Top 5 Questions

Click Any Question Below for Answer
PACKING LIST/Can my camper bring a cell phone to camp?
WHAT TO BRING
• Clothes & extra shoes (include clothes to play in, get dirty in, and swimwear)
• Water bottle
• Towels/Washcloths for showers and/or swimming
• Twin sized bedding or sleeping bag and a pillow
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
• Bible, pens, notebook/paper, etc.
• Any medication your child takes regularly (must be in original containers, properly labeled with dosage and intervals)
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen and bug spray
ADDITIONALLY: Campers are encouraged to bring their own life jacket if possible.

• Optional Items: cinch sack/backpack, alarm clock, extension cord/power strip, camera, goggles, fan, dirty clothes bag, stuffed animal

WHAT NOT TO BRING
We ask that your camper leave their cell phone at home. We know this isn’t easy, but it will enhance the camp experience for your child. Cell phones have become a huge distraction for kids of all ages, and we would love for camp to be a place to escape some of that. We understand that many older kids and teens use their phones for Bible access, so because of that we are not super strict on this policy, but we ask that you encourage your camper to go a week without their phone and send an actual paper Bible instead.  We cannot possibly police everyone’s usage, so it is simpler to ask that everyone leave them at home. If you need to contact your child while at camp, you may call us at 636-585-2262, and we will relay the message and, if necessary, have them call you back on the camp phone.

Please note that we will not enforce this guideline as a camp, it is a recommendation that we have set forth and leave it to your discretion, but it is STRONGLY encouraged.  We have your child’s best interest in mind and ask for no phones because we do believe it’s the most effective way for them to escape the world for a week.  If you have specific questions or concerns about this topic, please feel free to contact us.

Other things to leave at home include electronics of any kind (iPod, iPad, MP3 players, etc.), weapons, any food or drink items, and fireworks. Other things you may want to leave at home are items of value (like expensive clothes or shoes or irreplaceable items). Bringing any drugs, alcohol, or any tobacco product is forbidden and doing so will result in your child being sent home immediately.

My camper has a dietary allergy - how do you handle that?
Although we would truly like to accommodate all dining needs, with the amount of campers we feed, it’s not possible to fully exclude common items such as gluten or dairy from our menu. We try our best to keep high allergy items like peanuts out of our kitchen; unfortunately, there are some instances where manufacturers don’t list all food ingredients on our packaging.  With this in mind, you are more than welcome to send alternative food with your camper if you wish. Guests with food allergies will have access to a refrigerator/freezer and microwave in the kitchen area. All food should be stored in a bag/container and labeled with your child’s name and program (e.g. Katie Kamper, Camp 45-1). If your child has food allergies or other dietary restrictions, there will be a place to indicate those on the registration form.

If you would like to speak with us about any concerns you have, please email us at camp@highillcamp.org.

My camper wants to attend with an older/younger friend - how does that work?
So glad you asked!  Our camps are set up for campers to attend the session that corresponds to the grade they will be entering this coming fall.  Our camp’s policy is that a camper my move DOWN one grade, but not up.  The reason behind this is because the majority of campers can easily grasp concepts that they’ve moved past, but can sometimes find it difficult to understand things that are meant for older campers.

Here are a few examples of how our policy works:

SCENARIO 1: Your camper is going into 6th grade but wants to attend Camp 45 with his friends who are only going into 5th grade. Since our policy is moving down is okay, this fits within our criteria and is acceptable.

SCENARIO 2: Your camper is going into 7th grade, but you want him to attend Camp 45 with his little brother who is going into 5th. Because that would mean moving down TWO grade levels, this is outside of our policy, and would not be acceptable.

SCENARIO 3: Your camper is going into 5th grade, but all his friends are going into 6th grade and are attending Junior High Camp.  Your camper’s friends are welcome to move down to Camp 45, but your camper may not move UP to Junior High Camp.

If you still aren’t sure about your situation or you have more questions, please feel free to email us at office@highhillcamp.org and we would be more than happy to help!

