FAQ’s

We offer 11 different youth camps for grades 1 – 12. We offer Bible Camps, Athletic Camps (Soccer, Basketball, and Adventure) and Special Interest Camps (Horse, STEM, Worship, and Creative Arts).

We leave this decision up to the parent/guardian. You may choose to enroll your camper in a camp based on their current or upcoming grade level at your discretion.

Each day at youth camps is filled with adventure! All camps attend daily worship services with a guest speaker, and have daily group devotions. Additionally, camps have scheduled recreation time, crafts, team games, and late night events. Some camps have breakout seminars as well.

Definitely! Our rooms accommodate up to four campers, so your camper may request up to three roommates. Requests received after the late fee deadline may not be granted.

Yes, we do have a limited amount of scholarship money provided to us by generous Mahaffey Camp donors. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to attend camp, we recommend first seeking assistance from your home church, and then asking us. Email or call us, and we will send you the application form to see how we can help out.

We have a camp nurse on site during all weeks of youth camp. In the event that your camper becomes ill, we will contact you immediately to schedule a pickup. If your camper obtains a severe injury, we will transport them to the nearest Emergency Room and contact you along the way. If your camper is injured in a minor way, he or she may be treated at camp, with followup given to you by phone call.

All medications must be brought to our camp nurse at registration. Medications should be brought in a clear Ziploc bag, labeled with the camper’s name, dosage amount, and dosage times / instructions. You will also receive a camper medication form with your confirmation letter, which you will fill out and bring with you to registration.

When you sign our release agreement, you give permission for our camp nurse to provide over-the-counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Tums, Ibuprofen) as they deem necessary for treatment of minor camper afflictions.

Our menu varies week to week, but a few example meals would be: grilled cheese & soup, hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, tacos, spaghetti, and mac & cheese / chicken nuggets. We always offer peanut butter and jelly at lunch time, and salad at dinner.

Any camper with dietary needs will need to provide substitutions. You will need to email the camp office at least one week prior to camp, requesting a copy of the week’s menu. We will give you the menu so that you can write down on the menu any substitutions you will be bringing, and how they should be prepared. Bring this edited menu with you to registration. At registration, you’ll meet with our cook, who will go over your camper’s needs with you and show you where to store your substitutions.

Definitely! Simply write this down on their registration (or in the “comments” section on the online registration) and we will do our best to assign your camper to the counselor they request.

Our dorm and longhouses contain dorm-style rooms with at least two sets of twin-size bunk beds. Your camper should bring a sleeping bag or bedding for a single bed, plus a pillow. The rooms also contain a table and chair. No mini-fridges are permitted in the dorms, but campers are welcome to bring their own snacks. The Longhouses and Dorm 5 are equipped with A/C. Dorm 5 contains restrooms on each floor; the Longhouses are situated right next to a restroom facility.

At registration, you’ll be able to pay for snack cards for your camper (we request that campers do NOT keep money with them in their dorm room). You are also able to prepay for snack cards online (info is sent out after you register). Items sold include drinks, a variety of candy, chips, and ice cream novelties. Camp merchandise is also available.

Camper clothing should most importantly be appropriate for outdoor activities! Clothing should allow for easy, comfortable movement during recreational activities. T-shirts, shorts, and sneakers are solid choices. Campers should also pack at least one jacket and one pair of pants, for chilly evenings.

Clothing guidelines: shirts must cover entire torso at all times (including when moving or bending), shorts should be longer than fingertip length, tank tops must have at least 3″ wide straps, and cutoff shirts are only permitted with a tank top worn underneath. Halter tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut shirts, and shirts exposing the midriff are not permitted. For swimwear, guys should wear swim trunks and girls should wear a one-piece modest swimsuit. Flip-flops and sandals are ONLY permitted at showers and service times. For all other occasions, close-toed shoes are required. Clothing should not contain any vulgar, profane, or suggestive language or images.

