frequently asked Camp questions

  • When can I register my child for camp? Summer camp registration is open from November 1 until that camp session is full. As long as the camp is not full, we will accept registrations the day before and the day that camp begins, but we cannot guarantee that cabin mate requests will be honored at that time.

    Can I mail in my child’s registration? We do still accept mail-in registrations, but we prefer that families use the online registration portal. If you do mail in a registration, please note that we cannot guarantee a spot in the camp until your registration arrives. You will also have to log in and complete some forms on the computer after we register your child.

    What if I need help paying for camp? We never want money to be the reason a child can’t come to camp. If you need financial assistance, we ask that you first discern how much your family can pay and ask your parish for assistance. If your parish cannot help or cannot help in the amount that you need, please contact our Registrar at gasper.registrar@gmail.com

    What if my church/KofC/someone else is paying for my child’s camp? Campers who are attending on scholarship or gift certificate need to contact the office prior to submitting registration.

    What are Small Groups? What are Cabin Requests and Room Assignments? All camper sleeping quarters are now dormitory style, and at most camps, all campers of the same gender will be in the same dorm. Campers are only in the dorms to sleep. Small groups are groups of 4-6 where campers will have Bible studies and faith discussions every day. Social and meal times are not divided by small groups.

    What is a canteen card, and how much money do I need to put on it? Twice a day, we have “canteen time” during which campers may purchase snacks. Canteen cards are paper punch cards, kept in the canteen so your child does not have to keep up with money. Canteen cards are sold in $5 increments, and campers are limited to spending $2.50 per canteen. For most kids, $5 or $10 is enough for 1/2 week camps, and $10-$15 is enough for full week camps.

  • What is a typical day of camp like? You can view a sample schedule and see what a day of camp is like by visiting our Typical Day of Camp page.

    What activities can my child do? To ensure the safety of our campers, certain activities are only available to campers of a certain age, and in some cases size. To see a listing of activities for your camper, click here.

    What do you do if it rains? On rainy days, we do a variety of indoor activities such as indoor team building, folk dancing, games, skits, arts & crafts, or watch movies.

    How many adults are at camp? The number of counselors varies week to week, depending on the number of campers we have registered. We follow all Safe Environment ratios for staff/counselors to campers (Elementary school- 1:5, Middle School- 1:7, High School- 1:10). There are always at least 2 staff/counselors with every group of children. We strictly follow the Safe Environment policy of never having a camper alone with an adult. Campers also always travel in buddies to ensure safety.

    What kind of trainings do the staff receive? Our staff go through an intensive 2 week training to make sure they are adequately prepared. They are trained on leading activities, leading small group discussions, basics of child development, and how to handle possible scenarios such as homesickness, shy campers, camper crushes, and emergencies. All staff members also complete Safe Environment Training, First Aid/CPR training, and a training on working with mental health challenges put on by professors from the WKU Counseling Department.

  • What should my child bring to camp?

    Here is our camp packing list:

    • At least one week’s worth of clothing.  Be sure to bring clothes that can get dirty or wet.  Remember to pack a few warmer things (jeans, sweats, jacket, etc.), and extra socks & underwear.

    • At least a couple of pairs of comfortable old shoes/boots.  Your shoes will get dirty, wet, muddy, grassy, etc!  Closed-toe shoes are needed for adventure activities.  No flip flops, please.

    • Swimsuit (one piece only - no bare mid-riffs; see dress code below) and beach towel

    • Sunscreen and bugs pray

    • Raincoat/Poncho (if you have one)

    • Toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, etc. 

    • Linens (towels, wash cloths, sheets, blanket/sleeping bag, pillow, etc.)

    • Laundry Bag/Bag for wet clothes

    • Water Shoes- Must have strap around heel.  Closed Toe is preferable, but not required.

    Here are some things that are not required, but you may want to bring:

    • Bible, journal, etc.

    • Disposable camera

    • Paper, pen/pencil, addressed envelopes, cards, stamps, etc. (not required)

    • Clothes fitting the dress theme days (see below).

    • Medication (All medication must be in the original container with prescriptions in the name of the child.  All medication must be checked in at registration.

    Is there anything my child should not bring to camp?

    We ask you to leave the following things at home:

    • Cell Phones

    • Fidget Spinners

    • Video Games

    • Watches

    • Firearms and knives

    • Fireworks

    • Alarm Clocks

    • I-Pods/MP3 Players

    • Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco

    • Money (All purchases can be made with Canteen Cards, which you can put money on at registration.)