Can my camper request a bunkmate?
Absolutely! We love for our campers to come to camp with friends. There is a space on the registration form for you to request a friend (and an alternate choice) for your camper to be housed with.

(Please note: some of our churches assign housing by their established small groups, so you may not see a space for requesting a bunkmate for those churches.)

Do you have scholarships available?

On a limited basis, yes.  Scholarships will be given as funds are available.  Additionally, we will only award scholarships to one camper per family and only once every other year to allow as many families as possible to receive scholarship funds.

CLICK HERE to fill out an application.

What does "member" and "non-member" mean?/Why is my registration more expensive?
High Hill Christian Camp is owned and supported by roughly 30 Missouri churches (see list), which we refer to as “Member Churches.”  Because these churches support the camp financially to help offset the cost of camp, upkeep, insurance, and other expenses, we are able to extend a tuition discount to their campers.  If the church you attend is not on our dropdown list, but you know they are a supporting church, please feel free to reach out to us so that we can assist you.

Summer Camp Waitlist

Click Any Question Below for Answer
The registration form says "join waitlist." What does that mean?
Availability for some of our camp sessions will fill up.  When that happens, “join waitlist” appears on the registration form.  This means that all the available spots for your camper’s particular grade, gender, or member status have been filled.  That doesn’t mean that there’s no hope for your camper to attend, it just means that they will be added to our alternate list that will be admitted as space allows.

When you join the waitlist, you will fill out a registration as normal, but you will not be charged any fees until and unless space becomes available for your camper.

When will I know if my camper gets in?
We anticipate being able to begin letting campers in roughly one month before their session begins if there is available space.
Member church campers who are on a waitlist will be given priority if any cancellations occur after that point.
How will I know if my camper gets in?
We will contact you by email first and if we don’t hear back from within 48 hours, we will call and/or text you.
What happens if my camper doesn't get in?
There are no fees for being on the waitlist. We will let you know roughly one week before the session starts the likelihood of your camper getting in (their position on our waitlist).  If camp begins and your camper hasn’t been accepted to attend, we will simply remove them from the list and no charges will be made.
Can I be on multiple waitlists?
Of course! Just complete the process for any session that you’d like to have your camper waitlisted for.

Check-In & Pick-Up

Click Any Question Below for Answer
How does Check-In Work?
Due to limited parking, full weeks will continue to have a staggered check in process for some camps. You will be emailed a specific time for check-in prior to camp.

We prefer for tuition, canteen, or other payments to be made at least 48 hours in advance. You will receive an email prior to camp letting you know your remaining balance due along with your personalize payment link and how to add funds to your camper’s canteen account.

When you arrive at camp,  you’ll be directed where to park and then you will proceed to the canteen area where you will see large “Check-In” flags. There, you will receive a check-in sheet for your camper with all of their pertinent registration
information. You will head over to our General Store (the canteen) to look over that and make any changes necessary. When you’ve finished checking over your sheet, you will turn it in at the first window, and we will call your name as soon as we are ready for you.

From there you will go see the nurse to check in any medications (NOTE: please remember that ALL medications must be in their original containers) or express any health concerns that we may need to be aware of. Then you will have a chance to talk with our head cook if you have dietary questions.

Finally, you’ll make your way to your camper’s cabin/dorm. Please remember, only parents of the same gender as the camper may enter their housing quarters. Due to limited parking, we ask that you please say your goodbyes and head out as quickly as possible after you get your camper moved in.

How does Pick-Up Work?
You will receive an email during your camper’s session with this information tailored to your specific pick-up times and information.

Our pick-up process is super easy and is being refined every summer to make things even easier and smoother for your camper’s departure.  Please note, these instructions are current as of this FAQ posting, but as summer approaches, some things may be changed or adjusted to improve our system even more.

