Ponderosa

High School Camp

Experience The Gospel At Play!

Ponderosa is a high-energy camp filled with exciting recreation competition, outdoor adventures, and an abundance of activities that keep the fun going all week long (camp is fun!). But beyond the fun, Ponderosa offers something deeper- a chance to escape the distractions of everyday life and dive into intentional, Christ-centered community. Through Biblically rich themes, Gospel-focused teaching, small group discussions, and powerful worship, you’ll be challenged to grow in your relationship with God and be equipped to live out your faith with grace and boldness.

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

Why choose Ponderosa?

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

Want to save money?

Early Bird Discount

Register your church by March 1 and get a $20 discount per camper!

*Discount applied at checkout*

2026 Ponderosa Pricing

You Bring a Counselor

$929 $909

per camper

$300

per counselor

We Provide a Counselor

$999

per camper

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!

2026 Camp Dates

Don't want to join the waitlist?

We have other camp options for you!

Coming Soon!

Our summer theme will be announced on February 16, 2026

FAQ

Ponderosa is a high-energy camp filled with exciting recreation competition, outdoor adventures, and an abundance of activities that keep the fun going all week long (camp is fun!). But beyond the fun, Ponderosa offers something deeper- a chance to escape the distractions of everyday life and dive into intentional, Christ-centered community. Through Biblically rich themes, Gospel-focused teaching, small group discussions, and powerful worship, you’ll be challenged to grow in your relationship with God and be equipped to live out your faith with grace and boldness.

Ponderosa truly is the best of both worlds where you can escape the regular routines of life while rediscovering the richness and depth 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 ten days prior to desired delivery date!

At Hume we care about providing the highest level of healthcare to our campers and staff. Check out this important info for everything you need to know about health and safety while at camp.

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 5:30 PM and the counselor meeting begins at 6:00 PM (in Memorial Chapel).

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

We want camp to be accessible to everyone! To help make this possible, Hume can accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets. Because of the high cost of providing for special dietary needs, there is an extra surcharge for these special diets. Please refer to our Special Diet Policy for more information. 

Creative Theme

The theme helps to create an atmosphere for the students to engage with the Biblical truths being taught in a creative and memorable way.

Recreation

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

Gospel-Centered Worship

Corporate worship that glorifies the amazing God we serve and highlights the beauty of the gospel. Always a highlight of camp!

Activities

Hume Lake has an abundance 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 a beautiful forest. God is an incredible creator.

Questions?

  • Contact Us

Do you prefer the phone?

Call our Hume Information team
 1 (559) 305-7770

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
  5. Deposits are non-transferable and non-refundable except in the case of a canceled event
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 [email protected].

Brian Howard

Speaker

Brian is the Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California. Serving in student ministries for 13 years, Brian saw firsthand what can happen when students encounter the power and presence of the resurrected Jesus at camp. He believes that the Holy Spirit changes lives through relentless proclamation of the gospel and careful teaching of the Bible. Brian and his wife Dani have been married since 2013 and have three children, Grace, Noah, and Hope.

Chris Hilken

Speaker

Chris Hilken is a husband, father of 5, and the lead pastor of College Ave Church in San Diego. He is also a professor of systematic theology and apologetics. He is passionate about teaching the Word of God so that we can know, love, and follow the real Jesus.

Brian Holland

Speaker

Brian is a disciple of Jesus first who has, by the grace of God, been in some type of pastoral role for over 30 years in Southern California. He is currently the Lead Pastor for Ignite City Church. He has a strong desire to see people come to know and follow Jesus passionately and to live in true biblical community. He gets to be married to his best friend, Kelley, and has two amazing sons, Tyler and Dylan. Brian’s purpose in ministry is to love God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus.

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 the Director of Student Ministries at 3Crosses in the East Bay with his wife Paige and two beautiful daughters, Piper and Phoebe! He has way too many hobbies including surfing, dirt bike riding, golfing, and pretty much any lawn game.

Nick Ely

Speaker

Nick Ely is the Lead Ministry Pastor at Christ Church in Phoenix, where he’s served since 2013. He and his wife, Rachel, have four wild boys—Titus, Jude, Josiah, and Ezekiel—who love Hume Lake with their whole hearts. Nick is passionate about presenting God’s Word to young people with accuracy, clarity, and power. He’s also an avid runner—if you lose track of him, he’s probably doing laps on the trail around the lake.

Jake Ellis

Speaker

Jake Ellis is the teaching pastor at Atascadero Bible Church on the central coast of California. He is passionate about equipping people in all stages of faith to become more like Jesus. As a worship leader for over a decade, he believes that all good preaching must ultimately lead to worship, and he longs to teach God’s Word in a way that moves people toward greater devotion. Jake and his wife, Nikki, have two daughters whom he adores and two goldendoodles that he feels neutral about.

Jackson Arnett

Speaker

Jackson is the Creative Pastor at High Desert Church and has served there for the last 4 years. He and his wife, Sky, have been married for 6 years and have 2 sons, Hezekiah (Hezi) and Titus. Jackson loves spending time with his family, watching the Chargers/Dodgers/Lakers, and anytime he can get near a beach.

Josh Goertzen

Speaker

Josh Goertzen was born and raised in Kansas. He began ministry at 20 years old serving among the urban poor and leading ministries to reach and disciple kids and families from hard places. After marrying his wife Erika they moved to the inner city of Richmond, CA to continue ministry. In 2021 they moved to Santa Clarita, CA where Josh now serves as the Pastor of Student Ministries. Here they welcomed their first child, Rex. Josh then graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Stevy York

Speaker

Stevy, his wife (Trisha), and their son (Callum) live on the coast in Encinitas, CA. Stevy is the Associate Pastor at Light Church. Before moving back to his home town of San Diego, Stevy spent 7 years as a Youth Pastor in Orange County after he graduated from Biola University. Though Stevy is passionate about preaching, what really motivates him as a pastor is seeing God bring life, light, direction, and purpose to people’s everyday ordinary lives through the Gospel.

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