Ponderosa

High School Camp

Experience The Gospel At Play!

Pricing

Ready to register?

Summer 2024 registration coming soon!

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!

2024 Camp Dates Coming Soon!

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 ten 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 5:30 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.

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 Us

Do you prefer the phone?

Call our Hume Information team
 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.

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.

Stevy York

Speaker

Stevy loves Youth ministry and is passionate about seeing every generation step into and know that the life of Jesus is actually life to the full! He was a Youth Pastor for the last 6 years and recently stepped in as the Associate Pastor at Light Church in Encinitas, CA. In his free time, when he’s not hanging with his wife Trisha, he likes to walk across the train tracks to his favorite surf break and end it with a California Burrito (French fries and Carne Asada all wrapped in a bean blanket!)

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.

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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