When you arrive, here’s what should happen:
• Please drive to Nebel Hall, STAYING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD/DRIVEWAY.
• You will proceed to drive your car IN FRONT of our dining hall/Nebel Hall where we will have you pull up beside our covered porch area.
• We will double check your camper’s name, verify that you’re on our list to pick up, and ask to see your driver’s license or other photo ID.
• IF YOUR CHILD HAS MEDICATION: We have lists with our campers who have medication highlighted, so we should be grabbing that for you, but please make sure that we hand that to you before you pull out.
• We will have your camper ready or call for you camper at that time and they will be able to get directly into your car.
• We will ask you to “pop” your trunk and our staff will load your camper’s belongings into your vehicle – no need to get out into the heat, we will do all the work for you! (Please note: if you feel the need to get out and hug your kiddo, that’s perfectly fine, but please just keep it brief so that we don’t hinder the cars waiting behind you. If you’d like to pull off further down our driveway to check bags or get a longer hug, that’s fine too – but we just ask that you park past the pool as to not impede traffic.)
• As soon as your camper is fully loaded into your vehicle, you’re free to go.
• Turn around will be near our pool area, and then you will head back out making sure to stay on the RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD/DRIVEWAY.

Can I drop of my camper late or pick them up early?
Absolutely!  We STRONGLY encourage campers to be here for the entire session, but we know things happen.  For late check-ins, make sure to contact the office at least 24 hours in advance so that we have you on our late check-in list.  If you arrive late, you will check in with Lori at the camp office located in Nebel Hall.

Early check-out requests will also need to be given with as much advance notice as is possible.  We will have your camper and their things ready for you to check them out from the camp office located in Nebel Hall.

Late check-ins and/or early departures will not receive any discounted/refunded rates unless the departure is due to illness or injury.

Can someone else drop off/pick up my camper?
Absolutely!  We love carpooling campers – it makes it easier on our limited amount of parking spaces.

For check-in: If a camper is being dropped off by someone other than their legal/custodial guardian, a few things must be assured:

  • The camper’s registration must be paid in full prior to arrival.
  • The person dropping them off must be able to verify emergency contact information
  • If the camper has medicine they will be turning in, our medical forms must be filled out in advance.
  • If the camper has known life threatening allergies, our medical forms must be filled out in advance.

For pick-up: We will ask on the registration form and verify at check-in who will be picking up your camper.  Anyone on that list is able to check out your camper from the camp and this list can be altered at check-in or during the camp session.  If someone NOT on the list shows up to check out your camper, we will contact the primary emergency contact on the camper’s registration to verify if this an authorized person for your camper to leave with.

General Questions

Click Any Question Below for Answer
What should my camper bring/not bring to camp?
WHAT TO BRING
• Clothes & extra shoes (include clothes to play in, get dirty in, and swimwear)
• Water bottle
• Towels/Washcloths for showers and/or swimming
• Twin sized bedding or sleeping bag and a pillow
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
• Bible, pens, notebook/paper, etc.
• Any medication your child takes regularly (must be in original containers, properly labeled with dosage and intervals)
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen and bug spray
ADDITIONALLY: Campers are encouraged to bring their own life jacket if possible.

• Optional Items: cinch sack/backpack, alarm clock, extension cord/power strip, camera, goggles, fan, dirty clothes bag, stuffed animal

WHAT NOT TO BRING
The first thing we ask that your camper leave at home is their cell phone. We know this isn’t easy, but it will enhance the camp experience for your child. We know all the reasons kids would want or need their cell phones, but we feel that they are a huge distraction while at camp. We cannot possibly police everyone’s usage, so it is simpler to ask that everyone leave them at home. If you need to contact your child while at camp, you may call us, and we will relay the message and, if necessary, have them call you back on the camp phone. Please note that we will not enforce this guideline as a camp, it is a recommendation that we have set forth and leave it to your discretion, but it is STRONGLY encouraged.