    • Food/Drinks/Snacks (We have many campers with food allergies)

    Is there a dress code at camp? To promote modesty and ensure safety and comfort on adventure activities, we follow the following dress code:

    • Shorts should extend past the camper’s fingertips with arms by their side. (shorts need to be about mid-thigh for harness safety and climbing gear safety)

    • Tank tops may be worn as long as the straps are wider than three fingers and do not have large arm holes. (this applies to male and female campers)

    • Midriffs must be covered.

    • Underwear should always be covered.

    • One-piece swimsuits are required; tankini’s are allowed as long as the mid-riff is covered at all times.

    • Clothing with slogans promoting alcohol, sex, tobacco, drugs, profanity or death themes are not allowed.

    • Must have shoes that are supportive, with at least a strap around the heel (boots, tennis shoes, most water shoes, etc.) No flip flops, please.

    What are dress theme days? To help campers get into the spirit of camp, we have dress theme days. These are not required by any means, but are a fun way to participate in camp. We will announce the dress themes on our social media and camp app in the spring. Some examples of dress themes in the past are ‘Merica Monday, Western Wednesday, and Tropical Thursday. Please do not bring anything that would be a distraction or would hinder camp activities (stick horses, toy guns, etc)

  • What if my child has food allergies? We are a peanut and tree nut free facility all summer long. None of our meals or canteen snacks contain or are processed with nuts. We are also familiar with accommodating other food allergies. If you list your child’s allergies on their registration, we will make sure they have options throughout the week. In severe cases, children are allowed to bring food from home if they would prefer (as long as it is nut free).

    What if my child gets sick while at camp? If your child tells us that they feel sick while they are here, our Camp Health Care Provider will assess them. If we find that they are sick with a contagious illness, we will call you to pick them up. Otherwise, we will offer approved over the counter medicine and comfort until they are well enough to rejoin camp activities.

    How do I get in touch with my child? Letters! The best way to stay in touch with your child is through mail. We pass out letters every day, except for Explorer (3rd/4th graders). We have found that mail leads to homesickness in that age group, so we give them mail on the last night. Due to problems with delayed delivery through the postal service, we recommend that you drop off letters when you bring your camper. If you want to see how your camper is doing, we post pictures of each day’s activities on our camp app. *If there is an emergency and you need to reach your child, please call the office at 270-781-2466.

    Why can’t my child bring their cell phone? Camp is a fun and safe environment designed to help your child grow. We ask that campers do not bring a cell phone because it can severely impact their ability and desire to enter fully into the experience and be a part of the community being formed at camp. We guarantee that if your child needs to get in touch with you, they will be able to. If a child wants to call home in the middle of the night because of homesickness, we often try to get them back to sleep and call in the morning if they still need to.

    How does my child get in touch with me? We understand how difficult homesickness can be. We train our staff in a variety of ways to help homesick campers and keep them engaged. We try to resolve homesickness through these strategies first before having campers call home. If a camper is struggling, cannot be consoled, and wishes to call home, we will call you first to give you a heads up, and then have your child call you.

    What if my child can’t get into camp with their best friend or doesn’t know anyone at camp? We get this question a lot, especially as camps begin to fill up. Camp is an amazing place to make friends that will last a lifetime! Each summer, young people come to Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp without knowing a single person and they leave with forty or more new family members! It is awesome to see young people connect with others (who they might not have met if they were connected to friends from home) and continue those friendships for years! Take a chance. Camp is an exciting adventure and a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends!

    What if my child forgets something? We keep extras of any items campers might have left at home including toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, sheets, pillows, blankets, etc. If your child needs something that we do not have, we will go into town and get it for them. If your child leaves something at camp, you can call our office to see if we have it in our Lost and Found, and we will make arrangements for how to get it back to you.

  • What is Christmas/New Years Camp like? Is it similar to Summer Camp? Christmas Camp is similar to summer camp, but with a few big differences. It is much more laid back than Summer Camp. We begin our day later and have much more free time throughout the day. You get to choose what adventure activities you do rather than going with your small group. We still have Mass, Adoration, Confession, talks, and plenty of time for 9 Square in the Air/Gaga Ball. We also have a few special traditions unique to Christmas Camp. All in all, it is still the atmosphere of Gasper River, just in a more laid back format. And, of course, it is much colder!

    Do you have to have gone to Summer Camp to attend Christmas Camp? No, Christmas Camp is open to new and returning campers. It is a great way to get a taste of Summer Camp in a more laid-back environment.

    Will there still be canteen? We will not sell snacks at the canteen during Christmas Camp. Rather, we provide snacks and ask campers to bring a 2L drink. We will still have free time to play all your favorite canteen games.