Discovery

Grades
  • 3-4
Pricing
  • $530
  • $580
  • $630
Dates
  • June 15-20
  • June 22-27
  • July 6-11
  • July 13-18
  • July 20-25
Come discover what’s in store for a full week of camp. This is one of the first chances younger children have to extend all the fun of camp for a whole week! Experience popular camp activities such as rocket launching, hiking to Horsethief Cave, and arts & crafts while growing close to one another in a small-group setting. Discovery campers will have the opportunity to cook a meal over a fire and try our corcl boats! It’s the perfect camp experience for experiencing new things and making new friends.

At Discovery Camp, we’re all about having fun, making new friends, and trying new things. From paddling boats on the pond to getting muddy in the creek to archery, crafts, and everything in between, this full-week of camp is one adventure after another. Stay in a cabin, discover the beauty of our world, and have an absolute blast at Discovery Camp!

Dates & Rates

We know that every family has different abilities and resources to pay for camp, which is why Camp Bear Creek has a voluntary three-tiered pricing program. Choose the price that best fits your family’s budget. No matter which price is selected, all campers receive the same camp experience.

Datestier ITIER IITIER III
June 15-20$515$565$615
June 22-27$515$565$615
July 6-11$515$565$615
July 13-18$515$565$615
July 20-25$515$565$615

A full week of fun!

Camp Life

Discovery campers stay in cabins with their friends and counselors. This is the perfect introductory program for campers ready to stay a week away from home. This week is filled with new experiences like cooking a meal over a fire, shooting a bow and arrow, launching a rocket, and working as a team in the challenge course. Bible study is tailored especially for their age groups, and campers will have so much fun experiencing all of the best parts of camp.

Camp Meals

Meals at camp are about more than just filling our bellies. When we gather around the table, we build community, engage in conversation, share ideas, strengthen relationships, and cultivate empathy. All of our meals are served family style, and we are intentional about taking this time to share food, conversation, and laughter with each other. We do our best to make sure our meals are kid-friendly and nutritious, and we can accommodate most dietary restrictions or needs. At Discovery camp, campers will eat most of their meals in the dining hall, but they’ll also have the opportunity to cook one meal over a fire during the week!

A young boy at a summer camp in Iowa practicing archery.

“We return because of all the fun activities you do with the kids; my son really enjoys it. The staff has been very friendly and makes my son feel less nervous about being away from home.”

A group of kids with their summer camp counselor posing for a picture in a cave in Iowa.

“Before he arrived, Carter said he just wanted to play video games at camp. After one day of participating in the outdoor activities, he never wanted to leave.”

A boy participating in a scavenger hunt during summer camp in Iowa.

“I send my kids to camp because of the amazing memories I have as a camper. It’s about being able to experience the love of Christ and growing in my faith while creating memories with friends.”

A girl at a summer camp in Iowa sliding down a water slide.

“My oldest daughter told me, ‘Every time I come back from camp, I feel so good about myself.’ She talked about how, throughout the whole week, their focus was on how God loves her and made her the way she is. The fact that that is what she took away from camp is priceless.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions by parents about Discovery camp at Bear Creek. If you still have questions after reading this information, please call the Camp Office at (563) 488-3893 or email us at office@bearcreek.camp.

Check-in is on Sunday at 3pm at Deer Center (the dining hall). Don’t worry! Even if you’ve never been here before, staff will be stationed at the entrance of the camp to make sure you know where you’re going. We do our best to get everyone checked-in and moved in as efficiently as possible. You can help us out by making sure your camp fees are paid and paperwork is completed two weeks before you arrive. Bring any medication your child needs (it must be in the original container) to check-in in a bag labeled with their first and last name. Leave all other belongings in your car until you’re ready to move into your cabin. Every camper will get a new camp shirt to wear for their first day of camp!

Check out is on Friday at 3pm at Deer Center. First, we begin with a closing ceremony. Parents, this is your first glimpse into your camper’s week. We’ll sing some songs, celebrate some special people in our camp community, hand out milestone awards, and watch a video with photos and highlights of their week at camp. After the ceremony, you’ll be able to sign out your camper, talk with their counselors, meet their new camp friends, purchase items from the camp store, and load up all their belongings before you head for home.

Discovery campers stay in cabins! Our cabins have eight bunk beds per cabin, are air-conditioned, and have private changing rooms. Bathrooms are a short walk away at a nearby lodge. Camp counselors stay in the cabins with the kids. If you want more information, check out this video where our Program Director, Jake, sets up his own bed in a cabin!

Of course! Camp is always better with friends! When you sign up for camp, you’ll notice a spot on your registration form that asks if you would like to be placed in the same group with a friend. Make sure you write their name down, and tell them to write yours!

There’s so much adventure and excitement to be had at camp. Of course, you’ll get to do things like meet new friends, play games, and try new things. Some camp activities are daily (like Bible study or swimming) while other things might be done just once or a few times during the week (like kayaking or archery). Activity Hour is the time when campers get to choose what they would like to do from a list of options. Color Wars are our all-camp games that we play together every evening. Of course, things like weather can impact schedules and activities that we are able to run, but in general, Discovery Campers can look forward to archery, human foosball, arts & crafts, nature, corcl boats, challenge course, creek stomping, Bible study, swimming, launching rockets, cooking out a meal, slip ‘n slide, supersoakers, activity hour, sling shots, Super Wacky Adventure Time (SWAT), GaGa, 9-Square, and color wars.

It’s total normal to miss home a bit while you are at camp, but don’t worry! Our staff are specially trained to help you through all the feelings and emotions that come with being away from home. Our counselors are compassionate, understanding, and will be right by your side the whole time. Generally, campers are not allowed to call home due to homesickness unless a director deems it necessary for the emotional well-being of the child. While it might seem like calling home would help, we find that most often, it just makes the problem worse. Instead of focusing on camp and all the possibilities for fun, it pulls our minds away to home and what is happening there. We have some tips for how to prevent and overcome homesickness in this video!

Join Summer Camp 2025

Registration opens January 2nd!