Other things to leave at home include electronics of any kind (iPod, iPad, MP3 players, etc.), weapons, any food or drink items, and fireworks. Other things you may want to leave at home are items of value (like expensive clothes or shoes or irreplaceable items). Bringing any drugs, alcohol, or any tobacco product is forbidden and doing so will result in your child being sent home immediately.

Can my camper bring a cell phone to camp?
We ask that your camper leave their cell phone at home. We know this isn’t easy, but it will enhance the camp experience for your child. Cell phones have become a huge distraction for kids of all ages, and we would love for camp to be a place to escape some of that. We understand that many older kids and teens use their phones for Bible access, so because of that we are not super strict on this policy, but we ask that you encourage your camper to go a week without their phone and send an actual paper Bible instead.  We cannot possibly police everyone’s usage, so it is simpler to ask that everyone leave them at home. If you need to contact your child while at camp, you may call us, and we will relay the message and, if necessary, have them call you back on the camp phone.

Please note that we will not enforce this guideline as a camp, it is a recommendation that we have set forth and leave it to your discretion, but it is STRONGLY encouraged.  We have your child’s best interest in mind and ask for no phones because we do believe it’s the most effective way for them to escape the world for a week.  If you have specific questions or concerns about this topic, please feel free to contact us.

Can my camper request a bunkmate?
Absolutely! We love for our campers to come to camp with friends. There is a space on the registration form for you to request a friend (and an alternate choice) for your camper to be housed with.

(Please note: some of our churches assign housing by their established small groups, so you may not see a space for requesting a bunkmate for those churches.)

My camper wants to attend with an older/younger friend - how does that work?
So glad you asked!  Our camps are set up for campers to attend the session that corresponds to the grade they will be entering this coming fall.  Our camp’s policy is that a camper my move DOWN one grade, but not up.  The reason behind this is because the majority of campers can easily grasp concepts that they’ve moved past, but can sometimes find it difficult to understand things that are meant for older campers.

Here are a few examples of how our policy works:

SCENARIO 1: Your camper is going into 6th grade but wants to attend Camp 45 with his friends who are only going into 5th grade. Since our policy is moving down is okay, this fits within our criteria and is acceptable.

SCENARIO 2: Your camper is going into 7th grade, but you want him to attend Camp 45 with his little brother who is going into 5th. Because that would mean moving down TWO grade levels, this is outside of our policy, and would not be acceptable.

SCENARIO 3: Your camper is going into 5th grade, but all his friends are going into 6th grade and are attending Junior High Camp.  Your camper’s friends are welcome to move down to Camp 45, but your camper may not move UP to Junior High Camp.

If you still aren’t sure about your situation or you have more questions, please feel free to email us at office@highhillcamp.org and we would be more than happy to help!

Is it possible to come to camp as a volunteer/sponsor?
First, thank you for considering to help out at camp this summer.  Whether you’re a parent, a church volunteer, or a sponsor for your church, you’re needed.  Please be aware that you will need to contact the dean of the session before being able to complete an application.  Our deans are ultimately in charge of determining the amount of volunteers needed for the session and acceptance will be based on his/her needs. ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST BE ABLE TO CONFIRM OUR STATEMENT OF BELIEFS and agree to lead, teach, and counsel campers within these bounds.

Please use the following to contact the dean for the session(s) at which you are desiring to serve:

Day Camp || TBD || office@highhillcamp.org 
First Chance Camp || Tonya Kennard || tonyakennard@gmail.com 
Kick Start  Camp || Tonya Kennard || tonyakennard@gmail.com
Camp 23 || Rochelle Gerdts || rochelle@forumchristian.org
Camp 45-1 || Rachel Borcherding || rachel@fccwashington.org
Camp 45-2 || Christin Merz || christin@whiteflag.church
Junior High 1 || Jeremy Keeler || jeremy@wentzvillecc.org
Junior High 2 || Ben Harris || bharris@greentreerolla.org
High School Camp || Jeremiah Howze || jeremiah@gccstl.org
Any Other Camps || Lori Hancock || office@highhillcamp.org

Adults (anyone over 18) who wish to apply to be a volunteer at High Hill this summer must complete a Volunteer Staff Form and consent to a background check in order to be considered for volunteer staff at High Hill. There is a $25 fee for adult volunteers to cover your background check – but you also will receive a free t-shirt!  Check with your church before submitting the form – many of our churches have a volunteer code that they use to pay your fee for you.

