Classic Camp

Classic Camp is our most popular summer camp experience at Ligonier for campers ages 8-17. With options for one week or two weeks, campers can enjoy the chance to sample a variety of activities, including sports, campfires, a day at the lake, games, crafts, and adventure challenges. Classic campers are housed in our rustic cabins in the Summer Camp Village and will eat meals in our dining hall.

One Week

One week at Classic Camp is a great chance to check out all the camp has to offer! During the session, campers live in cabins of 8-10 other campers and may participate in a variety of activities, including: drama, archery, air guns, tennis, basketball, swimming, arts & crafts, hockey, lacrosse, climbing, caving, ropes courses (for campers 12 and older), Ligonier Live, camp-wide games, a day at the lake of tubing, swimming, laser tag and so much more!

Two Weeks

Our two-week session, Classic Camp 4, offers a longer opportunity to try new activities, focus on developing our Four C’s (Christ, Community, Challenge, & Creation) through a time called Core Four, and continue to grow a community among campers in a tribe. While one week of camp is the perfect setting to try camp, the two-week camp is the ideal option for relationship building among campers and between campers and counselors.

In addition to the activities at one week of Classic Camp, two-week campers will experience additional adventure activities, cookouts, talent shows, a day at the lake, worship, and camp outs.

Typical Daily Schedule

7:30 - Optional early morning activity: campers can wake up to do Polar Bears, where they do an early morning swim in the pool, or they can do Road Runners where they go for a run down our driveway.

8:15 - Flag raising. Campers will gather at the flagpole, take huddle attendance, hear a morning devotion, say the pledge of allegiance, and pray for the day.

8:30 - Breakfast in the dining hall. Campers eat together at the same table with their cabin and counselors at all of the meals. It's cafeteria-style to get your food. Typical breakfasts are eggs, bacon and hash browns, pancakes & sausage, or breakfast sandwiches. There's also fresh fruit and cereal at every breakfast.

9:30 - 12:30 - Each huddle will participate in rotations specific to their group. Activities might include Bible study (led by their counselor), target sports (Archery, Plinking, or Axe Throwing), a nature experience (nature hike, creek walk), various sports, arts & crafts, camp activities like Prison Dodgeball or Gaga Ball.

12:30 - Lunchtime! Typical lunches include Sloppy Joes and tater tots, grilled cheese and tomato soup, or turkey sandwiches and fries. We also serve fresh fruit, Wowbutter (a soy substitute for peanut butter), carrots and hummus or broccoli and ranch dressing. Campers eat together as a cabin with their counselors.

1:30 - Cabin Clean up. It is what it sounds like! They clean the cabin. Believe us, it's a daily necessity.

1:45 - Rest hour. Campers have an hour of quiet time in their bunks. Sleeping isn't required, but being quiet and resting is.

3:00 - Huddles will participate in an additional round of various activities similar to the morning rotation.

4:00 - Action Options. This is a facilitated free time for campers, where they are able to choose whatever activity they would like to do individually based on the things we are offering at that time. Typical activities include the pool, the craft hall, the camp store (where they can buy snacks and hang out), the "Rec Deck" which is a pavilion with foosball, ping pong and board games, and the pavilion where they can play four square or basketball. All of those areas are supervised by counselors, but campers can freely come and go during that time.

5:30 - Dinner! Typical dinners at camp include pizza, chicken & broccoli Alfredo, pork chops and mashed potatoes, taco night, or fried chicken. We always have a full salad bar and sometimes serve dessert.

6:30 - Wide Game - we call it that because it's camp-wide! Each huddle is on a color team and they compete together in a large group game (e.g., capture the flag) each evening. They're games that often involve running around and tagging one another.

7:30 - Camp store/shower time. Half of the campers go to the showers while the other half go to the camp store to hang out. After half an hour, they switch. Showers are brief and happen in our bathhouse. Counselors are present to make sure kids move quickly through the process, but maintain privacy for kids, too. There are always multiple counselors there, to ensure the safety of all of the kids.

8:45 - Ligonier Live - Ligonier Live is our evening program. It's a mix of loud, worship songs with a band playing, as well as a late-night skit show. We do silly games, skits, songs and generally make it as fun as possible. It also always closes with someone on our staff giving a talk to share how campers can grow in their faith.

10:00 - Devotions. Counselors help kids get ready for bed and then settle in for the night with a brief closing devotion. Usually it's a quiet time to reflect on the day and pray before bed.

10:15 - Lights out!

How to Pack for Classic Camp

When it comes to packing, here are some simple tips:

Label everything! Shorts, sweatshirts, water bottles, toiletries, towels, sleeping bags...label it all!
Don't send your best stuff. Fancy new things quickly become old and used at camp. Rest assured that most everything you send to camp will come home with a fresh coat of dirt!
Your camper will be doing lots of adventure activities where short or revealing clothing won't be appropriate. We ask that you leave things like short shorts, spaghetti strapped tops, two piece bathing suits, speedos, or other tight or revealing clothing at home.
It might be summer camp, but it gets chilly here, especially at night. Make sure you pack some warm clothes.
We only do laundry for the two week session (Classic Camp Session 4) so pack accordingly!

Okay - major tips aside, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. Be sure to bring the following:

Any necessary medications in their original bottles. This includes over the counter medications as well. Inhalers must be in their box with a current prescription attached, and should be listed on the camper medical form.
Sleeping bag or bedroll - a sleeping bag is necessary for two week sessions.
Pillow and pillowcase
Two towels - one beach, one bath
Two pairs of old shoes/sneakers - at least one pair needs to be solid tie shoes
River/creek shoes or old sneakers that you don't mind getting wet and muddy
T-shirts to last the week, and at least one sweatshirt
Shorts that are fingertip length (you don't want to try to wear a harness with too-short shorts, believe us)
Two pairs of jeans or long pants
Plenty of socks & underwear
Pajamas
A warm jacket
Rain gear - a poncho or a jacket
Swimsuit (no speedos or bikini's, one piece bathing suits are preferred but modest two pieces are acceptable)
Shower shoes/flip flops
Toiletries
Flashlight and extra batteries
Water bottle
Bug spray & sunscreen
Bible, notebook, & pen or pencil (any translation of the Bible is fine; we most commonly use the 1984 NIV)
Stationary & stamps
Caving clothes - if your camper opts to go caving, they MUST have long pants, a long sleeved shirt and old shoes. These clothes will get completely covered in mud.
Laundry bag for those really dirty clothes - a trash bag will work!
A tub, suitcase or trunk for your belongings.
Bring a caddy for toiletries. There are cubbyholes in the bathhouses to keep them. For girls, the cubbyholes are 8 ¼” high, 11 ¼” wide, 5 ½” deep. For boys they are 8” high, 11” wide, 6” deep.

Don’t Bring the Following

Cell phones
E-readers/Tablets
mp3 players
Electronic games
Peanut or nut products
Candy, gum, soda or any other food product (they're not allowed in the cabins but can be sent as a care package)
Knives of any kind/size or any other weapon
Fireworks
Alcohol
Drugs
Tobacco/cigarettes.