Policies & Procedures | Victory Center Bible Camp

Arrival and Check-In

Registration is in the dining hall. Please leave luggage outside.
Have medications and camp bank money with you at check-in.
Both the camper and the parent (or whoever brought the camper) need to go through the registration line.
Be ready to tell us who may pick up the camper at the end of the week. We need a name on the sign-out sheet.
If you brought a food donation, bring it when you register and give it to the kitchen staff.
Camp T-shirts, Bibles and water bottles are for sale during check-in.

Cabins

How are bunkmates assigned? We do our best to place friends together as requested on the registration form, but space doesn't allow us to guarantee requests. We try to honor group requests of up to 3 campers from one area; groups of 4 or more are often divided.

How many sleep in each cabin? Each cabin has beds and mattresses for 8 campers and one cabin leader. The four sets of metal bunk beds have top guard rails for safety.

Are bunks assigned? No. Bunks are first come, first served, and a cabin leader will be there to help.

Are bathrooms in the cabins? Our bath house is centrally located, with flush toilets and hot and cold running water for sinks and showers. A flashlight is handy for night trips.

Waiting List

If your session is full, you may sign up for the waiting list.
When a spot opens, you'll receive an email and have 24 hours to respond before the next person on the list is contacted.
If you don't respond, your name stays on the list but moves to the bottom.

Note: If your pre-registered child can't come to camp, please call us so someone on the waiting list can attend.

Homesickness

We take homesickness seriously, and our staff are prepared to help. Over the years we've learned that parents play a big role in preventing it.
Homesickness is usually avoidable when signs are caught early. Tell your camper you want them to finish the week.
Once parents aren't the focus, other activities and friends fill the gap.
Parents are often more worried about leaving their campers than the other way around.
Please don't promise your camper they can call home if they get homesick. If you think homesickness may be a problem, contact the directors ahead of time.
If homesickness continues, we will contact you.

Money

How does the camp bank work? At registration, all camper spending money is deposited in the camp bank. As your child spends money on offerings or the camp store, we keep a running balance. Any unused money is returned in an envelope on the last day.

How much money does my camper need? Pop and candy are included in the camp fee, and there's no spending limit at the camp store. Except at Primary Camp, two offerings are taken: one for the speaker and one for a missionary or missions project.

What does the camp store sell? Christian gifts, toys, books, Bibles and jewelry, plus water bottles, T-shirts, pens and coffee mugs with the camp logo.

Are cabin leaders paid? No. All our cabin leaders are volunteers serving without pay. Some choose to raise support as summer missionaries, and any gifts to them are gratefully appreciated.

Departure

Parents and friends are encouraged to attend the closing program in the dining hall, where campers sing, receive their Bible verse awards and watch a highlight video. (No program for Primary Camp.)
The program lasts about 30 minutes; campers may be signed out afterward.
Parents sign their child out with the cabin leader. We will only release a camper to the person named at check-in.
We discourage early pickup. If it's necessary, please ask for and fill out an early-dismissal form at registration.
The camp store is open during check-out.

Contacting Your Camper

Visiting: Camp does not have visiting times for friends and relatives. For security, please contact the camp office if you need to see your child.

Letters: Save postage! We'll have a box at registration for letter-size mail; mark which day you'd like it delivered. Or mail it to: Camper's Name, Victory Center Bible Camp, 28339 Bad River Road, Fort Pierre, SD 57532. Keep the last day of camp in mind.

Please don't email your camper. Campers don't have computer access and our office staff are busy with other things. Thanks!

We encourage you to write! Campers love mail. Tell them you're excited they're at camp and proud of what they're learning, and please don't mention what they're missing at home. Homesickness can creep up quickly.

Can I call my child? The camp phone is for camp business and emergencies only. We reserve the right to screen calls and take messages. If you have concerns about your child, we'll gladly talk with you.

Can campers call home? The camp phone is for camp business and emergencies only, so please don't promise your camper they can call home whenever they wish.

Cell phones: To reduce distractions, please leave phones at home. Any phone brought to camp is turned in to the office, and phones found with campers are held until the end of the session. The camp landline is available for emergencies: 605-223-2980.

Medications and Sickness

For every camper's safety, please turn in all prescription and non-prescription medications, including vitamins, at registration.

Packaging: Put each medication in a small bag labeled with the camper's name, the date and dosage instructions. Put all the small bags in one larger zip-top bag with the camper's name on the outside.
Instructions: Include a separate written sheet saying how much to give, when and how often. Sign and date it.

Camp medicine cabinet: Camp stocks common items like Tylenol, ibuprofen and bandages, given as needed according to the permissions on your registration form.

Sickness: Please keep sick children home to prevent the spread of illness. If you're unsure, check with your doctor.

Thanking a Cabin Leader

Tell them in person. They're volunteers working very hard to serve.
Write them a thank-you note.
Consider a financial gift to help offset giving up a summer job.

After Camp

Please be on time at pickup. Your camper may not feel ready to leave and may be overtired, so allow extra time for rest. Ask questions, but don't pry, and listen with love. Greet their cabin leader and collect their belongings and any medications. A special meal or a “welcome home” sign goes a long way!

Special Needs

Our directors and cabin leaders generally do not have the specialized training needed to care for children with significant behavioral, developmental or medical needs. Exceptions may be made case by case, but only after we consult with the parents and the child's doctors. Please speak with the director before registering a child with special needs for any session.

Social Media and Photos

This policy gives structure and boundaries for contact between campers and staff after camp. Those relationships can be a real blessing: cabin leaders can keep encouraging campers, and leaders are encouraged to hear how campers are living out their faith. At the same time, parents rightly want to know who is communicating with their child, and once camp ends, staff are no longer supervised by camp. So the responsibility for monitoring that contact falls to parents, and we want parents to understand their role.

Camp staff never initiate contact with campers, except for an after-camp letter from their cabin leader and a birthday or Christmas card.
Contact across male–female lines is not allowed.
Any other contact must be started by the camper. When that happens, the staff member must first contact the parents and get their permission before responding. Where possible, a record of emails and letters is kept to protect both parties, and either party may end the communication at any time.

Photos: Staff never post pictures of campers online, because parents have not given them permission. Staff or parents with a great photo or video can send it to the directors, who will share it if appropriate.