Sleepaway Summer Camp

Looking for a Christian Camp on Long Island? Camp DeWolfe offers young people (ages 7-17) an opportunity to experience God in the outdoors, through  one-week residential camp sessions (Sunday – Friday), by providing a natural setting for them to engage in community and empower them to live out an outward and visible expression of the love and grace of Christ.

Why summer camp? Camp DeWolfe is a place where young people are encouraged to be themselves, to grow in their Christ-like identity, to explore their God-given gifts and to enjoy making friends in a picturesque beach and waterfront setting.

When is summer camp? Camp DeWolfe offers an 8 week summer camp season for all youth and is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.

Who are camps licensed with? Camp DeWolfe is proud to be accredited by the American Camping Association. Developed exclusively for the camp industry, this nationally recognized association focuses on program quality and health and safety issues, and requires camp to regularly submit every facet of its operation to an independent appraisal by camp experts.

Check here for video about summer camp 2012

CAMP DEWOLFE GOALS

What will my child learn at summer camp?

Explore nature – To use the outdoor space and provide outdoor programming so that there can be exploration and enjoyment of God in nature, God in others, and God in personal reflection.

Engage community – To develop temporary community for learning and growth, within a positive, safe, honest and encouraging environment.

Empower decision making – To facilitate learning in an outdoor learning environment, to encourage decision making that leads to group development and personal growth.

Embrace challenge – To have the opportunity to experience different levels of challenge, to encourage a testing and expansion of personal comfort zones, so that a transfer of skills can be made to everyday living.

Enjoy participation – To provide fun, interactive, and varied programs that will maximise learning and growth through experiential education.

Experience reflection – To provide the time and space to be still, reflect on God’s word, listen to God, grow in faith and practice spiritual disciplines.

Episcopal service – To create a safe environment where youth can practice serving others, the environment and the Lord, learning to love each other as Christ loves us.

CAMP DEWOLFE FACILITIES

What can my child do at summer camp?

-26 acres of woodland property on the north shore of the Long Island Sound
-¼ mile beach-front property for swimming, sailing, canoeing, beach volleyball and camp fires
-Outdoor swimming pool
-Archery range
-Challenge Course – high and low ropes
-St Luke’s Chapel
-Arts and Crafts classroom
-Wilderness skills hut and fire pit
-Basketball courts
-Playing fields
-Father John Davis Dining Hall
-Meeting Hall
-Nature trails and camp fire pits

NEW IN 2012!

How clean is summer camp?

Upgrades are being made to St Luke’s Chapel, Father John Davis Dining Hall and Kitchen, the Meeting Hall and the Swimming Pool.

ACTIVITY AREAS

What activity areas are at summer camp?

Swimming, Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Christian Formation, Archery, Arts and Crafts, Wilderness skills, Sports, Climbing, Beach Volleyball, Adventure Challenge Course and more!

Activity areas have a theme bible verse and goals throughout the sessions. Activity areas have the same group of campers per activity period each day, to encourage relationship building within different temporary communities. Activities are in the outdoor setting and include natural resources/elements/materials. Campers are empowered to choose and sign up for specific activity areas and try programs that are challenging to their personal character building.

DAILY SCHEDULE

What is a typical day at summer camp?

7.00 Wake-Up

7.45 Devo Circle

8.00 Breakfast

8.30 Cabin Clean-up

9.00 Celebration

10.00 Morning Activities

12.00 Lunch

12.45 Cabin Time

2.00 Afternoon Activities

5.00 Dinner

6.00 Evening Program

7.30 Chapel/Worship

8.15 Snack

8.30 Cabin Time/Devos

9.30 Lights Out

CHRISTIAN FORMATION

What will my child learn at summer camp?

Centred upon the Episcopal tradition, the daily morning celebrations and end of week Eucharist are primary worship opportunities for all campers and staff to participate in as a camp community. Clergy and trained staff create the Christian Formation program that includes daily cabin devotions and prayer time, Bible studies and engaging activities to encourage campers to experience God and develop an authentic and personal faith in Christ.

SUMMER CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS

Where will my child sleep at summer camp?

Campers reside in traditional style cabins with bunk beds, accommodating 10 youth and 2 trained college-age counselors for supervision and guidance. Each cabin group pray and share in devotions together daily in a decentralized model, participate in cabin night programming in the outdoors – beach/field/woodland, build community and youth are empowered to make decisions in delegation of cabin clean responsibilities.

SUMMER CAMP MEALS

What will my child eat at summer camp?

Three meals a day are served family-style in the Canon Davis Dining Hall, to create a caring family community atmosphere. Youth eat with their cabin group around tables, beginning with prayer and thanksgiving, and providing a time to share how they have experienced God in their day. Some meals are in the outdoors/cookout style, to explore nature and embrace challenge. Counselors join with campers at meal tables, to be facilitators of group discussions and to encourage group development.

EVENING PROGRAMS

What are the evening activities at summer camp?

Programs are centered on a summer theme that focuses on Christ and aspects of how a follower of Christ lives out their faith in practical ways. Activities, games and events are planned to maximize the use of the outdoor space and natural facilities (beach/field/woodland). Campers are encouraged to participate within the larger camp community and also utilize their cabin groups, activity area groups and gender groups to make friends. Campers are encouraged to make decisions within activities while counselors facilitate and organize fun and exciting activities that everyone can participate in.

TRAINED COUNSELORS

Are there trained staff at summer camp?

College-age Staff are trained for 2 weeks and become role models and mentors for the campers. Counselors engage with the youth and build safe and healthy relationships, sharing parts of their testimony of Christ and showing grace and a positive attitude in each activity/program/setting. Counselors participate in activities and programs with the youth in the outdoor setting. They are an example of how to live out purposeful community with other staff and with campers, by actively and positively serving, caring and engaging with others around them. Counselors make decisions about programming and also facilitate activities in a way that campers can learn and be challenging in a safe and encouraging environment. Staff are trained and mentored so that their support and care encourages individual participation and service in each aspect of the camp. All Staff are background checked, interviewed, contracted and evaluated in line with a non-negotiable community covenant that outlines expectations and responsibilities for the period of employment.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

How can I find financial support for summer camp?

Scholarship applications from the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island are available for youth from Episcopal parishes and the deadline is June 1st 2012. Scholarships are available for up to 50% of the camp session fee. At least 50% of the camp session fee must be paid in advance of applying for scholarships. Camp DeWolfe does not award 100% financial aid.

EPISCOPAL MINISTRIES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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