Parents Handbook

Dear Parent,

Thank you for trusting Texas Youth Camp with your child.

Camp is more than a week away from home — it is a focused opportunity for students to step out of their normal routine and experience God, build meaningful friendships, and grow in confidence and faith.

Throughout the week, your son or daughter will participate in biblical teaching, small group discussions, worship, team activities, and plenty of fun and high-energy moments. But more than the schedule itself, our goal is simple: to create an environment where students can encounter God in a real way and return home encouraged, grounded, and strengthened.

We are committed to providing a safe, well-organized, Christ-centered experience for every camper. Our prayer each year is that camp becomes a “mountaintop” moment that carries momentum long after the week is over.

This Parent Handbook is designed to help you prepare well. Please take a few minutes to review it carefully and discuss it with your child. If you have any questions at all, I want you to reach out.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve your family.

With appreciation,

Donnie Mahan

Executive Director

Texas Youth Camp

CAMPER RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUPERVISION

Upon arrival, campers will be assigned to cabins under the supervision of adult counselors. They are
expected to help maintain cleanliness in their living spaces and shared areas, fostering a sense of
responsibility and community.

Your camper is always supervised by a team of volunteers prescreened and approved by the camp session director. Venue camp staff is only supervising the special events in which your child may participate. (i.e. lake activities, ropes exercise, swimming, etc.)

The following is a sample schedule. Please be aware this schedule may be modified to meet the needs of each individual camp session.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

7:00 am

Wake up

7:45 am

Breakfast

8:15 am

Cabin clean-up and quiet times

9:30-10:45 am

Bible lesson and discussion groups

11:00 am

Sports by assigned sports teams

12:45 pm

Lunch

1:30-2:45 pm

Girls swim/Boys scheduled activities

2:30 - 3:15 pm

Canteen Open

3:00-4:15 pm

Boys swim/Girls scheduled activities

4:30 pm

Free Time with cabin

5:30 pm

Dinner

7:00 pm

Evening Session

9:15 pm

Late Night Activities and Fellowship (Elem to cabins)

10:30 pm

To Cabins (for Middle School and High School)

FACILITIES

Alto Frio Baptist Camp & Conference Center is a Christian retreat center located in Leakey, Texas, in the scenic Texas Hill Country along the Frio River. It is 40 minutes north of Uvalde, Texas. Feel free to visit their website for more details.

MEALS

Three balanced meals a day are prepared and served cafeteria-style. Alto Frio offers a wide variety of options on their menu. No nuts are served; a salad bar and/or fresh fruit are offered at each meal. Special accommodations can be made for vegetarian diets, gluten free & dairy free diets and other food sensitivities. Please indicate what your child’s special needs are when prompted to do so in registration. This must be done by July 1st. Our Camp venue foodservice director will be made aware of the need and reach out to you to discuss choices available to accommodate your child. It is up to your child to monitor his/her food choices.

DRESS CODE

Our camp seeks to honor God, which includes his biblical call to dress ourselves with
modesty. We understand that the word “modest” can mean different things to different
spiritually minded people, so campers and counselors attending camp will likely have
different opinions on what clothing is or is not considered modest. Therefore, we articulate
this dress code for two reasons.

First, we want to avoid miscommunications and clearly express expectations for clothing before you come to camp. Secondly, our goal is to create an environment that allows all participants to enjoy a comfortable camp experience. Prayerfully this dress code allows you to feel confident and express yourself through your apparel while still respecting the boundaries set in place by the participating churches.” Above all, let us all remember God’s call to “consider others better than yourselves” and “look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

To ensure a comfortable and respectful environment, campers and counselors must follow
these guidelines:

Swimwear

 Boys: Swim shorts that are at least fingertip length. (per Alto Frio policies)
 Girls: A one-piece swimsuit or a two piece with a non-white, non-see-through shirt over it. (per

Alto Frio policies).

 T-shirts or other “coverups” must be worn over swimwear when traveling to and from the pool

area.

General Attire

 Shoes (including sandals, crocks, etc.) must be worn at all times outside the cabin and outside

the pool area.

 Some activities may require closed-toe shoes that protect the feet and provide support for the

activity.

 No clothing should express language and sentiments that would not be allowed to be expressed

under camp rules.

 If any camper wears skin-tight, form-fitting pants or shorts (such as biker shorts, soccer pants or

tights, spandex shorts, leggings, etc.), the camper must also wear long shirts that hang below
the person’s buttocks.

See the image for clothing details. All shaded areas must be covered by clothing that is not see-through and

does not expose the torso, chest or cleavage. Shorts and skirts must reach at least mid-thigh.

CAMP STORE

This year we offer a camp store for MS and HS campers ONLY (NOT Elementary):

High School Campers: Access to The Gift Shop

o Alto Frio-branded apparel and souvenirs- Prices range from $.50 to $40

MS and High School Campers: Access to The Grab-and-Go store

o Snacks and treats, including ice cream, coffee, and sweets- Everything is $2

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The health and safety of our campers and staff is a top priority. We follow CDC guidelines, Texas
Department of State Health Services policies, and collaborate with Alto Frio to ensure a safe camp
environment.

