A group of kids posing in front of a cabin with their counselors during summer camp in Iowa.

Drop-off and Pick-up Times

Drop off and pick up are some of the most special times at camp.

On check-in day, everyone is a bundle of nerves and excitement. Who will my counselors be? What cabin will be my home? At pick up, it is a flurry of stories, laughter, and good-bye tears. Parents, these times are your window into camp. They are the book ends of the amazing week your child spends with us. At drop off, your job is to encourage them, support them, and remind them of the fantastic things they’ll do. At pick up, you’ll be there to listen to the songs and the stories, grab pictures of their good-bye hugs with friends, and get them loaded in the car before they fall asleep happy and exhausted in the backseat.

Arrive anytime for check-in on Sunday between 3:00 – 3:30 pm 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 experience. 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.

Arrive anytime for check-in on Sunday between 3:00 – 3:30 pm 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 inside 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 at 3pm on Tuesday at the Camp Welcome Center. Since our full-week programs are still in session during this time, we will conduct our check out near the entrance of the camp. When you arrive, your camper will be ready and waiting with all of their belongings packed! Camp staff can help you load luggage into the car and answer any questions about your camper’s experience. Bring a camera to get some pictures with their counselors or their new camp friends. And be ready for lots of stories and songs on the car ride home!

A girl in Iowa at summer camp.

Check-in is on Wednesday 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 inside 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 experience. 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.

A girl at a summer camp in Iowa enjoying a water slide.

Check-in is on Saturday at 12pm 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. After a short check-in, you’ll be able to move into your cabin and play some games while everyone arrives. Every camper will get a new camp shirt to wear for their first day of camp! Lunch is immediately following check-in at 1pm.

Check out is on Sunday at 12pm. We’ll eat lunch together and then say good-bye to the new friends we’ve made. Come ready to exchange contact information. Perhaps you can plan a camp adventure later in the summer or the following year with some of your fellow cabin-mates.

Summer 2024

Registration is now open!

A group of kids at summer camp running through a river in Iowa.