Parent Guide - Camp Keystone

Dear Parents/Guardians: We’re excited that you are considering sending your child to beautiful Camp Keystone! The Salvation Army operates a residential camp each summer for children throughout the State of Florida. Camp Keystone is located in Starke, Florida, about 30 minutes outside of Gainesville, Florida. While at our camp, your child will participate in swimming, horseback riding, hiking and other outdoor activities. Because The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, Bible Classes and Worship Services are also included as part of the camping experience.

This Parent’s Guide is intended to make your child’s camp experience as enjoyable as possible by providing you with useful information all in one place. In order to provide your child with the safest and most engaging experience possible, we are constantly updating and improving our policies. Even if your child has attended Camp Keystone in the past, please read through this entire manual, as it contains new information and policies.

If you have any questions or concerns, please be in contact with The Salvation Army representative from whom you obtained this packet of information.

We look forward to having a GREAT summer with your child.

Sincerely,
Captains Jonathan and Anita Howell
Divisional Youth Secretaries
Camp Directors

TRUST

You may have chosen Camp Keystone because of its location, facilities, programming, or because of The Salvation Army’s presence in your community. We want you to feel con􀏐ident that you have made the right choice and that your child will be cared for while attending Camp Keystone. We want to ease your concerns as you prepare your child for his/her camp experience, as you entrust them into our care.

Please be assured that all staff members, drivers, and anyone who comes into contact with campers have taken Safe From Harm, a child safety course, and had an in depth background check. This manual is designed to help you enter a partnership with Camp Keystone that will lead to a healthy, secure, successful and enjoyable experience for your child.

PREPARING FOR CAMP

Preparing for camp takes both physical and emotional energy. The physical energy is easy – we provide you with plenty of information and lists about what to bring (and not bring) to camp. The emotional energy will assure a smooth adjustment. You can help your child by asking yourself the questions that you think he/she faces: “Who or what will I miss at home?” “Will I be liked?” “Will my counselors be nice?” “Will I have fun?”

As a parent, you can find a balance between validating your child’s concerns and treating the concerns rationally and calmly. Dwelling on a child’s fears can lead to panic. It is important to be encouraging and positive. For example, an encouraging response could sound like this, “It is natural to miss home a little at the beginning, but you will make lots of new friends and have a wonderful time.”

HOMESICKNESS AT CAMP

The best people to help a child deal with homesickness are the counselors. Our counselors are compassionate and trained to take great care to help all campers adjust to their new environment. Many are former campers themselves and can draw upon their own experiences. If you should receive a letter from your child saying he is homesick and wants to come home, please don’t immediately jump in the car to come and get them. Try not to panic. We know it is difficult, upsetting and frustrating to know that your child hurts and not be able to fix the problem. Remember that a few days have passed since the letter was written. So much occurs in a day at camp and many things have probably happened to alleviate the situation. Studies have shown that calling home makes the homesickness much worse. We won’t ban a camper from calling home, but we will try many other things first to alleviate the camper’s homesickness.

If you are concerned, please call the camp office and we will check on your child for you. It is our policy that we do not allow campers who are homesick to call home. It is our experience that phone calls home only compound the issues. Please refer to the “Telephone Calls” section of this guide.

SUCCESS

There have been a few cases where a child remains inconsolable and has left camp early. Our experience has taught us that even when campers feel that they might not return in the future, they need to finish what they started, even if it means just being able to say “I did it.” Small accomplishments add up and strengthen a child’s self-esteem. When a child overcomes his/her fear and remains for the full week, there is personal growth, success and accomplishment.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

SAFETY

At Camp Keystone we take every precaution to ensure everyone’s safety. We thrive in fresh air, with nutritious food and a well-rounded activity and recreation program.

RESPECT

At Camp Keystone we respect others and ourselves and learn to value the world that we live in.

TRADITION

At Camp Keystone, we introduce the Lord into the daily lives of the children. It is our hope that everyone develops a deeper relationship with the Lord.

