Parent Information

Parents, we take your trust in us to care for your kids for a week very seriously. Below you will find several communications from the directors explaining what camp is, what you and your child can expect, and anything we need you to do to help us ensure a fun, Spirit-filled week for your children!

Dear Parents,

We look forward to an amazing registration for our 26th year of camp! Bless the Lord!! We are excited to welcome new families attending for the first time. Just as the Lord’s mercies are fresh with each dawn, each summer camp brings new and fresh faces and blessings.

As in the past 25 years, we will have a very skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated staff preparing to serve your children. We are expecting campers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and from as far away as Florida and Canada! We thank you for considering People of God Summer Camp for your child’s spiritual enrichment and growth in the body of Christ.

We will be ready to welcome your child in the love of Christ on July 14, 2024 (1pm) at:

POG Summer Camp / All Saints U.O.C. Campground
110 All Saints Road, Scrubgrass Township
Emlenton, PA 16373
www.allsaintscamp.org

Be assured that while your daughter or son is at camp, they will be carefully supervised with each day being scheduled and well organized. Your child will be assigned to a cabin staffed with 2 adults (a head counselor and assistant counselor), as well as a teenage junior counselor. Before camp week your child’s head counselor will reach out by phone to speak with your child for a brief introduction. Your help is needed to facilitate this very important connection about 2 weeks before camp.

During camp week July 14-20th, there will be a wide variety of interesting activities, gatherings, campfires, and games. Each day will include skits, Bible studies, and prayer times. One of the biggest highlights is the "Gathering for Christ" on Wednesday night. Each child (if they are open to it) will receive prayer for commitment to Christ, Baptism in the Holy Spirit (an outpouring of the Spirit meant to equip disciples of Jesus - you can read about this in the Bible, especially in the book of Acts), and/or whatever need the camper may express. Overall, our aim is to create a highly Christian environment in which the campers can meet God and have a very enjoyable time doing so.

Camp week concludes with a special Parents’ Program at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 20th, 2024. It will include the presentation of cabin awards to honor the children’s growth in virtues modeled at camp such as compassion, sportsmanship, scripture memorization, service, cabin cleanliness, unity, perseverance, and enthusiasm!

We hope you can attend. It will last about an hour. Then, at about 11:30 AM, camp will close, and you will be able to take your campers home.

If any questions arise as you are considering POG Summer camp for your child, please reach out to us at pogcamp@gmail.com. We look forward to the joy and privilege of serving your child. We are truly blessed to be a part of this mission.

As He Leads,
Joel Pepmeyer, Summer Camp director
pogcamp@gmail.com
joelpepmeyer@gmail.com

We thank you for the privilege of serving your children and we will be ready for them to arrive at: 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 14th, 2024 (for further details relating to arrival - check out our Health and Wellness Plan)

Communication with staff during camp week:
Several staff members will have cell phones, so we can communicate with you readily if the situation warrants it. In case you have an urgent need to reach us, the main phone number is All Saints Camp 724-867-5811 or Joel Pepmeyer's Cell (412-720-6794).

Scripture Memorization: Daily Theme Verses
People of God Summer camp is rooted in the truth of Jesus Christ. During camp week we strive to foster a deeper understanding of biblical truth, the Good News. We ask that you encourage your child to review the theme verses and try to memorize some or all of them (these will be posted to the website closer to camp so please check back for updates!). We will be working on this task in a fun way with your child during camp week.

Camp Theme Nights:
Monday through Friday afternoon at dinner time we have a special theme that is a lot of fun! Staff and campers alike really get into it. Please pack an outfit that corresponds to each of the 4 theme nights and is in compliance with camp policies. This is a chance for the kids to show their creativity! Wednesday is camp t-shirt night! (the additional theme nights will be posted to the camp website at the very latest a month before the camp week. This should give plenty of time to prepare!)

