Important Camp Info

Important Camp Info for 2010 (updated 3/1/2010)

Remember: You have to take the Child Protection Training Course every 2 years! Many of you will need to
repeat this training before camp this year. If you need a copy of this training course, please contact me ASAP!
When you arrive at camp, you will need to provide a copy of the Volunteer Screening Form and completion
certificate for each adult sponsor and every adult who will be visiting the camp during the week.

Mission Project:
If you've been to camp in the past you're aware that we typically collect an item to be given to a missions organization.
Past projects have benefited the Texas DPS office, Pregnancy Help Centers, and Texas Port Ministry. However, these
projects make it very difficult for us to transport these items home from camp and to whatever organization they are
going to. So for this year, we've decided to eliminate this particular project and focus our efforts on our
missions offering. This is not a permanent change, and if you know of an organization in your area that would benefit
from a project like this, please let us know for future consideration.

Mission Offering:
Our Mission Offering this year will go to Sweet Sleep. Sweet Sleep exists to share God's love by providing beds to
the world's orphaned and abandoned children. $200 can provide a complete bed (frame, mattress, mosquito netting,
sheets, blanket, pillow) to a child in Uganda or Moldova. We'll be learning more about this organization and the plight of
orphans around the world during camp, but to get a head start, check out Sweet Sleep on the web by clicking on their
logo.

Theme Days:
Monday: Church Group Look-a-like (Have your church group wear matching shirts, hats, etc.)
Tuesday: Camp T-Shirt Day (We'll all wear our camp shirts.)
Wednesday: Be a Bed Head (Keep your hair looking like you just rolled out of bed!)
Thursday: Praise God "With One Voice" (wear your favorite music t-shirt)
Friday: Going Home (Wear whatever you can find that is somewhat clean. It's a long ride home, so wear whatever
smells the best!)

Counselor to Camper Ratio:
The required ratio for counselors to campers is 1:8. Counselors must be over 21 years old and must have
completed the Child Protection Training and a Volunteer Screening Form (these forms will be available at camp).
If you have not completed the training, please contact me ASAP and I'll send you out a DVD. Those under 18 are
invited to attend Teen Camp which is designed for their spiritual needs.

Junior Counselors:
We've discovered that some churches have teenagers working with their groups and would like to attend camp as
assistant counselors rather than attend Teen Camp. As long as the counselor to camper ratio of 1:8 is maintained
by adults over 21, Junior Counselors are invited to attend camp. For example: A group containing 12 girls must
have 2 adult counselors in order to maintain the 1:8 rule. This group may bring a Junior Counselor as well as the 2
adult counselors. Junior Counselors must also complete the Child Protection Training course and must be
supervised by an adult counselor at all times. A Junior Counselor in no way takes the place of an adult
counselor.

Free Time:
Girls will be given free time each day. The gift shop and snack bar will be open during free time.

Dress Code:
Spaghetti straps are NOT allowed on campers OR counselors. Shorts must extend past the fingertips when hands
are held by your side. Two piece swimsuit must be covered up by a dark t-shirt at all times, even in the water
(we suggest you avoid them as much as possible!). A cover up that completely covers the swimsuit must be worn to
and from the pool. Mesh cover up and towels are NOT acceptable. Closed toe shoes (preferably old tennis shoes,
NOT water shoes) must be worn to the boat docks and the fishing dock. Counselors are expected to keep an eye
on their girls and help us to enforce these rules.

Mail:
Mail call will be done during afternoon camp rally and will be called by church, not by individual. Please make sure
that parents include the name of your church on their envelopes. Also, let them know to send mail by Monday,
June 7 in order for us to receive it in time.

Name of Camper
Name of Church
Girls Mission Camp
Texas Baptist Encampment
P.O. Box 1265
Palacios, TX 77465

If you have any questions please contact me by phone at 979-665-7553 or by
email at michelle@texasportministry.org