COMMITMENT TO GROWTH

Replacing a world of boredom for outdoor experiences creates opportunities for growth in each of our campers. This is what Camp Keystone is all about. The purpose of The Salvation Army’s camping ministry is to help each individual, young and old alike, to grow – physically, socially, educationally and spiritually. Kids of all ages from the Panhandle to the Keys learn about each other, nature and most importantly, a loving, personal God.

OUR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES

Camp Keystone is nestled in 300+ acres of woodland. We have 13 sleeping cabins (6 boys and 7 girls), each with their own bathrooms and showers.

The Camp facilities include:

A modern dining hall and conference facility
Swimming pool
Boating and fishing areas
Hiking trails
Athletic Fields
Volleyball, Basketball, and Tennis courts
Arts and Crafts Building
Playgrounds
Archery Range
Horse Riding
Primitive Camping sites
Ropes Courses (High & Low)
Zipline

Since 1947, Camp Keystone has provided a haven for children who otherwise would never go to camp. Each is offered opportunities to be challenged and to be successful in meeting those challenges for new self-confidence.

During the Summer, we also offer a 3 week Music Conservatory program that offers music and creative arts instruction for those involved in Salvation Amy music programs in their local communities.

A TYPICAL DAY AT CAMP

MORNING

RISE AND SHINE
7:15 AM
TABERNACLE
8:15 AM
BREAKFAST
8:30 AM
CAMP CLEAN-UP
9:00 AM
ORGANIZED REC
9:15 AM
JUICE BREAK
10:15 AM
BOYS: FREE SWIM
10:30 AM
GIRLS: CAMPTIVITIES
Horses/ Lakefront/Archery/Ropes
10:30 AM

AFTERNOON

TABERNACLE
12:15 PM
LUNCH
12:30 PM
BOYS: CAMPTIVITIES
Horses/ Lakefront/Archery/Ropes
1:30 PM
GIRLS: FREE SWIM
1:30 PM
BOYS: CANTEEN
3:15 PM
GIRLS: CANTEEN
3:30 PM
BIBLE CLASS
4:00 PM

EVENING

TABERNACLE
5:15 PM
DINNER
5:30 PM
CAMPTIVITIES
6:15 PM
EVENING SNACK
7:45 PM
NIGHT PROGRAM
8:00 PM
VESPERS
9:15 PM
CALL TO CABINS
9:30 PM
LIGHTS OUT
10:00 PM
STAFF CURFEW
11:00 PM

CAMP SESSIONS

June 12-July 1: Sr. Music Conservatory Camp (Includes FMI)
(Co-ed, Ages 12-17) Must be involved in a Salvation Army Music
Program & approved by Divisional Music Director through an
application process
June 12-17: Base Camp (1) (Co-ed, Ages 7-12)
June 19-24: Base Camp (2) (Co-ed, Ages 7-12)
June 26-July 1: Base Camp (3) (Co-ed, Ages 7-12)
July 3-8: Teen Camp (Co-ed, Ages 13-17)
July 3-15: Jr. Music Conservatory Camp (Includes FMI)
(Co-ed, Ages 8-11) Must be involved in a Salvation Army Music
Program & approved by Divisional Music Director through an
application process
July10-July 15: Florida Music Institute Camp [FMI]
(Co-ed, Ages 8 & Up)

GENERAL CAMP RULES

Please review these with your child:

Campers are not permitted to leave the camp or skip any activities.
All campers must abide by the established curfew.
Physical or verbal abuse towards other campers or staff will not be tolerated. Campers engaging in such behavior may be dismissed.
Willful destruction of camp property will not be tolerated; consequences will be decided by the camp director.
Alcohol, illegal recreational drugs, tobacco products of any kind, or being in the presence of someone consuming or in possession, will result in immediate dismissal from the camp.
Campers are not permitted to possess or use fire, candles, mosquito coils, or ϐireworks.
Campers are not permitted to possess a knife, sharp tool or weapon of any kind.
Grafϐiti on camp premises is not permitted. Parents will be required to pay for the full cost of repair.

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