Children's Camp

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Children will attend classes based on age while at camp.  Toddlers (up to age 4) will have their own activities to do with their parents in attendance; parents should feel free to take their young ones for free play and naps as needed. Campfires are held each night. Sunday after breakfast is an important time - the children give presentations of what they have learned and there is a slide show of this year's camp activities. After the presentation everyone will help clean-up camp.

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Parents or a designated adult are responsible for their children throughout the weekend, at all times, except when they are in class. Children must sleep in the same screenhouse or tent with their parents or designated adult. 

 

Check-in is from 10 am-12 pm on Friday, August 22. Lunch will be served at noon.  There will be an orientation at 1 PM and classes will begin at 2 PM. It is important to plan your arrival time to allow for checking in, unpacking, socializing, and getting settled before orientation begins at 1.

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2025 Children's Camp Schedule -- Coming Soon!

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Junior Youth Camp

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The junior youth participate in a separate program at Catoctin, where they live, eat, and sleep together, without their parents.  On Saturday, the junior youth do a field trip and a service project together.  Campfires are held with the Children's Camp, Friday and Saturday evenings.  Junior youth are grouped in like-minded same-gender friend groups, optionally with those they choose on the registration form, each group led by a youth counselor. These groups operate like "families" which stay together throughout the entire weekend, although usually together with the other JY groups as part of wider activities. The program is closely overseen by an adult male leader and an adult female leader.  Junior youth sleep in separate boys’ and girls’ screenhouses, with their youth counselors and a same-sex adult chaperone.  Activities include hikes, studying Bahá’í Writings on the environment, sports including swimming and canoeing, arts & crafts, learning about nature, service projects for the local environment, and learning how to help the environment at home.

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2025 Junior Youth Camp Schedule -- Coming Soon!

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What to Pack

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Please mark everything with your family's name - bedding, towels, bathing suits, clothes, shoes, flashlights, bathroom bags, etc.  (Labeling prevents stressful losses for your child, as well as making after-camp clean-up a lot easier for the organizers.)

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Mid-August mountain nights are often unpredictably cold, often as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit so please pack accordingly

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There is no power source in the screenhouses. There are a few very rustic cabins available with power in addition to the main lodge, kitchen, and dining hall.

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A foldable wagon can be useful to transport items from the parking area to the screenhouses or your tent. We are not able to drive cars beyond the parking area. 

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__re-fillable water bottle, for hikes and during the night

__  bedroll - warm sleeping bag or sheets & blankets, pillow, soft sleeping mat or air mattress (bunk beds in the screenhouses have plywood surface only)

__  2 flashlights, with extra batteries (label with your name, flashlights get left on and misplaced easily)

__  well-fitting lifejacket if under age 9 or a non-swimmer of any age (adult-size lifejackets are available at camp)

__  2 or 3 towels per person

__  toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, washcloth, etc.

__  1 or 2 bathing suits

__  at least 2 pairs of shoes (they will get wet!), one pair of flip flops or water shoes for shower

__  T-shirts, shorts, jeans, sweatpants, socks, underwear, pajamas

__  a sweatshirt or two, a wool or other non-cotton sweater or fleece jacket (cotton is cold when wet)

__  hat, sunscreen, bug repellent

__  if needed, medications with dosing instructions (leave with camp doctor in kitchen)

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In addition, junior youth need to bring:

__  a backpack for day hikes

__ one pair of shoes that is especially comfortable and sturdy for hiking

__ wool or hiking socks (again, cotton is cold when wet)

 

Do not bring any electronic games or equipment, skateboards, etc..  Note:  cell phone use will be extremely limited. If a cell phone becomes a distraction or is misused, it will be taken away for the weekend. There is a camp phone on site for use.  Please remember modesty when packing.  Rule of thumb:  You may not wear or do things that detract from the focus or purpose of the camp.

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Download Packing List 

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