Week 1 – June 15-20, 2025

The heart of our summer camp program is our traditional weeks of camp. Our mission is growing disciples for Christ through relationships and adventures. This is a great opportunity for campers ages 8-17 to be able to interact and form those lasting bonds of friendship. Camp pastors develop messages from Scripture that speak to each of the campers where they are. Campers also develop personal Bible reading skills with daily devotionals. Campers will experience many adventures like our pool, rock wall, v-swing, archery, canoeing, zip line, camp-wide games and more. Actual schedule of activities will depend on camper ages and any “add-ons” chosen. One of the big highlights of these weeks is our island camp out night. Camp owns an island, just off of our shore in the Piankatank River. Campers canoe to the island and camp out one night on the island.

Week 2 – June 22-27, 2025, Ages 8-17

One of our traditional camp weeks. See description for week 1.

River Riders Camp- June 22-27, ages 8-17

Enjoy an awesome week of horseback riding camp and horse care for the beginner! River riders is for boys and girls who love horses and want a chance to learn more while also getting the camp experience. Participate in all of the faith-building activities of all of our camp sessions, making some four legged friends in your camp week. Camp Piankatank does not own horses. Campers are taken Monday-Thursday to a local horse farm. This camp is only offered one week, so sign up now. Campers in this session may not participate in other camp activities while they are at the horse farm, but will join the overnight session in the evenings. This camp is intended for the beginning rider. River Riders do not go on the island campout.

Week 3 – June 29- July 4, 2025, Ages 8-17

One of our traditional camp weeks. See description for Week 1.

Mini-Camp – A Half-Week Mini Adventure for younger children (6-10 yo) – June 29-July 1, 2025

This is one of the most fun weekends that we have at camp! With just two nights, this is a great introduction to overnight camp and tons of fun. They will have messages designed for their age. Parents will notice that this overlaps our traditional camp week this year. Age groups will be kept separated.  Campers get to swim in the pool, climb the climbing wall, go canoeing, and have tons of fun!

Parent and Child Half-Week July 2-4, Parents (or an adult mentor) with a child ages 6-16

Join us on a new kind of camp. Our first year offering this parent with child opportunity. Designed to be a special time between a parent and one or two of their children. Giving the child special attention and opportunities to grow together. Activities will include campfires, climb our rock wall, archery, canoe to our island, and camp skit night. You will cherish night two of camp, where you get a one-on-one guided devotional time with your child to share God’s word with them- sure to be a special memory.

Attendees should expect shared cabin housing to be separated by gender, with a supervising camp counselor available overnight for children of single parents of the opposite gender. Parents will be with their child the whole camp session, camp counselors for this session are operating only as activity guides.

See drop down box called Parent and Child Camp for even more info.

Week 4 – July 13-18, 2025, Ages 8-17

One of our traditional camp weeks. See description for Week 1. 

Week 5 Youth Week – July 20-25, 2025, Ages 12-17

Youth Week- Our week of camp designed for the needs and interests of teens. The camp design is very similar to our traditional weeks of camp, however just for our older campers. Camp Pastors design messages this week that are for teenage campers. Individual campers and youth groups are welcome. Invite the whole youth group to join you!

Week 6 – July 27-August 1, 2025, Ages 8-17

Our last week of camp. See description for week 1.

The Day Camp program at Camp Piankatank is a unique opportunity to provide your child with an outdoor experience like nothing else. Day campers will have an opportunity to swim each day, experience some of our exciting activities, participate in an age-appropriate Bible Study, and so much more. Some of the activities offered are the climbing wall, canoeing and exploring the island, v-swing, and lots of fun games. For more information contact us by phone or e-mail.

