Youth Group Partnerships
Church Youth Groups are invited to attend our summer resident camps!
Partner with BLBC summer camps! Your students will meet hundreds of other campers while participating in all the fun camp activities.
Campers attending with their youth group enjoy $40 off in the summer and $15 off in the winter of the normal camper registration fee, and youth leaders attending as chaperones are FREE!
Why should you join us?
quality time with your students!
Our schedule allows you to focus on developing deeper relationships outside of the traditional church setting.
No Hassle!
We take care of it all -- cooking, cleaning, chapel sessions, and camp activities!
year-long mentorship!
Camp can lead to amazing decisions made for Christ. And attending with your youth group gives you the opportunity to be intimately involved during this faith-forming time, which then equips you to disciple your students throughout the year.
Have questions about bringing your youth group to BLBC? We've answered some of the most common questions below. If you need additional information, our team would love to help!
Group Size & Leadership
What are the camper limits and minimums?
There is no minimum number of campers. However, if you are bringing only one camper, you will need two group leaders of the same gender as that camper. Our safety policies do not allow one-on-one situations.
The maximum number of campers you can bring is 50. If your youth group is larger than that, we'd love to connect you with our Hospitality Team to explore attending as a retreat group instead!
What is the staff-to-camper ratio?
We prefer youth groups to maintain a 1:5 leader-to-camper ratio to help ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in your group. However, we can allow a ratio of up to 1:10.
For comparison, our staffed cabins for campers not registered with a youth group typically average a 1:6 to 1:8 ratio.
What if no group leaders can come from my church, or we don't have leaders of a certain gender?
If your church is unable to provide group leaders, students will need to register as regular campers through our registration system and will be assigned to a cabin with our camp staff.
Unfortunately, in this situation, we cannot offer the youth group discount. These campers will also need to remain with their assigned cabin group rather than participating in your youth group's activity time slots and free-time choices.
Registration & Payments
What does the registration process look like?
First, you'll fill out a Jotform letting us know that you're planning to bring a youth group to one of our camps. We'll review your application and then give you a call to let you know whether we have available housing.
We strongly recommend applying early! Space fills up quickly, especially in our Middle School and High School programs.
Once your group has been approved, all camper registrations will be handled by you and your church. You will be responsible for collecting payment and giving them the link to fill out the health form.
We will send you the links to the required health form via email once we have confirmed your attendance.
How do we pay for camp?
You can pay by check made out to BLBC or by credit or debit card.
Please note that payments made by card will incur a 3% convenience fee.
Can students registered with a youth group apply for a BLBC scholarship?
Yes! Students registered through your youth group are still eligible to apply for a BLBC scholarship.
Once they've registered with your group, they can visit blbcolympia.com/scholarship to find the scholarship application.
Make sure they know NOT to register again through Venue, which is our registration system for campers who are not affiliated with a youth group.
We'll review scholarship applications and contact parents directly regarding approval.
Camp Experience
What does a typical day at Camp look like?
You can find example schedules on the individual camp pages! Browse our website by age group or season to find the schedule associated with your camp.
Are scheduled activities optional?
No. Scheduled program activities are an important part of the camp experience, and youth groups are required to attend just like any other cabin group.
If you'd like to plan additional activities with your youth group, you can take advantage of the daily free-time opportunities!
What should campers bring with them?
You can find packing lists and camp-specific FAQs on the individual camp pages. Browse our website by age group or season to find the information for your camp!
Health, Safety & Communication
How are medications managed?
All medications of both campers and group leaders must be turned in to the camp nurse, including EpiPens and inhalers. This policy is in place for the safety of all campers.
Exceptions cannot be made at this time.
How can parents contact their child?
Campers are not permitted to have phones or other electronics while attending camp.
If a parent needs to contact their child during the week, they will need to reach out to one of your group's leaders to connect with them.
Can group leaders go off-site?
Yes! Group leaders are allowed to leave camp as long as their campers remain with another leader of the appropriate gender and doing so does not compromise the safety of your group.
Any group leader leaving camp during the week must check out according to camp policies before leaving and check back in upon returning.
This helps us maintain the safety of our staff and campers and account for everyone on or off-site in case of an emergency.
Activities & Recreation
Am I able to take my campers on off-site excursions?
No. Camp policy requires campers to remain on-site, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis for emergencies.
If you're hoping to do something extra-special with your group, we recommend planning an activity on-site during free time instead!
Do youth groups have access to watercraft?
Youth groups cannot operate boats or bring their own watercraft. However, your group will have scheduled time to go inner tubing at least once during the week!
Kayaks and canoes will also be available during designated activity times.