Ponderosa

High School Camp

Experience The Gospel At Play!

Register Now for 2025!
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Summer 2024 Registration Is Open!

Want to save money?

Early Bird Discount

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

2025 Ponderosa Pricing

You Bring a Counselor

$889 $869

per camper

$300

per counselor

DEPOSIT/CANCELLATION POLICY

We Provide a Counselor

$979

per camper

DEPOSIT/CANCELLATION POLICY

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!

2025 Camp Dates

Jun 1-7

Speaker: TBA
Register

Jun 8-14

Speaker: Jonny Ardavanis
Register

Jun 15-21

Speaker: Stevy York
Register

Jun 22-28

Speaker: Austin Payne
Register

Jun 29-Jul 5

Speaker: Brian Howard
Register

Jul 6-12

Speaker: Darin McWatters
Register

Jul 13-19

Speaker: Erik Thoennes
Register

Jul 20-26

Speaker: Nick Ely
Register

Jul 27-Aug 2

Speaker: Chris Hilken
Register

Aug 3-9

Speaker: TBA
Register

Coming Soon!

Our summer theme will be announced in February 2025

View Themes From Past Years

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

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.

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
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].

Jonny Ardavanis

Speaker

Jonny Ardavanis serves as the Lead Pastor at Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin, TN. Previously, he served as the Dean of Campus Life at The Master’s University & as a Camp Director at Hume Lake Christian Camps. He is the author of the forthcoming book, “Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace In The Character of God.” He is also the President & Founder of Dial In Ministries which provides Biblical resources. Jonny & his wife Caity have two precious daughters named Lily Jean & Scottie Joan.

Stevy York

Speaker

Stevy lives in Encinitas, CA with his wife Trisha & son Callum, where he is the Associate Pastor at Light Church. The passion for students to encounter God through the Gospel was birthed at Hume Lake where he started following Jesus when he was in high school. He studied Biblical & Theological studies at Biola & served as a Youth Pastor in Orange County for 7 years before moving back to his hometown of San Diego. You can often find him at the beach with his family & a California burrito in hand!

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.

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.

Darin McWatters

Speaker

Darin McWatters is the Lead Shepherd at Fullerton Free Church. Prior to his current role, Darin served as pastor of Teaching and Mission at Arbor Road Church, teaching and campus pastor at Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, Program Director and Founder of the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake Christian Camps, and lead singer of the Christian band Everybodyduck. He talks fast and most of his jokes make sense. He is also bald and has been for many years.

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 lead pastor at Christ Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he has served since 2013. He is married to Rachel and they have four rambunctious boys: Titus, Jude, Josiah, and Ezekiel, who probably love Hume Lake as much as anyone on planet Earth. Nick was in student ministry for 7 years and loves to present God’s Word to young people in a way that is faithful, accessible, and powerful.

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.

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!

Ready to Go!
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!

Let's Do 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!

Sign Me Up!

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