Ages: 6-10

Drop-Off: 7:45-8:15am; Pick-up: 4:45pm-5:15pm

Dates:

• Piankatank Pals 1: June 16-20
• Piankatank Pals 2: June 23-27
• Piankatank Pals 3: June 30-July 4 (Yes, we are open on July 4th as a normal camp day.)
• Piankatank Pals 4: July 14-18
• Piankatank Pals 5: July 21-25
• Piankatank Pals 6: July 28-August 1

Cost:

All options include lunch and a snack each day of the week.

• $250 per child. A sibling discount is available for the second and each additional child in the family, this is a $15 discount.

A note to returning families- We are moving away from the “track” option language, as some found this confusing. No real changes have been made to program/schedule in the camp session, just changing the way we explain it.

REEL FISH! REAL FUN! Fishing Charter

Ages: 8–17

Reel in some fun fishing on the Piankatank River. Catch loads of fish on the half-day fishing charter with a professional touring company! This is weather permitting. All fishing gear, bait, and bag lunch provided. Campers are taken off camp property in vans for this trip. Please be aware that campers may miss some other camp activities while on the charter.

Fee: $70

Paintball

Paintball! A 2 hour paintball experience right here at camp. Playing several rounds of paintball. This activity does have a minimum of 6 campers signing up to be able to play for that session. If we do not meet the minimum the cost will be refunded. This activity also has a limit of 20. Campers participating in this don’t need any previous paintball experience. We recommend bringing long sleeve and protective clothing. We provide eye/face protection gear. Please be aware that due to scheduling needs, campers may miss other activities when choosing paintball. Ensure that your camper really wants to participate in paintball before signing up, there are no refunds for refusal to play.

 Ages 12-17

Cost $25

Parent and Child Half-Week July 2-4

Parents (or an adult mentor) with a child ages 6-16

Join us on a new kind of camp. Our first year offering this parent with child opportunity. Designed to be a special time between a parent and one or two of their children. Giving the child special attention and opportunities to grow together. Activities will include campfires, climb our rock wall, archery, canoe to our island, and enjoy the laughs at camp skit night. Grow together in your relationship with the Lord through worship and devotional times together. You will cherish night two of camp, where you get a one-on-one guided devotional time with your child to share God’s word with them- sure to be a special memory.

Attendees should expect shared cabin housing to be separated by gender. Cabins have twin size bunk beds, shared bathrooms in the cabin, and air conditioning. A supervising camp counselor will be available overnight for children of a single parent of the opposite gender.

Parents will be with their child the whole camp session, camp counselors for this session are operating only as activity guides. (The main exception to this being overnight supervision for children of a single parent of the opposite gender.)

When registering you must register the parent and the child(ren). Cost is per person. 

Campers attending with an adult mentor or non-guardian (even a relative that is not their legal guardian) must have written permission from the child’s parent/guardian in order to attend. 

We encourage you to sign up early for this camp, as we are only able to offer space for 16 females and 16 males. So this will be a small, intimate camp experience.

On July 2 check-in will be 7:00pm. Campers will check out on July 4 after an early lunch, around 12:00 noon.

What should we pack for parent and child weekend? Check out the drop down box below called “Getting Ready for Overnight Camp”. That has an extensive packing list that applies to this camp as well. However, you will not need the items suggested for the island campout. Adults may appreciate ear plugs, sleep masks, and mattress pads for the group sleeping arrangements.

Use the Register/Login button above. or Click Here

Cabin Buddy Request: Campers may request one cabin buddy each week of camp. Cabin buddy requests must be mutual. If campers request more than one cabin buddy, we will honor the first name listed. Campers must be in the same age group (within 1-2 years age) for us to accommodate the request.

Online Registration: Our new online registration page makes it easy to sign up for camp and fill out your camper’s health form. You will only need to fill out one health form for the summer for each camper.

