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Overnight FAQs

FAQs for Overnight Camp offers everything you need to know to ensure your child has the most unforgettable time at CRISTA Camps.

We understand that you may have questions about overnight camping events, and we are committed to ensuring both you and your camper are well-prepared. Please browse our FAQ list for answers to frequently asked questions, and don't hesitate to reach out if you can't find the information you need.

All information below is in the Overnight Camper Attendance Information PDF.

FAQ's for Overnight Camp

Waivers

Waivers and health information were completed during registration. If there are changes or additions, please call us at 253-851-4410. The Medicine Authorization is required if your camper checks in medication/supplements/over-the-counter or if you would like the Nurse to administer Tylenol, ibuprofen, or over-the-counter treatments. A parent's signature is required (a physician's signature is no longer required). Please bring the completed medical authorization form at check-in.

Registration Details

1. Check-In: See your Event details for check in times.

2. Waiver: After registering, you will receive an email with a link to sign the online SmartWaiver.

3. Medicine: At Registration, you will check in all medicine with the Camp Nurse. Please bring medication/supplements in the original container with current pharmacy label. No additional form is needed; we will use the information you provided online. If you need to add/change a medication from that list, you can so by phone or at Registration.

4. Store: We try to open the MR Store during registration if you would like to purchase MR gear.

5. Family Dinner/Camp Tour: For Middle School, Junior and OpX camps, parents and family are invited to join us for a Family Dinner after check-in. There is a tour before dinner. The cost is $15 per person or $50 per family for dinner.

Staff

Our staff has been preparing for your stay! Our counselors are selected based on their love for kids, Christian commitment, and maturity. All staff and volunteers are background-checked. Emergency Contact: (253) 851-4410 (Office hours) or (805) 215-0776 (Program Director).

Emergency Contact

You can reach us at 253-851-4410 during office hours, and an additional emergency contact number will also be provided.

Directions to Miracle Ranch

Miracle Ranch
15999 Sidney Road SW
Port Orchard, WA 98367

From Bremerton and points north

  • Follow Highway 3 south to Gorst.

  • Continue around the inlet on Highway 16 South/East.

  • Highway 16 becomes a divided highway.

  • Take the second exit: Sedgwick Road.

  • Turn right (west) at the exit ramp stoplight.

  • Turn left onto Sidney Road (second stoplight).

  • Proceed seven miles.

  • As the road passes Horseshoe Lake County Park, it makes a sharp right turn; you make a left turn into the Miracle Ranch gate.

From Tacoma and I-5

  • Take I-5 to Highway 16/Bremerton exit.

  • Follow Highway 16 west, across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, to the Purdy exit.

  • Proceed into Purdy, turn left at Hwy. 302 and cross the bridge.

  • Continue a little over two miles to 94th Ave NW.

  • Turn right. Proceed to the Miracle Ranch gate. (Miracle Ranch is located on Horseshoe Lake).

Accommodations

Cabin mate requests must be entered during online registration or called in advance. It is very difficult to rearrange cabins at the last minute.

Packing List (label items with camper name)

Sleeping bag and pillow

Toiletries (towel, soap, toothbrush…)

Bible, notebook, pen

Flashlight

Sunscreen (labeled w/ name)

Beach towel and flip-flops

Warm jacket

Several changes of clothes

Riding boots w/ heel, long pants (if riding add-on)

Active footwear (closed toed shoes)

Long pants and long long-sleeved shirt (paintball)

Swimwear: boys, no speedos

Swimwear: girls, modest one-piece or tankini

Fitted sheet for bunk bed (optional)

Trading Post money (see below)

Refillable water bottle (optional)

Medications - must be checked in with the Nurse

Please do not bring:

Peanut products, cell phones, iPods/MP3 players, radios, tapes, DVD or CD players, laptops, fishing gear, knives, fireworks, personal sports equipment, animals/pets, tobacco, or any expensive items. Alcohol, drugs, or weapons of any kind are prohibited.

High school campers who drive to camp must turn in their car keys to the camp leadership team.

Technology

It is a gift to your camper to “unplug”. Please leave cell phones at home or turn into the Counselor for safe keeping. Campers may call home anytime they request.

Dietary Restrictions

With at least two weeks' advance notice, the Kitchen offers vegetarian, gluten-free (non-Celiac), and dairy-free options. The Kitchen does not use peanut oil or peanut products, but the Camp is not strictly peanut-free. Please call the office at 253-851-4410 if you have additional questions.

Swim Check

The swim test consists of swimming two lengths within our dock and 30 seconds of treading water. Campers may take the swim test with or without a life jacket. To swim in the deep end, slide, or access inflatables, campers must pass the swim test. If they pass with a jacket, they can swim in the deep end with a life jacket only. All Campers must wear a jacket when on the slide/inflatables for extra safety. All kids 7 and under must wear a life jacket at all times.

Horsemanship Electives

If you registered for horsemanship electives or a horsemanship camp, please bring long pants/jeans and cowboy boots (preferably) or tennis shoes. with a heel. Check thrift stores for used boots or western stores for new boots. Please, no cumbersome rubber boots; these are difficult to ride in. The camp provides riding helmets, or you may bring your own ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet.

