FAQs

Camp Ridgecrest was founded over 75 years ago with a very well rounded program and with a Christian emphasis. It is very strong in traditions. We provide excellent role models for today's children and youth. Camp is focused on individual attention and building one-on-one relationships. We have a wonderful Christian staff... many who have grown up at camp and have become staff. We are dedicated to honor and glorify God in all that we do. Our activities are planned to enrich each area of a camper's life ... social, mental, physical, and spiritual.

To find out more, read What Makes Ridgecrest Unique?

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We are located 18 miles east of Asheville on Interstate 40, at Exit 66. Someone would be more than glad to give you a tour of either or both camps if you would call and make an appointment. Please keep in mind that our camps are completely shut down and boarded up during the off-season, so the facilities and grounds will look entirely different than in the summer. We have plenty of information in our brochure and on DVD.

Please click Request Information to have these materials mailed to you.

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We ask that you not visit your camper if he is staying only for a two-week session. You may visit during session breaks if he is staying four or more weeks. We make this request on behalf of all of our campers and the continuity of their experience.

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If you would like to talk to your son during his camp stay, you may call and leave a message with our receptionist. The message will be posted for your son's counselor, and the call will be returned when the child is not in an activity. We ask that during the first week of the camper's stay that you refrain from calling, to allow him time to adjust.

For other ways to contact your son, read Contacting Campers.

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If this is your son's first summer away from home, you will probably have some reservations. Sometimes the first day or two at camp will be difficult for both son and parents. Actually, we experience very little real homesickness. Most of these problems stem from being in a new environment and being unsure of what will happen. This is a temporary situation, and clears up as soon as he discovers the excitement of the camp activities. Please help your child and the camp by understanding this early adjustment period and any unfavorable remarks he makes in his initial letters. Give him time to adjust.

If you receive a letter from your child with homesickness signals, remember that letter writing usually takes place during rest hour and the camper's thoughts naturally return to you and home during those quiet times. Try to bring your own separation feelings into proper perspective, and then sit down and write your child an encouraging response. Avoid phrases such as "we miss you" or detailed accounts of what siblings and the family are doing. Ask about camp activities, counselors, etc., and set a positive, encouraging tone. Express your confidence in their ability to cope and that camp is there to assist. The camp administration is always ready to help you if you have concerns. The camp phone number is (828) 669-8051, and the Director will be available for consultations.

The best preparation for homesickness is a positive family attitude about camp, discussions about what to expect at camp, and gentle encouragement that missing home is "ok". This preparation beforehand will usually suffice to give your child the tools needed to make the camp transition a valuable growth experience.

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Yes, we have a week's training before our campers arrive, where numerous topics are covered, including homesickness.

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The camp schedule is packed with games and activities designed to keep your child having a fun, safe time. We believe that campers will have the time of their lives at camp; often having the opportunities to do brand new things along with some they are more familiar with.

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We have two and sometimes three staff in each cabin, and 6-10 boys in each cabin. Cabin ratios are generally 1:4 (staff to campers), 1:3 overall (staff to campers).

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Every effort is made to foster social unity both in the cabin and tribe for our campers. This begins the first day of camp as counselors and staff engage the groups and introduce campers. The first night in the cabin is always a good time for campers to get to know one another and learn about camp.

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Campers are first placed in tribes, then they are divided into cabins. A camper may request one friend to be with them in the cabin. You can read more about cabin requests in the Guidelines section. The tribal breakdown is approximate and may vary depending on the number of registered campers:

Campers are placed by grade first, then age. Some variation may occur based on the number of registered campers.

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Depending on what session they attend:

Scavenger Hunts, Clue, Diamond Smuggling, Newspaper Party, Carnival, Counselor Hunts, and many more.

Every two weeks, the campers participate in Campfire, Camping out, Tribal trips, Sock Wars, Movie night, Free Swims, and Council Ring.

You can learn more about these in both Tribal Activities and Campwide Activities.

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They can choose 6 skills. They will be sent a skill sign-up sheet before camp, but are rechecked on Opening day to make sure the skills they wanted have not changed. We have the following skills (some change from year to year depending on staff):

• Sports
  • Soccer
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Football
  • Tennis
  • Archery
  • Riflery
  • Weight Lifting
• Bible Study
• Guitar
• Arts and Crafts
• Model Rocketry
• Horseback (Western Style)
• Water Sports: Swimming, Canoeing
• Outdoor Living Skills
• Indian Lore
• Mountain Biking (Choctaw and above)
• Fitness (Choctaw and above)
• Rock Climbing (Arapaho only)

A detailed description of our skills program can be found here.

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We seek out the finest Christian role models from schools all over the country. We have a strong mix of staff with and without a Camp Ridgecrest background. We seek to hire staff with one purpose in mind, serving Christ through serving our campers.