For student volunteers who are under 18, they must complete a STUDENT Volunteer Staff Form. All students must complete this form in order to be considered for volunteer staff at High Hill. In order to serve in our KS, 23, or 45 camp programs, you must be entering 8th grade or above, To serve at a Junior High session, you must be entering 10th or above.  If you are over 18 or will be 18 before June 1st, you will need to fill out an Adult Volunteer Staff form.

Do you have a dress code?
Our dress code is fairly simple and straight forward—modesty will prevail in all matters. Girls must wear one piece swimsuits OR wear a dark t-shirt over a two piece (tankinis that fully cover the midriff are considered a one piece). All sleeveless shirts must be at least three fingers wide at the shoulders. No bare midriffs or slouching shorts. Guys must wear a tank top under any sleeveless t-shirt with expanded arm holes. Shorts should be finger length. If you have specific questions about an item of clothing, feel free to contact us.

Contacting Campers

Click Any Question Below for Answer
How do I contact my camper while they are at High Hill?

We have two fantastic ways for you to contact your camper!

1) Bunk1 (www.bunk1.com)
Our camp has a partnership with an online contact company called Bunk1. They are specifically geared toward communication with campers/parents while at camp. You have the option to set up an account, add your campers, and then purchase credits that allow you to send “bunk notes” from your camper.  Bunk notes are delivered at every meal.  Our campers have come to love bunk mail!

2) Traditional Mail
If you would like to send your camper a letter or a package while they are here, that’s GREAT!  Please make sure to allow adequate time for mail to arrive (we suggest sending a week early) as late mail will not be returned.  Additionally, Fed-Ex and UPS make deliveries here daily, so many of our parents have begun to take advantage of a trackable Amazon Prime delivery.  We think that’s genius.

Here’s where to send mail:
High Hill Christian Camp
Camper’s Name / Week of Camp
20 Camp Lane
High Hill, MO 63350

What happens if my camper gets homesick?
We deal with homesickness on a case-by-case basis since no two campers are exactly alike.  Our schedule is designed in such a way that the kids stay busy to ward off homesickness.  We try to limit calls to and from home because we’ve found sometimes calling home can make them homesick even when they’re doing alright. If a child is upset/homesick and can’t be easily distracted, we will usually call you and let you talk to them. Or, if you or your child feels like being able to talk to you will make them less homesick, we are certainly open to setting up a time for them to call home.
Are guests allowed at camp?
We allow visitors on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you plan to visit camp so that we can let you know the best time to come and how to check in appropriately when you arrive.

That said, we discourage visitors to camp during our shorter camp sessions. Parents stopping by to check on their campers can be a disruptive influence on not only their camper’s time at camp, but also on the camp as a whole. Simply put, campers who are not homesick often become so when their parents or family members visit them at camp and homesickness can be contagious. We ask parents who need to drop something off for their camper that they may have forgotten to schedule that drop off time with our office.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Can my camper call home?

Experience has shown us that allowing campers to have phone contact with friends or family outside of camp detracts from the camp experience, disrupts our ability to build relationships at camp, and often breeds homesickness.  A mildly homesick camper usually becomes a very homesick camper after a phone conversation, and campers who have no homesickness often suddenly develop it when they become aware that their friend has been able to call home.

For that same reason, we STRONGLY ask that campers do bring cell phones (even if they are intended to be used as cameras) and ask that you help enforce this policy by not allowing your camper to bring a phone.

Please know that if a situation involving your camper arises that warrants parental involvement, we will contact you. If you have an emergency and you need to contact your camper, please call our office at (636) 585-2262.

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