Our heart is to love people well and point them to the hope found in Jesus. At Camp Ridgecrest, we provide overnight camp experiences specifically designed for boys. For this or any number of reasons, Camp Ridgecrest may not be the best option for every child and every family. We hope these Attendance Guidelines - informed by camp’s historic legacy, our commitment to supporting our staff’s strengths and capabilities, and our best understanding of God's Word - provide helpful clarity for families.
- Camp Ridgecrest is for boys completing 1st - 11th grades.
- Campers and parents must sign and agree to the Code of Conduct. Campers who are not able to abide by these guidelines will not be able to stay at camp.
- Camp Ridgecrest and our team are not designed or equipped to address significant behavior or emotional challenges. Examples may include situations where one camper requires the 1 on 1 attention of a counselor for a significant portion of the day; or where a camper's behavior consistently and negatively impacts the experience of others. These situations will likely result in the camper being sent home.
- Only campers whose biological sex was identified as male at birth may attend Camp Ridgecrest.
- Campers and parents acknowledge that Camp Ridgecrest is specifically designed and programmed for boys. Camp's leadership will not be able to accommodate requests that deviate from this design.
If, after reviewing these Guidelines, you aren’t sure Camp Ridgecrest is the best fit for your child and family, we welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with you by phone. And, if we’re not the best fit, we will be happy to assist you with a recommendation for a different camp. There are many great Christian camps operating today, with a variety of sizes, geographic locations, programs, age groups, and attendance guidelines.
Q&As
We are sometimes asked how certain important and sensitive topics may impact our Attendance Guidelines. We hope the Q & As below provide helpful clarity. Members of our camp leadership team are available for additional questions, concerns, and discussion.
- Why do you ask for biological sex at birth on camp registration forms? Each of our summer camps is specifically designed for a single gender, and we utilize biological sex identified at birth as the distinction.
- Will you use non-traditional pronouns with my child at camp? No. Each camp is designed for a single gender consistent with the biological sex identified at birth, and we want to provide a consistent and reliable experience for those coming to camp.
- Will you call my child by a different name? We are fine with using nicknames if they are appropriate and don’t create disruption/confusion for others.
- My child is navigating questions about their gender identity. Are they welcome at your camp? We invite you to give us a call so we can better understand your child’s needs, your expectations, and share what we can and cannot do. While our heart is to love all campers well, we are not equipped to be the right camp for every child. We are not able to place a camper who presents as the opposite sex in a cabin during our summer camps. Our camps are not designed - and our staff are not equipped – to adequately meet the complexities of a shared living arrangement under these circumstances.
- What will you do if another child of the same gender expresses romantic interest towards my child? Camp is not a time for romantic camper relationships. This is clearly established in our Code of Conduct that all parents – and campers aged 13 and older - sign. If a director determines that romantic advances have been made while at camp, that camper would likely be given a final warning regarding this behavior and sent home if the behavior continues.
