coverage policy for emergency treatment only.  No coverage is provided for pre-existing conditions or illness not related to the camp experience.

arrival & departure

For ALL campers, please arrive between 4 and 4:30 p.m. on the first day of camp sessions.  Arrival before 4 p.m. is not permitted at either camp! All campers, please plan to depart at 10 a.m. on the last day of the camp session. An hourly $25 charge for late pick-up will be collected if necessary. Campers may not leave and return to camp during a session! 

All campers are expected to participate fully in the program to receive the full meaning of the camp experience.  We work hard to create a close-knit, positive sense of community at camp in order to best facilitate a sense of emotional safety and intimate sharing.  All  campers will remain on-site or under supervision throughout their entire stay. Visitors are not allowed during a camp session. Late arrivals and/or early departures are NOT PERMITTED except in cases of emergency. THIS IS PART OF YOUR COVENANT! Families, PLEASE plan accordingly! PARENTS: Please communicate with the Camp Coordinator directly in the event an emergency arises.

cars and leaving camp

Campers and counselors are to stay in camp at all times.  Campers who drive to Senior High Camp must turn in their keys upon arrival.  Keys will be returned at the end of the camp session.

dress code

Girls:  no halter-tops, crop tops, spaghetti straps, or tube tops; no short shorts.
Boys:   no boxers showing under pants, no tank tops; shirts must be worn at all times.
Everyone:  no drug, alcohol, or cigarette ads, no crude comments on shirts; or any clothing deemed inappropriate by the Camp Coordinator.  Close-toed shoes are to be worn at all times.

Those who choose to violate the dress code will be asked to change their clothes.

damage to camp property

Campers will be held responsible for any and all damage they cause to camp property.  Please talk with your camper about this policy. Both camps we use are beautiful settings that we lease for the week.  We are their guests and we treat the sites with great appreciation and stewardship. We respect their rules and requests of us. However, we do understand that accidents happen, and ask that campers report any damage immediately to a counselor or the Camp Coordinator.

emergency situations

Should there be an emergency situation, natural or otherwise, camp staff will implement our emergency plan and parents/guardians will be notified as soon as possible.

Parents/guardians will be notified by phone by the Camp Coordinator should an injury or other unusualincident occur with their child.

grade/age levels

The "grade" for campers  listed in this brochure refers to the grade a camper will enter in the fall of 2008.  Please register your camper for the appropriate camp.  Please feel free to consult with the Camp Coordinator  regarding any questions about the appropriate camp session

medications

Over-the-counter drugs or internally administered medication of any kind (including aspirin and Tylenol/acetaminophen) will not be dispensed to minors without express permission of the parent/guardian or attending physician.  All medications must be brought to camp in their original container, clearly marked with name, medication, and dosage, and must be turned in to the camp nurse at registration.

money

Campers may wish to bring money for the camp store for candy, sodas, stickers, postcards, silly toys, gifts, and more.  Suggested amount for 3-day camp: $5-$8, 5-day  camp: $10-$15.  Please note that all money is collected upon arrival at camp and the change is returned at the completion of camp.

prohibited items

The following items are not allowed at camp: pets, expensive jewelry, expensive cameras and other valuables, illegal drugs and chemical substances, alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.  Campers who bring televisions, squirt guns, matches, lighters, food, gum, water balloons, radios, boom boxes, cell phones, pagers, or electronic games will have their items stored by the Camp Coordinator and have their items returned to them upon departure from camp. Small personal music devices WITH earphones may be brought and used ONLY during times on bunks.

lost & found

Lost and found will be kept at the Conference Office for 30 days after camp.  It is the responsibility of the camper to claim lost items and pay for any mailing costs that may apply for the return of the items.

rates

Two rates are listed for camps.  The "early discount" rate  applies as long as payment is made in full, registration materials are complete, and they are received by the SW Conference by the Early Discount deadline.  The full rate applies to  registrations accompanied by completed registration materials and payment received after the "early-discount" deadline and by the FINAL deadline.

The fee covers the basic cost of food and lodging, program and equipment, and contributes to covering room and board for our volunteer camp staff.  The fee also includes an all-camp 8”x10” photo and a camp T-shirt for each camper; please note the desired T-shirt size on the  Registration Form.

volunteer staff

All volunteer program staff and counselors who give leadership at UCC camps receive screening and training to provide the best possible camping program for this Conference.  All adults are required to submit to a background check.  Safety is carefully attended to in all activities.  Recruiting of camp staff follows the Southwest Conference Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. A registered nurse is on site for each camp.  

transportation

Round-trip bus transportation is available from Phoenix to the camps.  The cost is $50 round trip or $25 one-way.  Campers need to eat before boarding the bus, as no food is allowed on the bus.  The bus will leave First Congregational Church, 1407 E. 2nd St., Phoenix, at 1:30 p.m. on the day each camp starts and returns to the same location the day each camp ends about 12:30 p.m.  Exact instructions, as well as a map, will be provided in a confirmation letter sent to each camper after the registration deadline.  Arrangements can be made for Phoenix airport pick-up and drop off if necessary.  Campers may also arrive at camp by car (both camps are easily accessible). 

mail & contact information

Parents and friends are encouraged to write to campers, but please do not send food to camp.

**Larger packages are best sent by FEDERAL EXPRESS which will deliver directly to camp. Those sent by regular parcel post often need to be picked up in downtown Prescott at the Post Office, which is not always possible for the camp staff.  

We rarely allow phone calls to and from campers, except in emergency situations. Parents may call the Camp Coordinator’s cell phone and leave a message: (480) 695-8029. Messages for campers may also be relayed through the Conference Office at (602) 468-3830.

program staff

Each camp season, a group of enthusiastic, hard-working upper high school  youth are selected to be volunteer Program Staff for the camps.  They must be entering grade 11 in the Fall of 2008 or older. These youth are responsible for leading most of the recreational program activities. They are selected based on their leadership abilities, team-work skills, active participation in their local church, positive attitude, and commitment to work to the best of their ability to offer the spirited enthusiasm that sets the positive tone for our camp experiences.   There will be NINE program staff selected for Super Camp, and SIX of those will also be program staff for Senior High Camp.  Program staffers are required to attend pre-camp training sessions. Applications and more information are available from the Camp Director at the Southwest Conference Office and online at the Conference website.

youth council

The Youth Council of the Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ, is a group of ten youth representing the associations of Northern Arizona, Central Arizona, Southern Arizona, Northern New Mexico, and Southern New Mexico/El Paso, Texas. Through local churches in each association, the Youth Council members represent a listening board for concerns and ideas of youth throughout the Conference.  They provide leadership at all Conference retreats and events, as well as camp. Youth Council members are expected to explore their relationship with God in very intentional ways and to share their faith stories with others, as well as generate enthusiasm and love for all of the youth they represent. If you will be entering grades 11-12 in the fall of 2007, are active in your local UCC church, attend Conference events, and would like to serve on the Youth Council, then be sure to pick up an application form from your minister/youth advisor.  Forms will be sent out before camp to local churches.  You need to complete the form and return it to the Conference Office at least two weeks prior to Senior High Camp if you will not be attending camp, or bring it to camp with you.  Council members for 2008-2009 will be approved at the Youth Ministry Committee meeting in early September 2008.