To learn more, click on About Our Staff.

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Yes, a Health Form (included in the Parent Pack which is mailed out in the spring) must be filled out and signed by you and by your doctor. If your child has had a physical within the last 12 months, a copy may be attached to our health form.

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If your child is a vegetarian, or is allergic to certain foods, we will work with them to find things they can eat. If they simply do not like something we are serving, we cannot accommodate these requests.

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If your child has prescription drugs that he needs to take while at camp, they will be given to the nurses on opening day, and your child will receive his dose as prescribed. Since many children are on important medication, and the nurses have a tremendous load to get all medications delivered, we ask this helpful favor from you: If your child normally takes vitamins or herbal medicines during the year, please do not bring them to camp unless it is absolutely necessary. Vitamins and herbal medicines cannot be kept with the child in the cabin. Most children can do without non-prescription medications for a two or four week period. This will give our nurses the opportunity to concentrate on giving out prescription medication to our campers that need it. Also, we have the normal over-the-counter medications (aspirin, Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol, etc.) in our infirmary that we can give you child if needed. Please do not send over-the counter medications with your child.

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We have two RNs at camp that will take good care of your children should they need medical attention while they are at camp. For minor cuts, bruises, and scrapes, we will not be contacting you. In the event that your child spends the night in the infirmary, or is taken to the doctor, we will call and let you know.

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Yes, this is included in our Council Ring. Each camper begins his stay at camp as a Hunter... as he grows and develops leadership qualities at camp, he can advance through the ranks. The highest rank at camp is Little Chief. Those tapped out for Little Chief must pass a rigorous test in order to achieve this rank.

Learn more about this program by clicking on Promotions and Little Chief.

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We are accredited by the American Camp Association and are members of Christian Camping International. In addition, certified instructors lead most of our skill, adventure, and wilderness programs.

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We are owned and operated by Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. We have campers coming from all denominations, and do not get into particular denominational doctrine. We have a Morning Watch time for each age group after breakfast, and cabin devotions in the evening, as well as Sunday worship services. Choctaw, Arapaho, and Sioux campers participate in “Quiet Times” each morning as well. We have a spiritual theme each summer that we follow geared to enhance and focus spiritual growth.

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Yes, the Asheville airport is served by US Air and by Delta. We have a representative stationed at the airport throughout the day on opening and closing days. Due to the distance to and from camp from other airports, we are unable to transport campers to and from these locations.

Find out more by clicking on Transportation.

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The camp is not equipped to house and feed parents (or friends) of campers. However, there are accommodations in Ridgecrest, Black Mountain, and Asheville. This listing is found in our Lodging section.

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Yes, we will take them to Sister Mary Margaret Catholic Church in Swannanoa on Sunday mornings if we are notified.

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All campers are covered under camp insurance for any accident or injury that occurs while in our care, up to the limit of our policy. In the unlikely event that the total amount would be more than this, your insurance will be responsible for the remainder of the bill. Illnesses are not covered under camp insurance. Your own insurance should provide for this.

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Campers do not need extra money while at camp, but they may want it. When campers take trips to various attractions in the area, the camp pays for the attraction and meals. Some of our campers prefer to have a small amount of spending money for snacks, souvenirs, etc. If you wish for your child to have extra money, we leave this at your discretion, and we will be glad to hold that money in our camp bank (deposits can be made on Opening Day or by mail). We do not recommend that the camper have extra money in the cabin, and we cannot be held responsible if that money is found missing. Therefore, extra money is not necessary, but it is your decision whether or not to provide it.

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Each camper should have a sleeping bag. He may also want to have an inexpensive backpack to pack his gear for overnight camping. The camp has some backpacks that campers can use. However, it is best if campers have their own equipment. A relatively inexpensive backpack can be purchased at stores such as Wal-Mart or K-Mart. The boys will have an overnight camp out at least once a week. It is a good idea for them to also bring along an inexpensive canteen or water bottle to assure enough water on the trip.

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Please do not plan to have your son arrive early or stay late. We are not prepared to give campers the attention necessary because of staff time‑off, pre‑session meetings, and work assignments prior to the opening of a session. Under extreme circumstances we will allow an early arrival or late departure. There will be a $100.00 per day charge for early arrivals and late departures.

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Council Ring is an exciting weekly event patterned after the Indian Pow Wow of old. During this time, we meet together on a secluded mountain site, and have a series of songs, stories, games, and dances by the Indian Lore skill class. Each camper receives a Council Ring rank, according to growth as outlined in our Promotions and Little Chief area. We encourage campers and staff to dress in Indian garb to make this event more engaging. Your son may want to bring with him any Indian Lore material he may have, but we do not ask that you make any special purchases. If he wants to make items for Council Ring, we offer this as an option in our Indian Lore skill.

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