Camp Mail:
The campers really look forward to receiving mail each afternoon, and it makes for a sad “mail call” if there is nothing to give them. You might encourage other family and friends to write, as well, but please limit the total correspondence for the week to a maximum of 10 letters per camper. Please refrain from sending large care packages containing items other than letters. Please mark mail with the camper’s name as well as cabin name (Butterflies, Knights, Honeybees, etc.). As soon as we assign all campers to cabins, the counselor will be in touch and inform you of the cabin name.

Bring mail along with you on arrival day and drop it off at check-in. Some families have found that a large brown envelope containing several pieces marked for certain days of the week simplifies things.

Alternatively, you can mail your letters before the Tuesday of camp week to:

POG Summer Camp / All Saints U.O.C. Campground

Attention: "Insert Camper Name and Cabin"
110 All Saints Road, Scrubgrass Township
Emlenton, PA 16373

Preparing your child for a week-long separation:

Following are some tips from the American Camp Association to consider before your child leaves for camp
Do not tell your child in advance that you will "rescue" him/her from camp if he/she doesn't like it
Discuss what camp will be like well before your child leaves, acknowledging feelings; consider role-playing anticipated camp situations such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom
Send a letter to your child before camp begins so he/she will have a letter waiting for his/her arrival
Allow your child to pack a favorite stuffed animal and/or picture so that your child will have a reminder of home

We invite you up to camp for the special Parents’ Program at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 20th, 2024. It will include the presentation of camp awards and some entertainment. We hope you can attend. It will last about an hour. Then, at about 11:30 AM, camp will close and you will be able to take your campers home.

In closing, on behalf of all our staff, let me again thank you for the privilege of serving your children. We are truly blessed to be a part of this mission. Please contact us with any questions at pogcamp@gmail.com:

Joel Pepmeyer, Summer Camp Director
Beth Mayer, Assistant Director
Seth Porterfield, Assistant Director
Katie Grella, Assistant Director

Click here to download the packing list

Clothing for Camp

We play hard—so clothes need to be comfortable, sturdy and washable more than new or stylish.
Camp environment can be less than ideal— rocky, uneven terrain, wet grass from morning dew, some puddles. Extra pairs of socks and appropriate shoes are a good idea—not the new pair of tennis shoes.

Camp Policies
Please review our Camp Policies page to ensure everything you/your child packs is in compliance.

Cabin Order
The arrangement in the cabins provides a spot for each camper similar to a toy box with a lid. They are built into the cabin against one wall. Some have found that placing some items in Ziploc bags helps to keep clean and dirty clothes more easily separated as well as helping to keep the storage unit in the cabin more orderly, making it easier for children to find what they need. For instance, socks can all be together in a Ziploc, underwear in another, girls’ hair accessories, etc.

Packing Checklist

Warm (heavy) sleeping bag or 2-3 very warm blankets and sheets
1 pillow and pillowcase
Shorts (3-4 pairs)
Shirts (4-5 short sleeve)
Long pants (2-3 pairs)
Underwear (1 week’s worth)
Socks (9 or 10 pairs)
Heavy sweatshirt or jacket
Pajamas (2 pairs)
Rain poncho, umbrella if desired
Modest (one-piece) bathing suit
Swimsuit cover up or clothes that can be used for this purpose
Beach towel
Sunscreen
Tennis shoes
Flip flops/crocs for pool and shower
Extra pair of shoes, either tennis shoes, or sandals
Dirty clothes bag
Bible
Notebook or Journal
Theme night items
Good reading material
Stationary, stamps, addresses
Pen or pencil
Camera
Kleenex
Water bottle
Flashlight
Bug repellent
Towels (2) and wash cloth
Brush and comb
Soap and soap dish
Toothbrush and toothpaste

Your children's safety is our number one priority during camp week. If you would like more information regarding the safeguards we put in place, the video below is a recording of the training session with our staff from last year (2023 - it may take a while to load). We will be training all our staff in a similar way prior to camp, and the Sunday before camp in person!

Additionally, we require all of our staff to agree to and sign this Code of Conduct.