
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why should my child attend Riverside?
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We believe Jesus changes lives for the better. Camp is an amazing opportunity for your child to grow in faith, build life-long relationships, and have a whole lot of fun along the way.
Q: What does Riverside do to promote camper safety?
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We have all staff participate in Ministry Safe awareness training.
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We have two cabin leaders in every cabin.
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We run background checks on all staff and volunteers.
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We call and speak with all three of our applicant's references (instead of using paper forms) for new staff members.
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We have a series of declarative statements in the application and interview process about child safety and proper interacting with youth.
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When sensitive conversations arise from campers, we encourage our staff to have these conversations in groups that include at least two staff members. If there needs to be a 1-on-1 interaction, then we ask for this to happen in an open and public area, for the safety of both our campers and our staff.
It is our desire for camp to be a safe place for kids to thrive and learn about Jesus. It is our hope that through thorough interviews and training that we, with our summer staff, can manage risk and create a safe environment for youth to experience Jesus.
Q: Who goes to camp?
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We have camp for anyone entering grades 3-12 and your summer after high school. We also offer a family camp for people of all ages.
Q: What if something comes up and my child can't come to camp?
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The deposit of $125 is non-refundable.
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If your camper needs to cancel due to either a confirmed or suspected contagious illness, we will first attempt to identify if your camper is able to attend an alternative week of camp. When that is not possible, we will transfer, at minimum, the deposit paid to a Payment Voucher that can be utilized for any future program or event at Riverside. Any registration fees paid or camp store money deposited beyond the deposit will be refunded to the original form of payment (unless otherwise instructed by the family).
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Cancellations for reasons not relating to COVID will result in a loss of deposit but any other registration fees or store money deposits can be refunded. The deposit is NOT transferable in this situation.
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Cancellations for reasons not relating to COVID within 48 hours of check-in will result in a loss of all registration fees.
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Special circumstances: If you feel your situation is unique and you need to visit with camp staff about it, please call camp and ask for the Director or Associate Director.
Q: What will we do at camp?
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Play games, daily Bible study, campfires, swimming, canoeing, worship during chapel, arts and crafts, meet our amazing and caring staff, make new friends, ride horses, and so much more!
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Check out our sample schedules for Junior High and Junior Week.
Q: What are the cabins like?
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All our cabins are air conditioned, have indoor plumbing, and bunk beds. They house approximately 10 campers, and there are always 2 cabin leaders each week.
Q: What is the food like?
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We get a lot of compliments about our food! Our menu, planned by our kitchen staff, has a lot of variety and is well balanced. We are able to accommodate different dietary needs (gluten-free, vegetarian) and our head chef, Paige, is happy to visit about individual situations that campers/families may have questions about.
Q: Can my camper come with a friend?
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Of course they can! Camp is a great environment to build healthy friendships! If a camper comes with a friend we will always try and put them together in a cabin. Please indicate this desire when completing online registration. There will be a place that you can enter cabin mate requests.
Q: Will I talk with my camper while at camp?
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You can always write letters to your campers. In fact, we find that they love it when they get a letter from their parents and friends! Click here to learn how to stay in contact.
Q: When does camp end?
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Please see our information on closing program.
Q: What should my camper bring?
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Please see our information on what to bring.
Q: What if I'm not Lutheran?
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All are welcome to come!
Q: What if we can't afford it?
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We will never turn a camper away for financial reasons. Please go to our discounts page to see information on payment plans and/or financial assistance.
Q: What if my camper takes regular medication?
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We have a nurse on-site whenever we have campers. They are in charge of taking care of the health and well-being of our campers and staff. When completing online registration, there will be a section that you complete where you enter the medication/s along with administration instructions. You can also make changes to that at any time by logging back into your account. If your camper has medication, please bring it to check-in in its original bottle and the nurse will take care of everything.
Q: My camper has a food allergy, what will they eat?
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If your camper has a food allergy, we will help in creating meals for your child to enjoy while they are at Riverside. Please indicate on your registration what allergies your camper has. If you have specific questions about food at Riverside, please feel free to contact our chef, Paige.
Q: My camper had a wonderful camp experience. How can we help other children have the same opportunity?
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There are tons of ways to get involved. From attending one of our supporting events, to helping care for the grounds, to helping sponsor a camper, there is a way for everyone to help spread the Gospel through Riverside. Go to our support page to see how you can get involved.
Q: Where do I find the Welcome to Camp packet?