Spruce Lake Retreat

Yes - wifi is available to all guests.

Its short walking distance but not next to it. 5-10 min walk

You will need to call the center for that information.

Each summer Spruce Lake employs over 30 team members from ages 16 and older. Screening – Each team member at Spruce Lake Summer Camp is carefully screened. We require each summer team member to go through the application process annually, even if previously hired. We review applications, screen at least three confidential references, review employment/education history, and conduct personal interviews. All potential team members are required to sign a voluntary disclosure statement giving us permission to complete background checks with the Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse Registry, Pennsylvania Criminal History, FBI fingerprinting, and Social Security address verification. Training – All team members are required to attend a 2-week summer training event that covers both general subjects and subjects specific to their roles. Our general training involves sessions on Health and Safety, Risk Management, Age Group Characteristics, Organizational Mission, Supervision and more.

Most Senior Counselors are at least 18 ½ and at least one year out of high school. Most Expedition Guides are at least 21. Occasionally younger persons may hold these positions if they have prior experience and proven maturity. All of our team members profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Most of our counselors and guides are college students, although there are some that leave full-time employment or are employed otherwise as teachers. Most of our counselors and guides have been campers at Spruce Lake and desire to give back to a ministry that impacted their lives. Our counselors and guides choose to work at camp because they love young people and the atmosphere.

Spruce Lake Summer Camp is a Christian camp affiliated with the Franconia Conference of Mennonite Church USA. This group of churches, located primarily north of Philadelphia, accounts for about 30% of our camper population and is the reason we exist. Our mission is to “Point Young People Toward Christ” regardless of denominational background. As a result, we do not spend much time on denominational distinctives. Instead, we focus on sharing God’s love, nurturing appreciation for the Bible, inviting young people to develop a personal walk with Jesus Christ, and helping them understand their call to serve others with the gifts that God has provided them.

All meals and standard activities are included in the cost of camp. Campers will have the opportunity to buy snacks at the Retreat Center Snack Shop or buy both snacks and souvenirs at the Wilderness Camp Trading Post. Recommended amounts are: $25-50 per week for overnight Wilderness Camp $5-10 per week for Day Camp

We offer a Parent-Child Mini-Week for children ages 7-10 to participate in with a parent or other significant adult of the same gender. Spruce Lake Retreat also offers a variety of family camps and events throughout the summer.

Overnight Wilderness Camp has a packing list found on our website. In addition to clothing items, some commonly overlooked items are dishes, sleeping bags, flashlights, and rain gear. For Day Camp's, your camper should wear sturdy shoes and comfortable clothes for active wear and bring a backpack with a swimsuit & towel, water bottle, sunscreen & bug spray, and a change of clothes. Day Campers will have a designated location to keep their belongings.

Our goal is to provide a time to meet new people as well as enjoy existing friendships. Here are our priorities in creating tenting assignments: -Honor one tent mate request for each camper. -Limit arranged tent mates to two or three. -Look for age compatibility within tent units. -Group together several campers coming without a tent mate request. Groups are welcome at camp, but campers are still treated as individuals as mentioned above. Youth group leaders are welcome to contact us about serving while youth from their church are at camp.

Financial assistance is available by application only and a $75 deposit is required to register. If your application is not accepted for any reason, the $75 will be returned to you. If you register but cancel, the $75 deposit will be considered nonrefundable. Complete and submit a Campership Application upon registering.

Large canvas tents are placed on a 16 x 16′ or 16 x 20’ raised wooden platform with 4’ tall side walls and an 8’ ridge in the center. We have two distinct sleeping areas for the genders and 20 raised platform tents total. Approximately eight campers sleep with their counselor(s) within the appropriate tenting area. Each campsite has a cooking ring, picnic table and seating area. There is no water or electric at any of the campsites. However, guys and girls each have access to two separate spacious bathhouses that are within a short walk of the tents. There are plenty of sheltered areas around camp (pavilions, bathhouses, tents, snack shop, etc), but much of our program occurs outdoors or in open air buildings. Insects, weather and animals can impact any outdoor camping experience, so it is important that campers come prepared for outdoor activity. We take seriously our job to care for the physical needs of your child when at camp.

The schedules will vary dramatically depending which week of camp you choose. Visit the Summer Camp and Off-Site Expeditions pages for more details.

The average week of Wilderness Camp costs $360 this year, but tuition is less for Mini-Weeks and a bit more for Navigator Youth Week and Expeditions. The deposit, meals, lodging, standard activities, theme T-shirt, camp DVD and a tent group photo are included in the cost. Bus service and camper spending money are not included. One week of Day camp costs $205 per camper and covers all program costs and care from 9AM-4PM. It includes lunch, 2 snacks, and covers the cost of off site excursions. Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt and water bottle. There are many discounts available; please see the registration form for details.

We do not serve special needs populations but are willing to discuss involvements on a case-by-case basis. Our team members and training are not geared toward children with special needs or at-risk children, and all campers must be reasonably mobile in order to participate. Spruce Lake Retreat provides the facilities for an excellent Family Camp each summer called Joni and Friends. Their program is designed to provide a retreat for families which have a family member with special needs. Learn more about Joni and Friends family retreats on our website.

We offer a wide range of activities such as sports, arts, outdoor recreation, and adventure programming. Our highly developed adventure program features an extensive Challenge Course (group cooperative course), two Zip Lines, a Climbing Tower, a Power Swing (giant swing), Outdoor High Ropes and a Vertical Play Pen. Because of the high use of our Specialized and Adventure Programs, we are able to employ a number of year-round staff who are highly skilled, experienced and professional. The activities and choice will vary greatly depending on the age of the camper and the program you choose.

When on-site, Expeditions campers sleep in two raised Adirondack-style lean-tos and have access to Wilderness Camp facilities. When off-site, campers use four-person A-frame tents at various campgrounds and primitive sites.

The rooms at the lodge are nice. The rooms in the cabins are comfortable. Mattresses aren't great if you need a supportive bed, but they're not terrible. Like Samuel, we've never had a bad experience there.