Ponderosa

High School Camp

Pricing

Registration is open

You Bring a Counselor

$789

per camper

$300

per counselor

We Provide a Counselor

$859

per camper

Deposits are transferable and refundable
in the case of a canceled event

Need Financial Help?

There are scholarships available for every camper that needs them. We call it Camperships!
Campers and parents can apply for a Campership during the registration process online.

Learn more about Camperships here!

Camp Dates

Marooned on Trasher Island

About the Summer Camp Theme

We live in a world that is increasingly hostile towards Christianity, meaning that biblical truths are not widely accepted as cultural norms, and Christians are seen as narrow-minded, ignorant, and intolerant. Many things in culture are changing in a direction that is contradictory to the Word of God, and as Christ followers, we find ourselves in the midst of this reality asking ourselves questions such as, “how do we live with resilience as followers of Christ?” and “how do we stand firm on our convictions and beliefs while demonstrating care and respect for others at the same time?” These are questions that the Christ follower will wrestle through as we live out our faith resiliently. This summer we will look at the life of Daniel, and as we study his life, we will see an incredible example of a man who did this well. As we learn from Daniel’s life, our prayer is that we would have a better understanding of what it means to live in a hostile culture without compromise and that our faith would be one of resilience, able to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Spiritual Direction

Throughout the week of camp, we will study the book of Daniel together, predominately the first 6 chapters. If you are unfamiliar with this story, take some time before camp to read it thoroughly. As you do, pray and ask the Lord to reveal the truth of His word to you, maybe jot down questions that come up and ask your youth pastor, small group leader or a mentor.

Visual Direction

This summer’s theme will take place with our main characters exiled on an Island in the Pacific Northwest in the 1940s, being forced to assimilate into this new culture and home they find themselves in or stand firm on their convictions and beliefs. There will be many fun, unexpected twists and turns along the way that we will watch unfold throughout the week as we follow our character study.

Theme Verse

Daniel 3:14-18

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Super Spirit Day

Under the Sea

Team Colors

Sunny Surfs

Tiki Turfs

Theme Teaser Video

FAQ

Ponderosa can seem pretty surreal at first—one thousand campers, epic team competitions, cinematic camp themes, balcony-shaking music, and virtually endless activities, all at 5200 feet elevation in the national forest. But once you settle in you’ll realize that Pondy is actually very real—breakout groups with your peers and youth pastor, sunrise worship by the lake, and a thousand simple moments where you notice the Gospel at play in your heart and all around you.

Ponderosa truly is the best of both worlds where you can escape the regular routines of life while rediscovering all the things that a life in Christ provides.

IMPORTANT
Some older mapping services will suggest you take the 245. It is a curvy, winding road that will take you at least an additional hour. DO NOT take 245!

What to Bring

  • Bible
  • notebook
  • pencil/pen
  • flashlight
  • sleeping bag
  • pillow
  • toiletries
  • warm and cool clothes
  • jacket
  • modest one-piece swimsuit (no tankinis)
  • a towel for swimming and showering
  • a water bottle
  • $60 recommended spending money
  • If your child is bringing medication or supplements, please send them in their original containers.* 

What NOT to Bring

  • Drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor*)
  • alcohol
  • tobacco
  • fireworks
  • firearms
  • electronic devices

*Prescribed Medications, Vitamins & Supplements:
These will be collected and dispensed by the camp health center. We consider any vitamin, supplement, or over-the-counter therapy that is taken to treat a condition or maintain health to be a “medication”. We are not able to give a medication that we cannot identify and dose from the original container. Sending medication in anything other than the original container may result in the camper not receiving it.

Yes!

Here’s how you’ll need to address your letter/package:

Ponderosa – (Camp Dates)
(Camper Name) – (Church registered with)
64144 Hume Lake Rd
Hume, CA 93628

For example:
Ponderosa – June 15-21
Johnny Smith – ABC123 Church
64144 Hume Lake Rd
Hume, CA 93628

IMPORTANT: Please send five days prior to desired delivery date!

For each week of camp, check-in begins Sunday at 2:00 PM for churches and individuals.

Sunday afternoon is a great time to get your swim test done. Dinner begins at 5:00 PM and the counselor meeting begins at 5:30 PM (at Ponderosa Victory Circle).

Camp ends Saturday morning after breakfast.
IMPORTANT: Individual campers must be picked up by 9:00 AM.

To get a good idea of what to expect for summer:
Download the Ponderosa Camp Schedule

Why choose Ponderosa?

The gospel isn’t merely one ingredient in our programming mix. It’s the reason for everything we do.​

Creative Theme

The theme is a practical link between the entertaining aspects of camp and our presentation of the gospel. We leverage it as a background to Biblical truth.

Recreation

The high-energy, innovative games at Hume Lake give campers an outlet for their energy and counselors a chance to encourage team-building.

Dynamic Worship

Indoor worship, outdoor worship, corporate worship, devotional worship. Hume nurtures the attitude of worship from sunrise to sunset.

Activities

Hume Lake has an arsenal of activities for you and your students. Each afternoon during free time we push the limits while we play hard.

Local Ministry

We believe youth pastors know their youth groups best. In light of that, we run camp in order to give youth pastors the freedom to focus on their students.

Amazing Location

It is a place of great natural beauty, with warm summer days, cool nights, an amazing lake and wilderness surroundings. God makes cool stuff.

