YOU SURE CAN! We welcome persons of every race, color, gender, religion, nationality and physical ability. Campers of many faith traditions, as well as campers who have never been to church before, attend and enjoy Camp Hanover’s summer camp program. As a Christian camp, we seek to build a Christ-centered community of trust, openness, sharing and forgiveness, where campers can play, laugh, work, worship and grow together, spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially.

ABSOLUTELY! An atmosphere of acceptance of and caring for others is a key aspect of the community we build at camp. It’s a community where campers learn to appreciate and value one another. We strive to create an environment where campers and staff feel comfortable, loved, and can have fun talking about, exploring and practicing their faith. Specifically, the Camp Hanover experience is designed so campers:

• Explore, grow in and act on their Christian faith
• Build Christ-centered communities
• Live in, live with, learn about and care for God’s Creation
• Develop skills in outdoor living
• Understand and practice servant leadership
• Safely experience fun, fellowship, adventure and challenge

We do ask that all campers participate in Bible study and worship. Jesus Christ, as the Word becomes flesh, is central to our program.

Realizing that families have different abilities to pay, Camp Hanover offers a flexible, voluntary, choose-your-own-rate pricing structure to make camp affordable for you. You know your family’s financial situation better than we do. You simply choose the option most suitable or comfortable for your family. All campers receive the same Camp Hanover experience, no matter which amount you choose to pay. As you consider your family’s financial situation, please also consider the true cost of camp.

Choice 1 – the lowest amount – is our donor-supported subsidized rate. You may be surprised to learn that this rate does not reflect what it “really costs” to offer camp programs. This reduced rate is made possible through the mission funding dollars we receive from our Presbytery, our local Presbyterian churches, and annual contributions from individuals who value the impact that the summer camp experience at Camp Hanover has on children, youth, individuals and families.

Choice 2 – the middle amount – is a partially subsidized rate. If you can afford to, it’s an opportunity for you to choose to pay just a little more. In doing so, your child gets a great camp experience, and you help support the ongoing outdoor ministry of Camp Hanover.

Choice 3 – the highest amount – is the standard price for camp. It more closely reflects what it actually costs Camp Hanover to provide a camp experience for one camper, including things like utilities, insurance, wear and tear of buildings, vehicle upkeep, maintaining the grounds, and replacing outdated equipment. Choice 3 gives you an opportunity to help us do more with the mission funding we receive. You help us stretch limited campership funds further so more children can experience the power of camp. You help Camp Hanover make needed upgrades and continue to grow in the future.

Our Goals with Flexible Pricing

• To provide high quality, safe, and inclusive activities for all God’s children with opportunities for fun, fellowship and adventure.
• To challenge each camper to explore, grow in, and act on his her Christian faith as a servant-leader.
• To build a Christ-centered community that cares for God’s creation
• To provide an opportunity for partnership with those who value the impact of Camp Hanover’s summer ministry.
• To preserve Camp Hanover for generations to come.

It’s your choice. Pick the price that works for you.

Again, this program is voluntary and in no way influences the experience children receive, yet it offers an opportunity for you to take an active role in supporting the true cost of your child’s camp experience.

Every Child Should Experience Camp

We believe that every child should experience the powerful impact that summer camp at Camp Hanover provides, regardless of income. For this reason we also provide “Camperships” (our word for financial aid), so that no child should be denied that experience because of financial hardship. If camp fees present a challenge for your family, please contact us at (804) 779-2811 or email info@CampHanover.org.

TRICK QUESTION! There isn’t one. You should plan to sign up early. We accept registrations on a first-come, first-serve basis, up until the day a camp starts or all available spaces are filled. We maintain a waiting list for camps that reach capacity. Occasionally, additional camps are added to or removed from our schedule as registration levels dictate.

YES! Call (804) 779-2811 or email info@CampHanover.org to arrange a tour. We’ll be happy to show you around!

To get a taste of what summer camp is like, plan to attend our Camp Hanover Fun Day. Enjoy a hayride, hike a trail and sample some campfire cooking! Fun Day is a free event open to all, so bring a friend!

