The Camper Commitment

Every camper is expected to:

• Stay with their assigned group and follow staff directions.
• Treat other campers, staff members, facilities, and God's creation with respect.
• Use language, clothing, and behavior appropriate for a Christian camp.
• Follow all cabin, pool, activity, and emergency-safety rules.
• Help create an encouraging environment free from fighting, threats, bullying, and harassment.

Arrival, Check-In & Pickup

• Families should arrive during the check-in window published for their camp session.
• All required registration information must be completed before a camper is left at camp.
• Parents or guardians should give all camper medications and written directions to the camp nurse or designated staff member during check-in.
• Every camper, counselor, and staff member will be examined for head lice during check-in. See the complete Head Lice Policy below.
• Parents and guardians may help campers settle into their cabins, but personal vehicles are not permitted in the cabin area.
• At the end of camp, every camper must be checked out through the camp's checkout process.
• A camper will only be released to the parent, guardian, or other person authorized through the registration record.

Head Lice Policy

Little Prairie Bible Camp is committed to providing every camper with the best and safest possible camp experience. Each camper, counselor, and staff member will be examined for head lice upon arrival at camp.

No-nit policy: If nits (eggs) or lice are present, the affected person will be sent home. There are no exceptions, and they may not return during that camp week. They may attend a later session only when they are completely free of both nits and live lice.

How Parents Can Prepare

1. Check your camper for head lice approximately two weeks before camp. If lice or nits are detected, begin appropriate treatment.
2. Check your camper again on the day of departure to make sure no lice or nits are present before traveling to camp.

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are small, grayish-white insects generally found in the hair, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck. They feed on human blood, and their bites may cause itching and scratching. Excessive scratching can lead to infection.

How Can They Be Recognized?

An adult louse is approximately the size of a sesame seed. Lice attach their eggs, called nits, to strands of hair close to the scalp. Nits are tiny, pearl-gray, oval-shaped specks firmly attached to the hair. Frequent scratching is often the first sign of an infestation.

How Quickly Can Infestation Develop?

Infestation may become noticeable one to two weeks after exposure. Nits may hatch in approximately one week and have been known to survive for up to ten days.

When Are Head Lice Contagious?

Head lice should be considered contagious while live lice or eggs are present. Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, bedding, or other items that touch the hair.

For additional treatment information, visit Mothers Against Head Lice or consult your healthcare provider.

Supervision & Camp Boundaries

• Campers must remain with their assigned cabin, team, counselor, or activity group.
• Campers may not wander away from supervised areas or leave the camp property.
• After lights out, campers must remain in their assigned cabins unless a staff member gives permission or an emergency requires them to leave.
• LPBC's supervision practice is to avoid situations in which one staff member is alone with one camper whenever reasonably possible.
• The camp gates are secured each evening as part of LPBC's overnight safety procedures.

Cabins, Privacy & Clothing

• Boys and girls have separate cabin areas. Campers must remain in their assigned cabin area and may not enter the other cabin area when campers are present.
• Campers should respect the privacy, personal space, and belongings of others.
• Clothing must be suitable for an active Christian camp environment. Revealing or see-through clothing is not permitted.
• Cover-up clothing must be worn when walking to and from the shower house or pool.
• Campers should bring appropriate shoes and clothing for outdoor activities.

Phones, Food & Personal Belongings

• Campers and Junior Counselors may not possess or use phones during camp sessions.
• Phones should be left at home or turned in to staff during check-in for emergency use.
• Food is not permitted in cabins or the cabin area.
• Personal belongings should be labeled with the camper's name.
• Campers should leave expensive, unnecessary, or easily damaged items at home.

Swimming & Pool Safety

• The pool may only be used during designated swim times when a certified lifeguard and supervising counselors are present.
• Every camper must complete the lifeguard's swim test before entering the deep end.
• Excessive roughhousing, dunking, and unsafe pool behavior are not permitted.
• Campers must immediately follow lifeguard and staff instructions.
• The pool will be cleared when severe weather threatens.

Respectful Conduct & Discipline

Camp activities and relationships should support LPBC's purpose of helping people grow closer to Christ. Campers are expected to show respect, self-control, honesty, kindness, and cooperation.

• Fighting, threats, bullying, harassment, hazing, intimidation, stealing, vandalism, and deliberately unsafe behavior are prohibited.
• Romantic or physical displays of affection must remain appropriate for a Christian camp environment and may not distract from camp activities.
• Campers may not mark, paint, carve, or write on buildings, equipment, trees, or other surfaces unless a staff member has specifically authorized an activity.
• Landscaped flowers and plants should not be picked, moved, or disturbed.

Staff members will address concerns based on the seriousness and circumstances of the behavior. Responses may include redirection, a warning, separation from an activity, parent or guardian contact, or dismissal from the camp session. Camper safety remains the first priority, and dismissal is at the session director's discretion.

Health, Medication & Medical Emergencies

• Parents and guardians must provide complete and accurate health, allergy, emergency-contact, and medication information during registration.
• All camper medications must be turned over to the camp nurse or designated staff member with clear directions.
• Campers should immediately tell a counselor, nurse, or director if they feel sick, are injured, or need medical assistance.
• The camp nurse will be notified when medical attention is needed.
• In a medical emergency, LPBC will seek appropriate care and notify the camper's parent or guardian as soon as possible.

Homesickness & Communication with Home

Homesickness is common, especially for younger and first-time campers. Counselors will encourage and support campers as they adjust to camp. When a camper continues to request contact with home, staff may arrange a limited call with a parent or guardian. Parents with an urgent need should contact the camp rather than attempting to reach a camper's personal phone.

Faith Decisions and Baptism

If a camper expresses a desire to be baptized, the camper's counselor and session director will discuss the decision and study the Scriptures with the camper. The parent or guardian will be contacted so the family can take part in this important decision. Parent or guardian permission is strongly recommended before a minor is baptized at camp.

Visitors

All visitors must receive permission and check in with the session director before or immediately upon arriving at camp. Visitor access may be limited during active camp sessions to protect camper safety and preserve the camp program.

Severe Weather & Emergency Procedures

LPBC maintains procedures for severe weather, medical emergencies, security threats, evacuation, and sheltering. Outdoor and pool activities will be suspended when conditions are unsafe. During any emergency, campers must remain with their group and immediately follow staff and emergency-personnel instructions.

Reporting a safety concern: Campers should immediately tell a counselor, nurse, session director, or another trusted staff member about an injury, threat, unsafe situation, or concern involving abuse or inappropriate conduct. Concerns will be escalated to camp leadership and handled according to applicable safety and reporting requirements.

Session-Specific Instructions

Day Camp, overnight sessions, private sessions, and retreats may provide additional age-appropriate instructions. Directions from the session director and authorized staff members are considered part of these policies. LPBC may update procedures when necessary to protect campers and support safe camp operations.

Questions Before Camp?

Please contact LPBC before your session if your camper has a medical, dietary, accessibility, or other need the staff should understand.