We want you to be prepared! This page is your one-stop shop with everything that parents and campers need to know to get ready for camp this summer.
Camp Dates
2024 session schedule: We will run three sessions in 2024:
- WIT/CIT Training Week: Saturday, June 22 to Saturday, June 29
- Session 1: Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, July 13 (70% registered; accepting new and returning campers)
- Session 2: Saturday, July 13 to Saturday, July 27 (70% registered; accepting only returning campers)
- Session 3: Saturday, July 27 to Saturday, August 10 (20% registered; accepting new and returning campers)
- Close Up: Saturday, August 10 to Tuesday, August 13
We sent out registration emails to returning campers and staff on February 2.
If your summer schedule is constrained, we encourage you to register early. (In 2023, Session 1 filled up by mid-April.) If your summer schedule has flexibility, please consider Session 3 for 2024.
Recommend a boy: Do you know a boy aged 10-13 who would be a great prospective JIM Clubber? Read our new boy information page.
Health Forms and Food Allergies
Health form: The Health Form must be submitted at least three weeks before the start of your son’s confirmed session. If you want your son to be able to take medication while at camp, a doctor must review and sign page two of the Health Form before submitting. (If you will be at camp with your child OR if you do not want your child to take any medication while at camp, a doctor’s signature is not required.)
Food allergies: If your child has food allergies, we strongly encourage him to attend Session 2. Our kitchen staff that session will be equipped to minimize the risk of cross-contamination and make appropriate substitutions.
Illness: Campers and staff should only come to camp if they are feeling well. If your son is not feeling well in the days before camp begins, please phone camp at (716) 386-3806 to discuss the situation with our Health Director.
Sermons and Platform Material
New sermon: A sermon will be chosen specifically for your son (which he needs to memorize before coming to camp). We have done our best to choose a sermon that is suited to his personality and ability. You can work with your son to make minor adjustments to the wording, if you’d like. Most scripture quotations are in NIV or KJV, but feel free to use your son’s preferred translation instead. The sermon will be included in the confirmation email after registering.
Returning campers: Returning campers will also receive a list of platform ok’d in previous summers in their confirmation email. You can find copies of the previous material in the Platform Library. We’d encourage him to arrive at camp with past platform material ready to go – it would be helpful to have ready for gospel teams and as an example to younger campers. Your son can challenge himself by also memorizing a chapter of scripture before camp.
Packing Tips
What to bring: Please review the packing tips to see what to pack for your son’s stay.
Spending money: No charge is made for any boy’s room, board, or instruction. However, boys may deposit money into their account to spend while they are at camp. Parents can deposit cash or check (US dollars only) into their son’s account when they arrive; any unused money will be returned at the end of the session.
Boys may spend personal money in the following ways:
- Gospel Magic / Juggling / Ventriloquism – Boys are allowed to purchase effects within their range of ability. Magic tricks, juggling supplies, and ventriloquism puppets are sold to the boys close to cost. Prices range from $5 to $50. Magic, juggling, and ventriloquism can be a lifetime ministry investment.
- The Store – A small camp store is open once a day for 2-3 treats maximum. Three generous meals and extra snacks make items at the store optional. The daily limit is about $2.
- Outings – Once in a two-week session we may go to the Midway Amusement Park. The maximum spending is $20.
Dropoff and Pickup / Saturday Afternoon Program
Dropoff: Registration will be open from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on the first Saturday of the session. If you wish, you are welcome to stay for dinner with your son (dinner will be served at 6:00pm). On July 13 and July 27, you can arrive early to watch the previous session’s Saturday Afternoon Program, which begins at 2:00pm.
Pickup: Families are invited to attend our Saturday Afternoon Program. The program runs 2:00pm to 3:30pm on the final Saturday of camp (July 13, July 27, and August 10). We encourage families to stay and watch their son present in the program. After the program concludes, you are free to head home.
Directions
Directions: Check our driving directions to camp. If you plan on staying in the area overnight, you can check our list of local hotels.
Tolls: If you are traveling on Interstate 90 or Interstate 190 in New York, the toll booths have been replaced by electronic tolling. If you do not have an E-ZPass transponder, read the details of how to pay your toll online on our driving directions page.
By air: If you are arriving by air, please look at flights to Erie, PA or Buffalo, NY. (Erie is 60 minutes from camp, and Buffalo is 90 minutes.) Notify us early of your flight details and we will be glad to pick you up. The Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport currently does not have regularly scheduled commercial airline service.
Canada/US Travel
Entering the United States:
- All pandemic health measures at the border have been lifted.
- All travellers must carry proof of citizenship. Travellers aged 16+ can use a passport or Nexus card. Children aged 15 and under can use a passport, Nexus card, or Canadian/US birth certificate. (See the list of acceptable documents on the CBP website.)
- Before you travel, check the CBP’s border wait times to see which crossing has the shortest wait.
Returning to Canada:
- All pandemic health measures at the border have been lifted.
- All travellers must carry proof of citizenship, such as a passport, Nexus card, or Canadian birth certificate. (See the list of acceptable documents on the CBSA website.)
- Before you travel, check the CBSA’s border wait times to see which crossing has the shortest wait.
As a reminder, Ontario vehicles must have a valid licence plate and green registration form when crossing the border. The cost to renew a licence plate for 1 or 2 years is free. Visit ServiceOntario for details.