Parent Information Page


Below is comprehensive information especially helpful to first-time campers and their parents, and any other interested persons. Click on a topic to read more about it. For information not listed here contact Johanna, Program Director at the camp office.  Click here for a list of summer camp 2010 dates.

Bullet Welcome!

Dear Parents of Summer Campers:

    Greetings from Crooked Creek Christian Camp! I am delighted that you are considering sending your child to camp this summer. We take seriously our responsibility for caring for the children who attend camp and do all we can to provide a welcoming atmosphere, a safe place and a fun week of summer camp! As you will note below, our staff is trained in a variety of ways to make sure your child will be well cared for.  We would be honored to have your child here this summer and hope that we can serve you and your child. If you have further questions, please contact the camp office.  I look forward to seeing you this summer!          Mary Lou Farmer, Administrator

 

Dear Parents of Summer Campers:

    Hello and welcome! Just like Mary Lou, I am thrilled at the prospect of having your child here at camp this summer. The summer staff and I have been working very hard to be prepared and ready for the moment you and your child arrive at camp. We can't wait!

    "Camp is for the Camper." My staff often accuses me of being a broken record because they hear that phrase so often. However, those five little words serve as my guide as I plan and prepare each camp. I work with the pastor of each camp to make sure that chapel and campfire is presented at your camper's level. We plan games and activities so that they are safe, fun and exciting for each age group. Craft projects are chosen with your camper's skills in mind. Music is selected based on years of experience and is never the same from week to week or year to year.

    Most importantly, our well-trained staff is here for your child. One counselor will never have more than seven campers so that he or she can give your child the attention and care they deserve.

    We invite your camper to join our community. We invite your camper to enter a world that is designed on his or her level. We invite your camper to join us as we experience God's love together. See you soon!            Johanna Bontrager, Program Director

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Bullet Arrival and Departure

  • Arrival

  • Campers are to arrive at the Pavilion area at the time designated for their camp listed below. Upon arrival, campers will need to visit 3 different stations before heading off to their cabins. The three stations can be completed in any order:

  1. Camp Store and Registration (where you can purchase small camp memorabilia, group photo, and pay  final registration fees due, if any)

  2. Cabin assignment (where you will find out where your child will be staying)

  3. Nurse (where you will turn in any medications you bring to camp and your child's medical form, unless mailed prior to your arrival)

  • 1st & 2nd Grade Camp

  • Registration from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 14

  • 3rd & 4th Grade Camp

  • Registration from 2:00-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 16

  • 4th & 5th Grade Camp

  • Registration from 5:00-5:30 p.m., Sunday, June 20

  • 5th & 6th Grade Camp

  • Registration from 5:00-5:30 p.m., Sunday, June 27

  • 6th -8th Grade Camp

  • Registration from 5:00-5:30 p.m., Sunday, July 4

  • 7th -9th Grade Camp

  • Registration from 5:00-5:30 p.m., Sunday, July 11

  • Wilderness Week

  • Registration from 2:00-2:30 p.m., Monday, July 19

  • Departure

  • Campers may be picked up at the Pavilion area at their designated times listed below. Campers are not permitted to leave the camp for ball games or other activities and return to camp. Parents should always check in with staff before leaving with your child.  If special arrangements are necessary for departure, please contact the Camp office before arriving at camp.

  • Before departing, you will check in at three stations:

  1. Your child's counselor (so we know that you came to pick up your child)

  2. Lost and Found area

  3. Nurse (to retrieve any unused medications and receive any reports regarding your child's health)

  • 1st & 2nd Grade Camp

  • All are invited to the Family Picnic from 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15; those able to attend the picnic may depart by 6 p.m. following the picnic. Those unable to attend may pick up their child between 5 - 6 p.m.; be sure to check in with the three stations listed above.

  • 3rd & 4th Grade Camp

  • Departure is at 4 p.m., Friday, June 18

  • 4th & 5th Grade Camp

  • Departure is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 25

  • 5th & 6th Grade Camp

  • Departure is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 2

  • 6th - 8th Grade Camp

  • Departure is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 9

  • 7th - 9th Grade Camp

  • Departure is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 16

  • Wilderness Week

  • Departure is at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 23

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Bullet Facilities

  • Cabins--Campers stay in a cabin with up to 7 other campers. Each cabin is supervised by one fully trained Counselor. Whenever possible, an Assistant Counselor will aid in the supervision. Each cabin is equipped with four bunk beds, carpet and air conditioning. All cabins located on the east side of the camp lane are designated as girls cabins and all those located on the west side of camp lane are designated as boys cabins.