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must reach Camp Piankatank three (3) weeks prior to the scheduled arrival date in order to receive a refund of the camp fee. After the cut-off date, refunds of the camp fee will only be given in special cases of sickness or death of an immediate family member or major unforeseen circumstance. The $100 Deposit portion of all registrations is ALWAYS non-refundable and non-transferable. Refunds will be issued within 15 days of the approved request and are non-transferable. Refunds cannot be given in cases of homesickness or going home early

Registration Confirmation: After registering, you will receive an email confirming your registration. You can also log in to your camp account to review your registration details at any time.

Payment Policy: We prefer that you pay in full when registering your camper, but you do have the following options. All accounts must be paid in full by June 1st.

If registering before June 1st – Option 1) Pay in Full. Option 2) Just pay the $100 deposit.  The remainder of your balance will be due June 1st. Your credit card on file may be charged automatically if you do not make other arrangements. 

If registering after June 1st – You must pay in full to complete your registration.

What is your lodging like? Campers stay in bunk style lodging. All of our cabins are air-conditioned and have showers and indoor plumbing.

Are boys and girls separated? Yes, lodging is separated by gender. Boys and girls are at camp together and see each other often throughout the day.

Are ages separated? Yes, each gender of cabins will usually have a “younger” cabin and an “older” cabin. If a camp session has a lot of kids sign up, there may be a “middle” age cabin. There is not necessarily a specific age separation we stick to. How this breaks down depends on the number of kids and their ages registered in each particular session.  All kids will all be together at meals, worship services, and camp-wide activities.

Can my child request to be with a friend who is also attending? Yes, this is common and we will grant requests when possible as long as both campers are in the same track and the request is mutual. Buddies must also be close in age. Please make sure you both mutually note your buddy’s name on the registration form. Requests must be mutual.

What are meals like? Our talented kitchen staff cook kid-friendly, nutritious meals for every meal. Meals are freshly prepared daily. We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions with advanced notice.

Weather Questions: We closely monitor the weather conditions throughout each day. In the event of extreme heat, storms, or other extreme weather we will adjust the schedule and plan special activities to make sure campers still have the experience of a lifetime.

This will be my child’s first time away from home. What will be done if they miss home and what is done to help them feel comfortable at camp? Right away we help each camper make a new friend and get acquainted with the new environment. This helps a lot. It’s natural for kids to miss home a little. Our staff is trained in how to talk the campers through these feelings of missing home. There are many things you can do to help your child be prepared for camp.

Read our homesickness info document (CLICK HERE) for tips on how to prepare for camp (many causes of homesickness are from things that happen before the camper ever arrives at camp). If our efforts to talk your camper through their feelings of missing home do not work and they are not able to enjoy themselves, we will call you and talk with you about what we can do as a next step. Sometimes this is just a little talk with Mom or Dad, and sometimes it’s going home.

What are the worship services like? Interactive and age-appropriate worship services and Bible studies take place in our worship hall.

Does my camper need any extra spending money? The camp store is open to campers everyday. You can add money to their account through your CampBrain account at registration or anytime by logging into your account. We like to discourage campers from carrying money with them or having it in the cabin because we cannot be held responsible if something does happen to it. We typically recommend $20-$40, up to $60 if they may want a t-shirt or sweatshirt. Starting in 2025 theme camp t-shirts are no longer given to all campers.

How can I talk to my child while he or she is at camp? Family and friends may write e-mails at office@camppiankatank.org (This email address is for camper emails only. Do not email camp staff at this address.) or send mail and packages to their camper (P.O. Box 435 Hartfield, VA 23071). Campers love to get mail! You may also send stamps and stationary with your camper for them to write to you.

Emails are given out at lunch every day. Any email sent after 11:30 AM will be handed out the following day at lunch. Don’t forget to write your campers name and cabin in the subject line of the email.

Can my child have their cell phone at camp? Cell phones are not permitted at camp. This is a great time for your child to be “off the grid” of technology to experience God and nature. The camp will call you if we need you. We believe in letting parents know what’s going on as much as we can. We will call you if your camper is ill, needs medication you have not previously authorized, is emotionally distraught, or we need to consult you on behavior issues. We do our best to communicate with parents anything we think you will be concerned about.

