Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where can I get detailed driving directions to Camp Joy?

A. Click here for our location and driving directions.

Q. What time does camp begin and end?

A. Registration and departure times vary from camp to camp. See the individual camps page for specific times, or contact us for additional information.

Q. Where does Camp Joy obtain their counselors?

A. Our counselors are Bible college students from fundamental Bible colleges. We recruit at several colleges and through local churches. Many are former campers who desire to give back to the Lord.

Counselors go through several weeks of focused training to learn their responsibilities and camp procedures, as well as how to counsel using God’s Word.

Q. How much are campers supervised?

A. Campers are assigned to their counselor at registration and stay with that counselor all week. The counselor stays in the cabin with the campers, eats all meals with the campers, and sits with campers in chapel.

Junior and primary campers do all activities together as a cabin. Teen campers participate in organized activities together with their cabin or church. In the afternoon, free time is available for teen campers to choose their activities.

Q. What about swim time safety? Is there a lifeguard? What if my child cannot swim?

A. A certified lifeguard is on duty during all swim times. Counselors are also at the lakefront to provide direction and safety.

Any camper wanting to participate in the swim times must pass a swimming test to be allowed out of the wading area. The buddy system also helps counselors to supervise campers at the lakefront.

Anyone riding in a boat must wear a life vest in accordance with Wisconsin laws. Campers on the rope swing or super slide also wear a life vest.

Campers who do not want to swim may stay in the fireside room for activities during swim time.

Q. What if a camper gets hurt at camp?

A. A nurse is always present on the grounds during each Junior, Primary and Teen week. If the injury is minor, the nurse will give appropriate first aid. If the injury requires more attention, the camper will be taken to the closest medical facility.

If parents can be reached, they will be consulted before going to the doctor, as the injury allows. The parents will also be consulted after seeing the doctor if the doctor’s office has not already contacted them.

A clinic is available during business hours within 10 minutes of the grounds. For emergencies, there are three hospitals approximately 30 minutes away.

Q. What if I take prescription medications? Can I bring non-prescription medications?

A. During youth camps and retreats, all medications, even non-prescription medications, are to be turned in to the nurse during registration. Parents should send written directions for any regularly-taken non-prescription medications. These items should be in the original containers and include dosage, frequency of dosage, and reason for medication.

All medications are kept by the nurse who will distribute them according to doctor’s directions. We suggest that you send only the week’s worth of medication plus one or two extra and keep the rest of the medication at home (to avoid campers leaving medication here).

Campers with severe asthma may be allowed to keep their atomizer if the nurse deems necessary.

A clinic is available during business hours within 10 minutes of the grounds. For emergencies, there are three hospitals approximately 30 minutes away.

Q. What if I forget my toothbrush, soap, etc?

A. A few items are available through housekeeping or for sale at the bookstore. Others can be ordered through a town run to the local Wal-Mart.

Q. Will I be able to e-mail or make calls while at camp? Can I call my young person at camp?

A. For adults coming as campers or sponsors:

We recommend that adult campers and sponsors not allow cell phones to become a distraction. Also, because of the location of the camp, phone signals are often weak.

For internet access, a personal login for laptops and devices is available upon request at the office.

For young people (2nd-12th grades) attending any retreat or summer camp:

We prefer campers not make calls while at camp, and we discourage incoming calls for the campers. They are not near a phone most of the time, and are often busy with activities. Their phones are kept for them in a secure location until departure. If there is a need, calls can be made at the office with a calling card or by calling collect.

In an emergency, we will gladly take a message and have the camper contact the parents as soon as they can be brought to a phone.

Q. Will I need spending money while at camp?

A. Yes. See some of the available activities and their costs listed below.

Camp offering (received during one service)
Shops (Snack Shack, Craft Shop, Bookstore, General Store, Grill)
Sermon audio recordings, $3 each message on CD, $10 for all mp3 messages on CD, mp3 *free on jump drive
Week-in-Review, $5 each on DVD, $2 on *jump drive (available during summer camps)
*Camp Joy jump drive, $10 each *Or bring your own to be loaded!
Camp Joy t-shirts, approximately $10-15
Camp Joy hoodies, polos, dress shirts, $20-$30
Paintball, $5 to rent equipment: semi-automatic rifle, mask, CO2, and 25 rounds; $5 for additional 100 rounds, $2 for CO2 refill. $2 if campers bring their own equipment.
Family and Cabin Pictures, $.50 each (available during summer junior and family camps)

Q. How can I stay in touch with my young person at camp?

A. Campers wishing to write letters home may purchase cards and postage from the bookstore. Although out-going e-mail is not available for youth campers, incoming emails can be received through our website: email a camper.

Q. What are the accommodations like where the campers stay?

A. During teen, junior and primary camps, campers stay in dormitory style housing. Each room has several bunk beds and the restrooms are nearby. Girls will stay in the first floor Lodge rooms. Boys are housed in the Family Cabins. The boys cabin area is located behind the office and maze, about a half-block from the Lodge and Chapel.

Sponsors and adult campers stay in the Deluxe rooms, hotel-type accommodations with a private bathroom in each room. These are located on the second floor of the Lodge.

During adult retreats, both the Lodge rooms downstairs and Deluxe rooms upstairs are available. They are conveniently located in the same building as the dining hall and near the chapel.

The Driftwood Village cabins are also available to sponsors and adult campers. These are individual cabins with a private bathroom and a loft with additional sleeping arrangements. These cabins are located on the hill next to the parking lot.

During Family weeks, all four housing accommodations are available, as well as electrical hook-ups for campers and RVs.

See our Accommodations page.

Q. Can I choose a roommate?

A. Yes. Campers may choose one or two other people to stay with. The campers should list each other on the roommate request line of the registration form.

Q. What is a sponsor?

A. A sponsor can be a youth pastor, parent, bus driver or anyone else that brings a group of campers. Sponsors are welcome and encouraged to stay for the week and enjoy their time, cheering on their campers and building relationships. Sponsors are not responsible for supervising campers. Camp Joy recruits and trains counselors to supervise each cabin.

Q. Where do sponsors stay?

A. Sponsors stay in the Deluxe rooms. See our accommodations page. We have hotel-type rooms available that are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations cannot be confirmed or guaranteed without advance registration.

Q. Can my parents and friends visit me while I'm at camp?

A. Yes, but occasionally these visits make the campers feel homesick. Parents are the best judge as to whether or not this would be a problem. We often find that the parents are more homesick for their children than the campers are for home because the campers are having so much fun.