  • Maintenance--Our facilities are maintained to the highest level of quality possible. They are inspected before campers arrive at the beginning of the summer and repaired as needed by our full-time Maintenance Director.

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Bullet Staff and Training

  1. Counselors. In order to become a Counselor, applicants must be over the age of 18 and demonstrate a mature Christian lifestyle with a heart for following God's call and an excitement for children's ministry. Those wishing to be Assistant Counselors must be at least 16 years old and demonstrate a mature Christian lifestyle and a willingness to learn. Counselors and Assistant Counselors complete a thorough application process before being accepted as Summer Staff. The application process includes a background check, personal and pastoral references and an interview with the Program Director.

Training. Counselors, Assistant Counselors, Lifeguards and Program Assistants must attend a week of orientation. During Orientation, a wide variety of topics are covered in order to prepare staff for all aspects of summer camp. Listed below are some of the topics covered in Orientation:

--Red Cross Certified First Aid and CPR training

--Suspected Child Abuse and Appropriate Behavior with Children

--Appropriate Discipline

--Spiritual Development in Children

--Emergency Procedures

--Risk Management

 

2. Lifeguard. A Red Cross Certified Lifeguard is present at all times when the pool is open, and assisted by swim supervisors as needed. Before campers are allowed to use the pool, they must complete a swim test under the direct supervision of several certified Lifeguards. Campers must be able to swim the width of the pool in the shallow end without stopping or touching bottom. Campers who choose not to take or  are unable to pass the swim test are not allowed to use the diving board or swim in the deep end of the pool; but are allowed to play in the shallow end where they can touch bottom.

 

3. Nurse. A certified Nurse is present during each week of camp. His or her responsibilities include: administration of daily medications, proper care of non-emergency health situations and response to- and initial evaluation of- emergency health situations. Including all health information regarding your child on the health form will enable the nurse to provide the best possible care for your child. A health form will be mailed to you with your confirmation.

 

4. Pastor. Each week a pastor leads the morning chapel and evening campfire sessions. He or she is responsible for creating  age-appropriate spiritual input in correlation with the summer's theme. The pastor is also available to talk with campers if they desire and assists with supervision in a large group setting.

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Bullet In Case of Emergency

  1. At Home: We understand that events sometimes take place that no one can foresee. If an emergency arises at home that affects your camper, please call the camp at 319-653-3611. If no one is available to take your call, an emergency number is given. We will do our best to work with you and contact your camper as needed.

  2. At camp: In spite of proper planning and precautions, emergencies can still happen. All staff members are trained in the proper emergency procedures for our facility during Orientation. In addition to the certified nurse, all counselors  are trained in First Aid and CPR. The Program Director is equipped with a cell phone at all times. In case of an INJURY or other health issue, our first call is to the parent followed by the emergency contact person listed on the health form. If those persons are not available, Dr. Matt Prihoda, MD at Mercy Services (formerly Family Practice) of Washington is our camp doctor and will attend to our camper's needs. If a visit to the emergency room is required, campers and staff will be taken to the Washington County Hospital and Clinic's Emergency Room which is located 3.5 miles from camp and can be safely driven in less than 10 minutes. In case of a FIRE, all campers and staff will report to a pre-designated location and remain there until the proper authorities declare it safe. Staff will be with the campers at all times to help keep them safe and calm during such emergencies. Due to the dynamic WEATHER potential during summer months in Iowa, camp is prepared to deal with a variety of sudden weather changes. The Washington County Sheriff's office contacts the Camp Administrator if any type of weather watch or warning is issued for Washington County. The Administrator then contacts the Program Director and plans are altered accordingly. For non-threatening weather, outdoor activities can be redirected to the Activity Center. If the weather becomes threatening, all campers and staff will report to the basement of the Pavilion and will remain there until the weather situation ends.