What if my child needs medication while at camp? Yes we can distribute medications to overnight campers. When you register for camp you will receive a confirmation email outlining our full medication policy. Please read it carefully. The main points of the policy are that everything, even over the counter medications (even vitamins or melatonin), must have a prescription with dosage. Pills must be prepackaged in “pill packs” or a pharmacy-sealed blister pack. Most pharmacies will do this for a small fee.

If you do not bring pills packaged in this way, our staff will have to do this for you and your check-in process will be much longer. Because of this extra staff time and supplies a $25 fee is charged to parents if pills are not brought in such a way.

Commonly needed meds like Ibuprofen or Tylenol you do not need to bring. We keep these in stock to be distributed according to your permissions on the health form.

Epi-pens and inhalers that cannot be packaged must contain their original box with prescription information.

 Check-in and Pick-up Times:

Check-in begins at 3:30 and all campers should be checked in by 5:00 pm.

Here is how it is going to look:

1. Check-in. Find the staff member directing traffic. Drive to the first set of tables with staff prepared to help you and your camper get check in. This is where we check your payments, and double check health information.
2. Medication Station: If your camper has medication you will need to bring it prepackaged. If medication cannot be prepacked, like an epi-pen or inhaler (not pills), it needs to be in its original container with original prescription. (Please note that if you do not bring the campers’ medications prepacked in individually labeled packages we will have our staff package the medication into a blister pack at a $25 fee to the parents. We will not be keeping any pill bottles for the safety of your camper as well as all other campers. Please understand that having our staff package the medications is the least desirable option because it will take extra time and extra staff to do so, and it will take an additional 30 minutes or more at the time of check-in- hence the extra fee.) If an over the counter medication is needed it must have a doctor’s note or prescription with dosage. You can read our full medication policy in your registration confirmation email.
3. Luggage Drop Off: Drive to the cabin your camper will be in for the week. At the check-in table they will inform parents which cabin to go to. Help your camper get settled in.
4. Big cheesy good-bye. Extra points for using pet names!
5. Peace Out. Head home. 

Pick Up times:

1:30 pm on Friday is the pickup time for all week-long camps. We will have a short (goal is 30 minutes long) closing ceremony.

MINI CAMP : Check-out is July 1 at 10:30am.

What to pack for camp: 

The list:

Printable packing list

We highly recommend using plastic tubs or a trunk as they are easy to pack, label, transport, and clean. However, tubs are not required and you are welcome to use the luggage you already have at home.

MEDICATION NOTES – Please do not pack any medicine(s) in your suitcase. Please pack all medications within reach upon check-in. PLEASE READ OUR MEDICATION POLICY in your registration confirmation email. You will need to plan ahead with your pharmacy or doctor for how to package your medications.

Clothes – play clothes, write the name on everything. Playing outside means clothes might get dirty. Don’t pack your best clothes.

Shoes – Tennis shoes for the ropes course. Sandals/water shoes for the waterfront, a kind that does not fall off easily.

Bedding – Twin size sheets, pillow, light blanket. Or a sleeping bag on top of the bed will also work.

Towels – 1-2 bath towels and 1-2 beach/pool towels

Bathing suit – 1 is fine. One piece only for the ladies.

Sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle.

A Bible

Rain gear – just in case. A poncho or raincoat.

Campout – Either a sleeping bag or a camping hammock (before coming, please practice using and how to put them away). A backpack to bring items to the island. Only for week long overnight camp.

Toiletries – Pack all toiletries in a bag or carrying caddy that can easily be taken to the bathroom and then back to the bunk. Soap, toothbrush/paste, shampoo, etc. Whatever your child usually uses to care for themselves.

Optional items – Camera, stamps/envelopes/paper for writing home, added money for the camp store if it wasn’t added when registering.

THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT CAMP: (Parents please make certain that your camper does not bring any of these items to camp)

• Radio
• Tablets
• CD player
• I-Pods
• Comic books
• Knives
• Guns
• Computer games
• Walkie talkies
• Cell phones
• Laptops
• Chewing gum, candy, and other snacks

Possession of tobacco products, vapes, drugs, alcohol, or weapons is grounds for expulsion from the camp program.

Email: Office@camppiankatank.org

(This email is for camper emails only. Do not use this email address for any camp staff communication. This email address is not monitored outside the summer.)

You may email your camper each day! Please limit emails to 1 email per family, per day. Emails are printed daily at 11:30am and given to campers at lunch along with any mail. Remember to add your campers full name and cabin to the subject time of the email.

Mail

If you’d like to send mail the old-fashioned way you can send it to:

Camp Piankatank
Camper’s Name
1586 Stamper’s Bay Rd.
Hartfield, VA 23071

Please send mail in enough time to reach camp on the dates the camper is here. Camp is not responsible for mail received after the camper leaves. Never mail cash or candy please. Packages sent to campers are subject to inspection before giving to the camper, to ensure that banned/unsafe items are not sent.

Pictures

We upload pictures daily, starting the first full day of each session (Monday). For camper privacy and
security this is a password-protected site. At the beginning of each session, this password is emailed to
parents. If for some reason you did not receive the password please give us a call or email or Facebook
message.

We partner with a company called Waldo Photos. As always, you can view the pictures for free, and
download pictures. However, Waldo offers a unique facial recognition service that will send you
notifications of new pictures of your camper after you upload a picture. This special service is
completely optional, but your purchase of this also helps to fund our scholarship program.

waldophotos.com

SALT stands for Servant And Leadership Training. The purpose of this program is to help train campers to lead like Christ, to be a servant leader. We want to prepare campers, not just to serve and lead here at Camp Piankatank but to serve and lead later in life. We believe that godly leaders throughout our society, and not just in religious jobs, will be the ones to truly make the difference and see more people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. The SALT program is a great experience for the young leader looking to grow even more in their natural leadership. It’s also a great opportunity for the shy camper looking to learn and practice leadership skills.

The first week for the SALT students will be similar to other weeks of camp, except they will learn about the activities that they are participating in and how to facilitate a positive growth experience for the campers. They will have opportunities to talk to other leaders and hear from them about what it means to serve in a Christ-like manner. Finally, they will learn how to lead campers in a devotion and how to talk one-on-one with somebody about Christ.

During their next two weeks of camp, SALT Students will be paired with a mentoring counselor, they will stay in the cabin with other campers, and they will have opportunities to implement what they learned from the first week. Throughout the weeks they will have discussions about everything they’ve learned and the opportunity to be discipled along the way.

SALT students should plan on going home between camp sessions. They will check in and out with other campers for each of the 3 camp sessions. We are unable to supervise SALT students on weekends.

Spacing for the SALT Program is limited. We recommend applying early to the program.

Age Requirements: 15-17 years old

Two Sessions are offered

SALT Session 1- June 15 – July 4 (going home on weekends between camp sessions)

SALT Session 2- July 13 – August 1 (going home on weekends between camp sessions)

The cost of the SALT program is $750 for the three weeks of attending camp. A deposit of $200 is required.

More information please contact our Associate Director for Summer Camp at cal.hedeen@camppiankatank.org

Camp Piankatank is happy to offer financial assistance for families who genuinely require help. We only rarely grant full scholarships. Please contact the camp office at 804-776-9552 for an application or email cal.hedeen@camppiankatank.org.

All applications are due June 1. Recipients will be notified of any scholarship received by June 5 or sooner. We can also work with parents on payment plans, as needed. It is strongly recommended that you apply as early as possible.

If God has richly blessed you and you would like to help another child come to camp, you can sponsor a child. To sponsor a camper in need please see this link. 