Activities

We know that archery, rock wall, paintball, and high ropes elements are popular for our campers! Depending on the camp size and schedule, we do our best for all campers to experience as many activities as possible. Please be sure to pack closed toes shoes, long pants and long sleeves, in case your camper has the opportunity to play paintball. Other activities require closed toed shoes. 

Camper Mail

We discourage USPS packages; our mail delivery is consistently 2-3 days longer than expected. You are welcome to drop care packages at Registration and we will deliver any day.

Camper E-mail

For camps 3 nights or longer, you can send one-way emails to your camper at [email protected]. In the Subject portion, please include camper name/counselor name, if you know it. Sorry, no attachments can be received.

Phoning & Visiting

We are fully conscious of our great responsibility to care for your camper. In the case of any emergency, you will be notified promptly. Consequently, we discourage personal phone calls, either incoming or outgoing, or personal visitation during the camp session due to the interruption to the schedule and the effect on camper morale. If a serious concern arises, you may contact the camp director to discuss the situation.

Lost and Found

Please label all belongings with camper’s name and phone number. If a camper leaves something behind, we will attempt to locate the item. You will be asked to pay the postage required to return the item. All unclaimed items are donated after 2 weeks.

Spending Money at the Trading Post

The store has snacks, small items, and Miracle Ranch merchandise ranging from .50 to $40. The store is typically open during free time. We use an “account” system. Call our office to add funds or make a deposit at registration. After camp, any bank balance of $5 or less will be donated to the CRISTA Camps scholarship fund. Any amount over $5 will be refunded to a credit card on file.

Safety

Closed Camp

  • Once at camp, no camper can leave without written consent from his or her parent or guardian. Campers will only be released to those people whom the parent has authorized to pick them up.

  • Teen campers who drive to camp must report to the camp leadership team and turn in their car keys.

  • All visitors must check in at camp, wear a badge once checked in, and be accompanied by a host.

Activity Safety & Certifications

  • CRISTA Camp's lifeguards are Red Cross-certified for swimming in lakes, and Kitsap County tests our lake water weekly.

  • Camp staff and interns are First Aid trained

  • Ropes course facilitators and each ropes activity are certified by an ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology) trainer.

  • Miracle Ranch is site certified by the CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) for all horse activities.

  • We adhere to best practices for our trail bike, paintball, archery, and all other activities.

Camper Safety

  • When a camper is in the nurse's station, he or she is never privately examined. Two trained adult staff members are always present.

  • CRISTA Camps include parents in any decisions made about a child's need for medical treatment. When a need is determined, we take advantage of the numerous local clinics nearby. A nurse oversees treatment at the camp.

  • Miracle Ranch is equipped to execute general safety plans and crisis management plans when necessary.

  • Resident campers must submit health and waiver forms signed by their parents or guardians upon arrival at camp.

  • The presence of 50+ trained and caring adults on camp during any given week ensures that kids' activities are closely monitored. There are always full-time, adult, year-round employees at Miracle Ranch. We've hired a professional staff with years of experience and training in safety issues monthly.

  • All CRISTA staff undergo a careful screening process consisting of an application, interview(s), and character references.

  • All adults at camp have completed a trak-1, WATCH, and DSHS background check in which staff and volunteer leaders must disclose any misconduct, as permitted by state law.

  • The CRISTA Ministries Human Resources department trains all full-time and summer staff on maintaining appropriate boundaries in relationships with kids.

Bullying Prevention

At CRISTA Camps, bullying is inexcusable, and we have a firm policy against all types of bullying. Our Camp philosophy is based on our mission statement, which ensures that every camper can experience a safe environment at camp, gain new friends, and go home with great memories.

Unfortunately, persons who are bullied may not have the same potential to get the most out of their camp experience. Our leadership addresses all incidents of bullying seriously and trains staff to promote communication with their staff and their campers so both staff and campers will be comfortable alerting us to any problems during their camp experience. Every person has the right to expect to have the best possible experience at camp, and by working together as a team to identify and manage bullying, we can help ensure that all campers and staff have a great summer with CRISTA Camps.

Sickness at Camp

CRISTA Camps asks our staff, parents/guardians of campers, and high school and summer staff attending our camp to take precautions to avoid sending campers or leaders if they have had any flu-like symptoms in the 24 hours before departure. Such symptoms can include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, tiredness, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Food Allergies & Food Safety

We can address most food allergies with reasonable substitutions and by campers avoiding particular food items. Please discuss any special situations with our registrar at least one week before camp starts so there is ample time to discuss any concerns with the food service department. We have peanut-free kitchens but sell packaged snacks in our concession spaces that may contain peanuts or peanut oil. All kitchen workers have Food Handler Cards, and Kitsap County routinely inspects our kitchen.

Cabin Inspections & Cleaning

Cabins and beds are cleaned, disinfected, and inspected between different use groups. All high-touch surfaces are disinfected daily.

CRISTA Ministries

CRISTA Camps at Miracle Ranch is part of the CRISTA Family of Ministries. A robust and healthy organization supports the camp, and policies are set with the bigger mission of CRISTA in mind. All camp employees adhere to CRISTA's doctrinal statement and conduct policies.

Cancellations

There is a $50 cancellation fee for overnight camps, with more than 30 days’ notice from the first day of camp. Camp balances are due 30 days in advance of camp. Within 30 days of camp, cancellation is 100% of the camp fee.