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Bullet Contacting your Camper

We encourage you to send your child mail while he/she is at camp! If you choose to send a card or letter through the U.S. Postal Mail, please address it as follows:    Crooked Creek Christian Camp

                                                            CAMPER NAME, CABIN # (if known)

                                                            2830 Coppock Rd.

                                                            Washington, IA 52353-9317

If you would rather email your camper, send an email to ccccamp@ iowatelecom.net with your child's name on the subject line. Please note that emails are printed in the office and  delivered once each day with other camper mail at lunch time. Please limit emails to one per child per day. The message of the email is not private, just as a postcard.

Cell phones are not allowed at camp for either campers or staff (other than the Program Director). The time your child spends at camp is a great opportunity for them to discover that they can survive a night or a week without mom or dad! And, that mom and dad can survive without them! To that end we gently discourage campers from phoning home and also gently discourage parents from phoning campers. Nearly 30 years' experience with homesick campers has taught us that constant phone calls home often only serve to perpetuate the problem. In cases of extreme distress, parents will be notified and an action plan will be discussed and carried out. At any time you may call the camp office for an update on your child. The Program Director will be given your phone message and will return the call at her convenience.

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Bullet Meals and Snacks

    We provide three nutritious meals and 2-3 snacks each day. We work hard to offer food that is tasty, plentiful and nutritious. Menus are planned with children in mind and our Food Service Manager follows the guidelines as set forth by the School Lunch Program. If your child has food allergies or specific dietary concerns, please let us know ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate his/her needs.

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Bullet Activities

  1. Time spent at camp is full of a great variety of activities which include swimming, crafts, games, hiking, nature and many others. Camp can often be muddy, so we recommend that campers pack clothes with this in mind. All activities at camp are age-appropriate and supervised by trained staff. While we try to make everything as fun as possible, safety is our primary concern. For example, when activities take us into the woods, proper provisions such as closed-toe shoes, long pants and insect repellent are required. We encourage all campers to participate in every activity to the best of their ability.

  2. All campers attending a week-long camp are given the opportunity to use the climbing wall in our Activity Center. In order for campers to be able to participate, they must  submit a parent- or guardian-signed permission slip at registration. The climbing wall is regularly inspected for safety and is supervised by trained staff. Participation is encouraged but not required. Climbers must wear clean, dry tennis shoes when climbing; crocs and flip flops are not allowed.

  3. The 7th-9th Grade Camp and Wilderness Week will have the opportunity to participate in off-site trips. One example of such an excursion is a canoe trip down the Skunk River in Washington County. In order for the camper to be able to participate in these trips, the off-site permission slip must be signed by parent or guardian and submitted to camp staff prior to or at camp registration.

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Bullet Camp Store

Our camp store is open during the time of registration and departure. Items available for purchase include flashlights, water bottles, camp apparel, bandanas, plush animals and more. Prices for camp store items range from $0.25 to $20. **Water bottles are required for all campers. If your child does not pack a water bottle, one will need to be purchased at camp store.

Week-long camps will take a group photo. If you would like to purchase an 8 x 10 photo, you may do so at registration and pick it up at departure; estimated cost will be $5.

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Bullet Lost and Found

Campers are encouraged to bring items that have their name written on them. All items found during your child's camp are collected in a designated area, and campers are encouraged to check lost and found during the week. We also ask parents to check our lost and found before leaving with your child at departure. All unclaimed items will be kept in the office until September 1, at which time they will be donated to charitable organizations.

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Bullet Cabin Assignments

  1. Great care is taken with cabin assignments, which are made prior to the camper's arrival. A variety of factors are considered when placing campers in cabins including the number of years a child has attended camp, the school and church they attend (if any). One of the goals of each Counselor is to help create and foster positive cabin dynamics.

  2. Sometimes a camper will want to request a cabinmate. These requests are honored AS LONG AS the campers request each other. It is the responsibility of the person submitting the camp registration, not the registration staff, to make sure that the camper's request is reciprocated.

  3. Camp offers a 'bring a friend' discount. The camper and the new friend(s) listed will automatically be placed in the same cabin, regardless of the number of friends the camper brings (up to 5 friends). In this situation, any other requests for cabinmates will be disallowed.

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Bullet Accreditation & Affiliation

Crooked Creek Christian Camp is a member of the Christian Camp and Conference Association and the Mennonite Camping Association. We are sponsored by the Southeast Iowa Mennonite Camp Association.

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