Your gifts are tax-deductible, and 100% goes towards helping a child come to camp.

Included in the cost of camp:

• Fully trained staff members supervising your child. Including CPR/AED, first aid, lifeguards, and ropes course training.
• Meals
• Activities! Lots of activities!
• The time of their life!
• Some “Add-On” activities have additional costs- Fishing Charter and Paintball
• Check out this document to find out more information about the tiered pricing program.
• A sibling discount is available. This is $15 off the second and each additional child in the family for overnight camps.

Additional costs to expect:

• Prescription medications must be packaged by a pharmacy in pill-packs or blister packs. Some pharmacies charge for this. 
• Credit card surcharges help us put thousands of dollars a year back into our ministry.
• Note that t-shirts are not included this year. You may purchase a themed t-shirt when you register or when you attend camp.
• Parents should plan on adding $20-$50 for the camp store (Trading Post). This is optional, but most campers attend with camp store money.  The Trading Post sells snacks, drinks, and camp souvenirs. This money is added through our registration portal and your online account. You can access this through the “register” button above. Please do not send cash.

Overnight Camp Price

• Price A – $525
• Price B – $475
• Additional fees apply for Fishing Charter or Paintball “Add-ons”

River Riders (Horseback Riding Camp) Price

Price A- $700

Price B- $650

Mini Camp and Parent/Child Price (our half-week options)

• Price A – $250
• Price B – $225
• Both the adult and the child(ren) must register for parent/child camp. Cost is per person for parent/child camp.

The higher option (price A) reflects the actual cost of camp. If you choose this price, you are helping us to maintain the beauty of our camp, pay our staff fair wages, and to add exciting, new activities each year.
The second option (price B) is our partially subsidized option which allows us to cover the direct costs
associated with summer camp. We provide this option in the hope that families will be blessed by this more affordable price.

Parent and Child Camp

• Price is per person. You must register both the parent and the child(ren) attending.
• “Sibling Discount” can be applied. “Sibling Discount” is $15 off the second or more in the family.
• This price includes all activities and meals.

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must reach Camp Piankatank three (3) weeks prior to the scheduled arrival date in order to receive a refund of the camp fee. After the cut-off date, refunds of the camp fee will only be given in special cases of sickness or death of an immediate family member or major unforeseen circumstance.

The $100 deposit portion of all registrations is ALWAYS non-refundable and non-transferable. Refunds will be issued within 15 days of the approved request and are non-transferable. Refunds cannot be given in cases of homesickness or going home early.

Payment Policy: We prefer that you pay in full when registering your camper, but you do have the following options. All payments must be paid in full by June 1st.

If registering before June 1st – Option 1) Pay in Full. Option 2) Just pay the $100 non-refundable deposit. The remainder of your balance will be due June 1st. The credit card on your account may be automatically charged if you do not make other arrangements.

If registering after June 1st – You must pay in full to complete your registration.

We love having children’s and youth groups from churches come to camp. Our camps are for individuals. No chaperones are required. Our staff supervise the campers. Church groups are welcome to send children to any session. Children attending with a church group will be interspersed within the cabins with their age group and one buddy request (buddy request must be same gender and age group).  

One of the great things about Piankatank is that we don’t require any additional chaperones, so you don’t have to worry about finding adults to take off work to come to camp. When church groups come during the summer they stay with all the other campers, so they get an opportunity to make new friends. 

If you have any specific questions about sending your church group to our summer camp program please give us a call at 804-776-9552 or e-mail us at cal.hedeen@camppiankatank.org

All required liability waivers are signed digitally through your online registration. This is accessible through the “Register” button above.

A camper behavior contract is required. This outlines to you and your camper the expected conduct at camp and our camp rules. This is viewable and signed in your online registration portal.

If you received an email about uncompleted forms, log back into your camp brain account by clicking the register button above. Forms are completed through this registration portal.