Because we’ll be traveling on buses, please limit your student to one bag or piece of luggage, one pillow, and one carry-on. Label all your stuff!

Dress for Success

• Casual clothes for sessions and activities (we’ll be outside most of the day and temps will range from 70-90 degrees)
• Tennis shoes and sandals/flip flops
• Swimsuit and towel
• Ladies: Conservative one piece suits and conservative tankini-type suits that cover the midriff are permitted.
• Guys: Board shorts and swim trunks are permitted. Jammers, spandex briefs, or other similar form fitting swimwear are not permitted.
• Bedding and a pillow for a twin size bed

For Sessions and Free Time

• Bible, Pen, and Journal
• Reusable water bottle
• Backpack or tote for sessions and activities

Spending Money For:

• Travel meal (one total)
• Merchandise (shirts, hoodies, stickers, etc)
• Camp store snacks and drinks

Students will take charter buses to Vanderpool, Texas! We’ll stay in a variety of lodging environments at Lonehollow Ranch. All rooms will be separated by gender, and each room will have at least one fully-vetted volunteer. Students who have invited friends will be placed together, in the same group.

Any student who is currently in 6th through 12th grade! Our students are encouraged to invite any guests and friends, too! We’ll make sure that any invited friends are in the same group as the student who invited them.

Your students will mostly be hanging out with their DCOMM (small groups of the same grade/gender) and their DCOMM Leaders. Worship, games, free times and meals will be with all of our students. Leaders who will be participating in Students Camp have completed our safety onboarding process which includes applications, interviews, background checks, child abuse prevention trainings, and other Austin Stone policy and procedure trainings. Your students' safety is our highest priority.

Due to limited WiFi and phone service, and the necessity to allocate available resources for staff and emergencies, students will not be permitted to have their digital devices during camp. Students may have their devices on bus rides, but these will be collected, labeled, and securely stored in a designated location while on property at Lonehollow Ranch. 

Before departure, you will receive a list of contacts in case you need to reach your student or a member of our staff. Additionally, we send nightly recap emails to parents and post frequently on our social media platforms so you are up to date on what is happening at camp!

Our retreat cell phone and digital policy is located here.

Safety is the number one priority of our ministry, and we believe it’s essential in order for ministry to happen. Here are the steps we’ve taken to prioritize the safety of your student(s) this summer:

• Adult Leaders. Every leader/adult coming with The Austin Stone to Students Camp will be fully onboarded, which includes an application, interview, background check, sexual abuse awareness training, and Austin Stone policy and procedure training.
• Rule of Three. Middle school students must be in a group of three that includes a leader with them at all times. High school students must be in a group of at least three students at all times. 
• Separate Bus Seating for Girls and Guys. Students of opposite genders will not be permitted to sit next to each other while on the bus. 
• Security. Our team makes frequent rounds around the camp property at a variety of times to make sure students are where they are supposed to be. 
• Medical Staff. We bring at least two licensed medical staff with us to provide care throughout the week. They are responsible for dispensing medication and treating minor medical problems as they arise. 
• Ratios. We require that one leader is not assigned to more than seven students. ‍
• Travel. We vet bus companies and select what we believe to be an extremely reliable and trustworthy option.

Accommodations

Each housing accommodation includes twin size bunk beds. Students will need to bring their own sheets and a pillow. Students are not permitted to be in the rooms without at least another student AND leader.

Meals and Food Allergies

All meals will be provided by Lonehollow Ranch and served family-style. If your student has food allergies, Lonehollow Ranch is fully equipped to accommodate those needs. On the registration form, there’s a place for you to let us know your student’s food allergies. When we get closer to camp, a member from our team will reach out to discuss our plan to ensure we have all the information needed for your student to have the best week possible.

All medications must be turned in to the camp nurse at Check In in the original prescription bottle. Prescription medications will be dispensed by the camp nurse. Students are not allowed to keep any form of medication (including over-the-counter medications) on them or in their cabins besides inhalers and/or epi pens. You’ll complete a medical form for your student that the nurse will reference any time care is provided while at camp.

You can email our Students Team at students@austinstone.org, and we'd happily answer any questions!