Your camper also may enjoy trying one of our mini camps or family camps. These events usually last two nights and are a good introduction to the overnight Camp Hanover experience.

YES. As an accredited camp, Camp Hanover meets or exceeds the summer camp industry’s accepted standards and best practices for safety and program quality. Nationally, only 1 camp in 5 can say that. And get this… we have maintained our accreditation consistently for over 50 years. To learn more about why accreditation is an important consideration when choosing a summer camp and how accreditation standards exceed state licensing regulations visit the American Camp Association website.

YES! To be in the same group as your friend, provide his or her name when you enroll. While we cannot guarantee that every request will be filled, we will make every effort to do so. You may only request to be placed with one friend, and that friend must also request you when he or she enrolls. Both campers must be in the same age group and be enrolled in the same camp. Unless you request otherwise, we typically place siblings in separate groups.

Everyone finds out who their counselors are when they arrive at camp and check in. The Christian men and women who comprise our staff are often former campers, while others are recruited from local churches and area colleges. We also employ a handful of talented young people from countries all over the world.

Groups typically consist of five or six boys, five or six girls, a male counselor and a female counselor. In a typical summer, we plan for 10 to 12 groups (around 120 campers) each week, and employ 30 to 40 paid and volunteer staff. Campers are placed with peers who are in the same range of school grades. Occasionally, a group may be comprised of single gender campers (when necessary based on the number and gender of campers who enroll). Campers in a group stay together throughout their time at camp to build community. At certain times during the week (such as mealtimes, worship and evening events), campers from some or all of the groups at camp interact with each other.

Depending on grade level and specific camp program, campers live in cabins, longhouses, or platform tents. During the week, campers may have the opportunity to sleep out in a tent, a treehouse or “under the stars.” Accommodations are rustic. Our cabins and longhouses are simple wooden structures with screened windows, 7 or 8 beds, electricity, ceiling fans, and air-conditioning. Pathfinder Village does not have electricity or air-conditioning. Platform tents are more primitive and do not have electricity. Bathrooms and showers for each campsite are located nearby. Wise Lodge (our main dining facility) and our Health Care Center are air conditioned to give campers some respite from the summer heat.

IT’S YOUR LUCKY DAY! We just happen to have a handy-dandy checklist of what to bring and what to leave at home for you to use when you are packing for your time at camp. You can even print it out. In general, special items are not needed for a week of summer camp. Campers wear comfortable clothing suitable for summertime outdoor play activities. Rain gear is essential. A separate set of clothes to wear to the Mud Slide is highly recommended (they’ll never come clean!). Please leave cell phones, candy, snacks, electronic devices, spending money and other expensive or sentimental items at home.

Nope. Not unless you want to go home early. Campers are not permitted to bring pets, alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, fireworks, illegal drugs, firearms, or other weapons with them to camp. Personal sports equipment, such as a soccer ball, fishing pole, a small pocketknife or frisbee, is permitted. Equipment for specialized activities such rock climbing, canoeing or horseback riding, will be provided by Camp Hanover or the activity provider. Campers may choose to bring their own archery equipment. Archery equipment must be turned over to the Archery Instructor upon arrival at camp. Campers may choose to bring their own backpacks for offsite hiking trips. Campers bringing bicycles to camp must bring a helmet and wear it while riding. Campers who are of driving age and transport themselves to camp in a personal vehicle must lock their vehicle and surrender vehicle keys to the camp director upon arrival.

All counselors have to be at least 18 years old. Potential employees complete a written application and undergo an interview with the Program Director. Criminal background checks and character reference checks are performed prior to arrival at camp. All staff participate in an orientation program prior to campers arriving at camp. Approximately 80 hours are spent during Staff Orientation preparing staff for any number of situations they might encounter at camp.

YES. We have medical personnel on duty 24 hours a day in our Health Center. During Check-in you will have the opportunity to discuss any health concerns with the camp nurse. Additionally, our summer camp staff are trained in First Aid and CPR. In preparation for summer camp, we invite local Emergency Medical Services personnel to the site so they may become familiar with our layout and review our emergency plan.

