Freddy’s Friends

While we highly recommend that your child is immunized to decrease the risk of any potential illnesses that may come into the camp, your child does not need to have the immunizations in order to attend camp.

Most camp sessions will conclude on the last day in the following manner (please check confirmation letter for any exceptions to this schedule). In 2024 Session 8 will have a Friday afternoon check-out ending at 4:30pm.

Check out tables are open starting at 9:15am. For security of the campers being picked up, photo identification is required to match the pick-up information that Pine Ridge gathers. At 9:45 am there will be an optional parents meeting. This meeting will cover highlights of the week and information on other Pine Ridge news. Coffee and sweet rolls will be provided for parents attending the meeting.

At 10:00am the camper awards and videos will be presented at the chapel. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend the closing chapel.

Final dismissal of campers is at 10:30am.

Pine Ridge is able to accommodate some dietary needs and restrictions that our campers may have. We are pleased to offer gluten free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free and vegetarian options. If your allergy/dietary restrictions fall into any of these four categories please inform us at least one week prior to the camp session by completing the food allergy section in our registration system. If your allergy/dietary needs is outside of the scope of what we provide, please plan to bring your own food as needed. We will have a designated area in the dining room equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave for campers bringing their own food. Please make sure your food is clearly labeled.

Pine Ridge is also able to provide a copy of the menu upon request.

Pine Ridge works dilligently to create a safe environment where campers feel heard, loved and cared for. To that end, we train our staff to look for signs of homesickness and how to have conversations and redirect camper’s attention in positive ways. However, If a camper continues to have a hard time engaging in camp, their cabin leader will inform camp leadership who will contact parents to work together and decide on a course of action to help the camper have a successful experience. Pine Ridge is willing to help campers overcome their fears and proudly complete their camp session, but we also completely undersand parents making decisions to bring a child back home before the session is completed. We typically do not refund camp registration fees for these shorter camp experiences.

Your trust in us is extremely important! In general, we try to limit campers contacting parents as it is our deep desire is for campers to open up emotionally, socially, and spiritually and we know from experience that this happens best if the camper is fully immersed in the camp experience. (see phone policy FAQ for more detailed information on general communications)

Pine Ridge is required by the State of Michigan to have a trained Health Officer that is in charge of managing and dispensing medications to campers. Our Health Officers care for the campers with love and professional care, taking the time to properly log all medication dispensing. When preparing to bring medications, please list those medications and dosages on the registration form and bring the medication in its original container with you when you check-in to Camp.

While campers are welcome to also bring over the counter medications, these too must be turned in to the Health Officer at check-in. However, Pine Ridge does have a supply of most common over the counter medications and in general campers do not need to bring any.

All medications will be returned to a parent or guardian when the camper checks-out of Camp.

Pine Ridge has a snack shop, camp store, and craft room. Store money should be deposited into the online registration software and Pine Ridge will then track all store spending through an app. There are no cash transactions for campers. If they do have cash, we can deposit the funds into our software. This system keeps money from being lost or stolen. All excess funds greater than $2 are refunded at check out. Anything less than $2 will be auto given to our designated missionary offering. Typically, $20-$40 will suffice for our 5-night camp sessions depending on what purchases are made.

Typically, campers will go to snack shop twice a day. The snack shop sells a few healthy snacks as well as pop, ice cream, candy, and chips. We also sell Camp T-shirts, sweat shirts, water bottles, Bibles, and flashlights at our camp store. The Camp craft room has many low cost options to choose from. Most of these options are less than $5 in cost.

There will also be a Missions Offering taken that allows campers an opportunity to give to our selected mission project or missionary.

Campers are able to register for sessions based on the school grade they are going into next fall. Please accurately enter birth dates and grades into our registration system so that your child will be with the appropriate camp program. Once birth dates and grades are entered into a camper’s profile, the registration software will not allow users to change this information. It can only be changed by contacting the camp office.

For youth entering 9th grade, our online registration system will allow them to choose either the Jr or Sr High camp option.

• Before 30 days: All funds are refundable.
• Up to 14 days: The registration fee is forfeited.
• Within 14 days: The full camp fee is forfeited.
• Rollover: Forfeited fees can be rolled over to a future Pine Ridge summer camp session, retreat or applied to a sibling’s registration.

For Day Camps:

Requested Items:

• Weather-appropriate clothing should be worn as the majority of our time will be spent outdoors.
• Nature Journal/ colored pencils
• lunch
• water bottle
• Bible

THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME:

• Any weapons
• Electronic Devices (we encourage this to happen so campers can focus on building relationships with campers, staff members, and Christ)

For overnight/5 day camps:

• T-Shirts
• Shorts
• Sweatshirt (1-2)
• Jeans (1) (1 per day if doing horsemanship)
• Rain Jacket/Small umbrella
• Modest Swimsuit- one piece or tankini (may need 2 if doing watersports camp)
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap
• Towels and wash cloth (1 for beach and 1 for shower)
• Athletic shoes (1) (Closed toed shoes needed for battle games, horsemanship, and high adventure activities)
• Sandals/Flip-flops (1)
• Bible, Pen/pencil, notebook
• Sleeping Bag or Sheets & Blankets
• Pillow
• Small bag to keep/carry personal belongings between activities
• Prescription Medications in ORIGINAL CONTAINERS
• Spending money (the funds are deposited at check-in to a card system with remaining funds returned at End of Week check-out)

Optional Items:

• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Flashlight
• Swim Goggles or Ear Plugs
• Camera (needed to participate in Photography camp)
• Dirty Clothes Bag

THINGS TO LEAVE AT HOME:

• Any weapons
• Electronic Devices (we encourage this to happen so campers can focus on building relationships with campers, staff members, and Christ)

*Place camper name on the labels of everything!

Any clothes left at Camp and unclaimed by the completion of our summer programs will be given to a worthy charity. Pine Ridge is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.

Most camp check-ins are from 9-10:30 am on the first day of the camp session. A few weeks before the camp session you will also receive a confirmation letter that will give more detailed instructions for our check-in process.

** For our 2024 summer, Session 8 will have an afternoon check-in from 3:30-5:00pm.