All medications, including over-the-counter drugs, must be kept in the infirmary and administered by
trained staff. Standard medications like Benadryl, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Neosporin will be provided as

needed unless you opted out on your camper’s application. We are not responsible for medication
dispensers or equipment failures.

WHAT TO BRING

To ensure your camper is prepared, please pack:

Clothing: Multiple sets per day (especially socks) as activities will get campers dirty. A laundry

bag is recommended to separate clean and dirty clothes.

Swimwear: As outlined in the dress code.
Footwear: Comfortable shoes for daily activities; some activities require closed-toe shoes.
Bedding: Sleeping bag or bed linens and a pillow.
Toiletries: Personal hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste).
Towels: One shower towel and one pool towel.
Other Essentials: Bible, pencils/pens, flashlight, reusable water bottle, sunscreen, insect

repellent, money for the camp store (send with your camper and NOT centralized on the bus),
and any necessary medications (to be submitted to the camp nurse upon arrival).

BEHAVIOR & EXPECTATIONS

CAMPERS ARE EXPECTED TO:

✔ Show respect to counselors and fellow campers.
✔ Follow the "Golden Rule"—treat others with kindness.
✔ Stay with a buddy at all times.
✔ Wear shoes and use designated paths.
✔ Keep food out of cabins and respect wildlife.
✔ Expect to get dirty—bring multiple sets of clothes per day!

Disruptive behavior that affects others will not be tolerated. The Camp Director reserves the right to
dismiss any camper without a refund if their conduct is deemed harmful to the camp community.
Camp utilizes the 3-strike system. Please see below for more information.

LOST & FOUND

Lost items will be available at pick-up. Any unclaimed items will be donated after camp ends.

COMMUNICATION & MAIL

MAIL (Elementary Camp Only) NO "SNAIL MAIL" this year.

o Letters should be cheerful and positive.
o No food is allowed in care packages.
o Drop off pre-labeled packages at check-in.

TIME CAPSULE (Middle and High School Campers)

o Parents may send a pre-packed "time capsule" with their camper, containing small gifts

(books, games, notes, etc.).

o No Food is allowed

o Packages sent during the session will NOT be distributed.

PHONES

o Campers are not allowed to use or keep phones

o Any phones brought will be stored until check-out, but TYC is not responsible for lost or damaged phones

HOMESICKNESS

Homesickness is a natural but usually temporary feeling for some campers. Staff are trained to support campers. Phone calls home often worsen the feeling but if concerns persist, the Camp Director will contact the parents.

EMERGENCIES

For urgent matters, parents may leave a message for the Camp Director with the venue office, who will return your call as soon as possible.

CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT

Check-In: Sunday, July 26th at 3:00 PM

NO EARLY DROP-OFFS

Check-in procedures will be updated soon!
Bring ALL Medications and Vitamins in original labeled containers in a Ziplock bag with camper's name on it
No head lice or health screenings- please check your camper before arrival

Check-Out Window starts: Friday, July 31st at 12:00 PM for Elementary and 12:30 PM for Middle School and High School with the window closing at 2:00 PM.

*Buses should be scheduled to arrive at 12noon.

Note: Breakfast is the last meal served and at 8:00 AM. (your camper WILL be hungry)

NO LATE PICK-UPS ALLOWED

If an emergency arises, please let us know immediately and then make alternate pick-up arrangements.

Gulf Plains Church Association Policies

The Texas Youth Camp is hosted by the Gulf Plains Church Association (GPCA) To learn more about GPCA, visit About Us. For a complete list of policies governing both GPCA and the Texas Youth Camp, see GPCA Policies .

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

Revised: March 27, 2025

1. The camp director is responsible for the discipline of campers and counselors.
While counselors are responsible for maintaining order with campers during the daily routine, if a
camper is not responding to the instructions of the counselors or is presenting behavior or safety
concerns, the camp director and any person designated by the camp director shall have the
authority to issue discipline “strikes.”

a) The first strike is a warning to the camper that his or her behavior must change.
b) The second strike requires a call to the camper’s parent or guardian regarding the camper’s
behavior and a warning of the consequences of a third strike.
c) A third strike requires that the parent or guardian be informed that the camper has continued the
misbehavior and the parent or guardian must immediately come to take the camper from camp.
There will be no refund for campers who leave camp early for disciplinary reasons.

2. Behavior or actions that are significantly egregious may result in expulsion from camp without
following the three-strike system. Examples of behavior that could result in immediate expulsion
include but are not limited to possession of drugs, malicious physical attacks on others, etc.

3. The following is a list of behavior expectations of campers. Strikes or expulsion may be delivered
when behavior expectations are not met.
a) Follow the rules of camp.
b) Stay with a buddy at all times.
c) Listen to and obey instructions from camp staff which includes the staff of Texas Youth Camp as
well as Alto Frio staff.
d) Treat others in a kind and respectful manner.
e) Respect the property of others.
f) Respect and cooperate with the overall purpose of camp in creating a safe and fun environment in
which campers build friendships, create pleasant memories, learn about God, and grow as healthy
individuals.
g) Build relationships in an encouraging and pure manner at camp.
h) Refrain from the use or possession of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, vapes and any other illegal
substance.

4. Corporal punishment is strictly prohibited at camp.