Any camper who is wearing clothing outside of our guidelines will be asked by their counselor to change.

Cell phones are NOT permitted to be brought by campers. Please help your camper have a restful week by not letting them bring a cell phone! We count on YOU, the parents and guardians, to set this expectation of your own campers. Part of the benefit of a camp experience is a week away from technology – and your camper won’t get that full benefit if they come with a cell phone.

Any camper found to have a cell phone out during scheduled activity times will have their phone confiscated by our staff.

Prohibited items include: cellphones, radios/cd players, iPods, laser pointers, computers, tablets or other electronic devices, fireworks, drugs/tobacco (including e-cigarettes), alcohol or any other illegal substances, knives, or other weapons. These items are all subject to confiscation and referral to camp administration.

Campers should bring a Bible (we have extra if you don’t have one), pen/pencil, snack shop money, clothing suitable for camp (including a jacket and modest swim suit), flashlight, soap, reusable water bottle, sun screen, bug spray, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, bedding for a single bed and pillow, and other personal hygiene items. You’ll receive a confirmation letter two weeks before the start of camp, including a detailed list of what to pack (including any special items required from your specific camp).

Confirmation letters go out via email two weeks before the start date of camp. If you do not receive your confirmation letter by this date, contact the camp office for a resend.

If your camper needs to leave and return at any point during the week (including leaving early on pickup day), please let us know this at registration, so that we can have you sign a permission form stating the details of their departure and arrival. You can also choose to send an email to the camp office ahead of time giving all the details. The same process is true if your camper will be picked up by someone other than their parent/guardian at the end of the week.

No refunds can be issued or transfers between camps made in the 10 days prior to camp starting. In case of cancellation more than 10 days before the start of camp, a refund can be issued to you less the non-refundable $75.00 registration fee. Contact the camp office immediately if a cancellation needs to be made.

Registration takes place from 6:30 – 7:30 pm on Sunday evening. Pick up takes place from 2-3 pm on Friday (except Young Explorers – pickup on Tuesday).

We’re sorry, but we cannot accommodate early arrivals or late pickups, as all of our staff will be occupied with staff meetings and cleaning procedures. If you need to arrange a drop-off / pickup with someone other than your camper’s parent/guardian, please email the camp office with details.

Yes! We utilize a system called Bunk1 for camper emails. For a minimal cost, you can send designed emails to your camper. Physical mail is also accepted through our mailing address: PO Box 277, Mahaffey PA 15757. Please mark physical mail with your camper’s name and camp attending.

Campers will NOT be able to respond via email to you during the week. They are welcome to send physical mail through our camp office – pack envelopes and stamps if they’d like to do so!

Campers are only permitted to make phone calls home through pre-arrangement with our camp office, during scheduled free times (not late at night). If a camper wants to call home, they may do so ONLY at the camp office. Conversely, parents who wish to call their camper may arrange to do so through our camp office. Since cell phones are not permitted for campers, no camper is allowed to bring a cell phone and use it to call home.

Additionally, no person outside of our volunteer staff (who have been accepted through an application process including required clearances), is permitted to interact with the camp group. Therefore, no visitors are permitted to interact with the campers at any time during the week.

Our counselors are well-trained to deal with homesickness. Our first action will be to try to distract your camper with excitement about upcoming events. However, in the case of recurring homesickness, we may call you and arrange a possible phone call with your camper (at your permission and discretion) to ease the camper’s homesickness. In severe cases when the camper still wants to go home after we’ve exhausted all other ideas, you may choose to come pick up your camper if needed.

After the $75.00 registration fee has been paid, the camper’s remaining balance is due on registration night. Check, cash, and credit/debit are all accepted at registration.

Email the camp office at office@mahaffeycamp.com with your inquiry about serving, and we will follow up with the details. Volunteers earn discount rate for their camper during the week that they are serving, pending position openings. All volunteers are required to submit current clearances and the Volunteer Application form.