Questions?

Contact our Hume Information team
info@hume.org • 1 (800) 965-4863

Deposit and cancellation policy

Deposits and Payments
  1. The first deposit will be $35/spot, due upon booking
  2. The second deposit will be an additional $100/spot (totaling $135/spot), due 130 days prior to arrival
  3. The third deposit will be an additional $100/spot (totaling $235/spot), due 60 days prior to arrival
  4. The final balance will be due four weeks prior to arrival
Cancellations
  • If and when you are needing to cancel any spots, it will forfeit the full deposit per spot for what the deposit is at the time of cancellation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@hume.org.

Austin Payne

Speaker

Austin grew up in Quito, Ecuador as a missionary kid which kick started his passion for seeing people surrender their lives to Jesus. He now serves as a high school pastor in San Diego, CA at North Coast Church with his wife Paige and two daughters, Piper and Phoebe! He has way too many hobbies including surfing, dirt bike riding, golfing, and pretty much any lawn game.

Darin McWatters

Speaker

Darin is the Senior Pastor of EvFree Fullerton. He is passionate about preaching God’s word, shepherding His people, and embracing faith, knowledge, and hard work in his personal life. He loves identifying timeless ways to lead in the context of a neighborhood church. He and his wife Shannon have been married for 22 years, and have four children, Jack, Hank, Lily, and Will. Darin took Karate in 6th grade, and thinks it’s highly probable that he can still chop a 1×4 in half with his hand.

Dr. Erik Thoennes

Speaker

Erik Thoennes is Professor and Chair of the Theology Department at Biola University and is a pastor at Grace EVFree, La Mirada. He was voted Professor of the Year twice, and was awarded the Faculty Excellence Award by his colleagues at Biola University. He is the author of “Life’s Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says About the Things that Matter Most,” and “Biblical and Theological Studies: A Student’s Guide,” Erik and his wife Donna have four children; Caroline, Paige, Samuel, and Isaac.

Nick Ely

Speaker

Nick Ely is a church planter with Christ Church from Phoenix, Arizona, where he has served since 2013. He is married to Rachel and they have two unstoppably cute little boys, Titus and Jude. Before church planting, he spent 7 years in student ministry and loves camp with his whole heart. He believes that lives change when people encounter the glory of God in the pages of the scriptures and the power of the Spirit.

Chris Brown

Speaker

Chris is a Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church in Vista, CA. He is on the vision-casting team, provides directional leadership for the church, and co-teaches a preaching course at Bethel Seminary. Chris loves bringing the Bible to life with his gifts as a communicator and storyteller, and has a passion for sharing his real and authentic journey with Jesus. Chris and his wife Amy have three children, two beautiful daughters, Sayla and Karis, and a crazy son named Barak.

Jonny Ardavanis

Speaker

Jonny Ardavanis is the Dean of Campus Life at The Master’s University and the Host of the Dial In podcast. Jonny is passionate about people growing in their love for Jesus Christ as they grow in their love and obedience to God’s Word. Jonny is married to Caity and they have one daughter named Lily.

Christopher Hilken

Speaker

Chris Hilken is a pastor from San Diego California. He is also a trained apologist and frequently shares at conferences aimed at engaging the mind & the heart of believers and non-believers alike. He’s a single father of 5 children after losing his wife tragically in 2021. He shares his journey of grief as a testimony to the goodness of God.

Brian Howard

Speaker

Brian is the Teaching Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California, where he has served with students and adults since 2007. His preaching ministry is built around making disciples who live and love like Jesus Christ. Brian believes that the Holy Spirit changes lives through relentless proclamation of the gospel and careful teaching of the Bible. He and his wife Dani have been married since 2013 and have three children, Grace, Noah and Hope.

Mike Dsane

Speaker

The Lord revealed Himself to my heart during my sophomore year of high school. He extended to me forgiveness that I could not earn even though I tried to earn his love through performance. It was also by His grace that I met the love of my life, Sky, and we were married in February of 2012. We currently live in SoCal, where I serve as the lead pastor of King’s Harbor Church in Torrance. In March of 2018, we welcomed our first son, Apollo, and our second son, Julius, arrived in July of 2021.

Brian Holland

Speaker

Brian Holland has been in ministry for over 25 years in Southern California. He is currently the Lead Pastor for Ignite City Church. He is an outstanding speaker; he’s captivating, funny, but most importantly he is passionate to see people come to know and follow Jesus. He gets to be married to his incredible wife, Kelley, and has two amazing sons, Tyler and Dylan. Brian’s purpose in ministry is to help make disciples of Jesus who make disciple-makers.

Hume Christian Camps and Retreats

Join us for an amazing

Summer at Hume

We’ve opened our lodges and cabins to families and couples! Come up the mountain to worship, hear the Word, and spend time playing together in God’s creation. It’s the best place to be this summer!

Virtual Summer Camp 2020

Missing camp? Try our

Virtual Camp

We’re bringing Hume to you! With chapels hosted by our Camp Directors, you’ll get to participate in worship, play “virtual Rec” games, watch theme videos, and hear from Hume speakers. You don’t want to miss this!

We need help this summer!

Volunteer

As you know, things are a bit different at Hume this summer. The good news? The Lord has made it possible for us to shine His light in some wonderful ways, and we really need your help to make it happen!

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