Most one-week and two-week camps begin on Sundays with check-in from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. These camps end on Saturdays with pick-up at 9:00am. The starting and ending days for shorter-term camps, camps offered during the week of July 4th, Pathfinder camps and other specialty camps can vary. We will notify you of check-in and pick-up times specific to your camp when we confirm your enrollment. Generally speaking, for…

• Shorter-term camps that start or end in the middle of a week, check-in and pick-up is at 9:00am.
• Pathfinders, check-in is Sunday at 2:00pm and pickup is two-weeks later on Saturday at noon.

We believe signing up for summer camp should be easy and worry-free. During our pre-registration and early-registration periods, you can save your spot without having to pay anything when you sign up. That’s right, no deposit, no strings, no hoops, no hassles. Get signed up, and you’ll make your first payment in April. You’ll have the option to pay your camp fees in full all at once, over time in equal monthly installments, or on a schedule of your choosing.

When you register after April 1st, a minimum initial payment of $100 is needed to secure your camper’s spot at summer camp. Remaining camp fee balances are due 10 days prior to the start date of your camp session. To provide you some flexibility for paying your camp fee, the online registration system allows several different payment schedule options. For most camp programs, you can choose to:

• Pay the entire fee when you submit your registration.
• Pay $100 initially and pay the balance of fees at a time of your choosing.
• Pay $100 initially and pay the balance of fees in equal amounts over time. The system automatically calculates and collects your payments each month. Your balance will be paid in full by the start of your camp session.

To make a payment at anytime, login to your account by visiting www.camphanover.org/me

Any remaining balance of your camp fee will be automatically collected 10 days prior to the start date of your camp session.

YES! Camp Hanover offers a no-hassle, 100% full refund of summer camp fees. Scheduling your summer activities can be stressful enough without having to worry about how unforeseen circumstances could impact your finances and your carefully planned calendar. If summer camp is not able to happen as planned, if you need to switch to another camp session or cancel your registration before a session begins, or if you decide you need to keep your child at home this summer, we’ve got your back.

If you need to switch to another camp session or cancel your registration, call our office at (804) 779-2811 and we’ll help you find another session that your camper might be able to attend. If we can’t find another session that works for you, you’ll get a full refund.

If you need to cancel your registration, it’s important that you contact us before the start date of your camp session. When your child fails to show up for a camp session he or she is scheduled for without letting us know ahead of time, the other campers in your child’s group and the activities that may have been planned for them can be affected as well. Please help us out by contacting us ahead of time if your child isn’t going to show up for camp. And thanks for being considerate of the other campers!

Refunds for campers who fail to show up on the start date of a camp session without letting us know ahead of time are considered only on a case-by-case basis.

Similarly, refunds for early departure from a camp session due to illness, a camper violation of a policy (for example, possession of tobacco while at camp) or for reasons of personal choice (for example, homesickness) are considered on a case-by-case basis.

YES. We believe every child should have the opportunity to experience summer camp, regardless of income level or family situation. Many churches and local community organizations offer “Camperships” — financial aid — to assist campers with the camp fee. If you require assistance beyond what your local church can provide, please let us know. Camp Hanover has limited campership funds available to help make camp financially possible for every child who wishes to attend.

YES! Volunteers play an integral role at camp. There are many opportunities for you to use your skills and talents all year to support Camp Hanover’s mission. During Summer Camp especially, volunteers can serve in various ways:

• On Sundays, assisting with camper arrivals and check-in
• In the kitchen, preparing meals or washing dishes
• In the office, assisting with mailings and other tasks
• Staffing the Health Care Center or
• Groundskeeping, carpentry and other maintenance tasks
• As a counselor or activity leader, working alongside other summer staff

In many cases, as a way of saying “Thanks!” we are able to offer volunteers a Campership that they may give to the child of their choice. If you are interested in volunteering call us at (804) 779-2811 or send us an email.