A week of camp is $600 per camper.

Mini Camp is $250 per camper.

Family Camp is $350/First Adult & Child, $60/per additional family member

As a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, we strive to always create a community of honesty, security, generosity, and respect. We do not expect or require another person to have any specific definition or understanding of the divine. Rather, we work to help all open their minds and hearts to the mystery and complexity of life all around them, making room for the rich, if sometimes challenging, diversity of differences that God has fashioned in each of us and in the natural world. While our day will include prayer and scripture, campers are encouraged to reflect, discuss, and digest what they believe themselves.

Yes! We don’t want money to be the reason a child doesn’t come to camp. As part of the registration process, you will be able to select “request for financial aid” and answer a few questions. We ask that you pay the $100 deposit to secure your spot, and we’ll review your answers and follow up with information about scholarships. For those who are affiliated with an Episcopal Church, we ask that you discuss sponsorship from your parish as well. Scholarships are given on a needs-based, first-come-first-served basis.

Family Camps

Opening Day Arrival: 4:00- 5:00 pm

Closing Day Departure: 1:00 pm

Sunday-Friday Children & Youth Camps

Opening Day Arrival: 3:00-4:00 pm

Closing Day Details:

11:00 am Closing Ceremony (Parents & Guardians Welcome!)

11:30 am Cook Out & Ice Cream (Parents & Guardians Welcome!)

12:00 pm Camper Pick Up & Check Out

(More details on the flow of camper check out and luggage pick up will be communicated on Opening Day. We will also ask for RSVPs for the cookout when you drop off your camper)

Sunday-Tuesday Mini Camp Sessions for Children & Youth

Opening Day Arrival: 3:00-4:00 pm

Closing Day Pick Up: 4:00 pm

A sample schedule is available. Note that this schedule will change summer to summer to provide variety and new opportunities. This is a loose guide rather than a certain day to day schedule.

We embrace “farm to pavilion” cooking at Bellwether! Campers will eat at picnic tables on the West Lawn, a beautiful grassy area overlooking the pond and forest. A new and large dining pavilion will be your setting as delicious food is prepared. Staff serves food onto each camper’s plate so campers can let staff know how much and what they’d like– this practice prevents food waste. Seconds and more are allowed- we don’t want anyone to be hungry! While we prepare a menu that is both adventurous and child-friendly, if a camper absolutely refuses to eat what is served, the chef will make sure they get something to fill their stomach.

Camp cabins are equipped with 4 sets of bunk beds and 2 counselor beds. Each bed has a nook with storage for easy access, while suitcases and bags are stored under the beds. Ceiling fans and lots of screened windows mean there is good ventilation and a breeze. There is a changing room for privacy, a small foyer for storing shoes and hanging towels, and a small porch out front. Campers will be grouped in cabins by age and gender identity.

In view of the cabins (about a 1 minute walk) are the bathhouses. Each bathhouse contains toilets, showers, and sinks. The doors to the shower and toilet stalls were chosen for privacy– there are no gaps between the partitions or floor. Each shower stall has hooks and a small area for drying off and changing. Campers will transport their toiletries to and from the cabins and bathhouses.

It’s so important that campers have a break from technology! We don’t allow smart watches (that connect to internet/messaging), digital cameras, or phones of any kind. If there is an emergency, our staff will contact you right away.

The best way to prepare your camper(s) for camp is to include them in conversations and planning leading up to their arrival at camp. Have your camper(s) help with writing a shopping list, or packing their bag for camp. The more you include them into the process, the more prepared you both will feel sending them to camp. Go over the camp policies with them, share the process of registration, pack letter writing materials, talk about homesickness etc. we are here to support you and your camper(s) in any way we can. You know your camper(s) better than anyone else, and we want your camper(s) to have the best experience possible. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Missing home and each other is normal, and it even happens among the staff and camp directors! Here are some tried and true tips for helping you and your camper(s) deal with missing home and each other and preparing them for fully investing in the camp experience!

If you know of any specific personal or family-related issues that may come up while your camper is at camp, please don’t keep it to yourself.

Specific concerns can be noted on the registration or health forms online or emailed to the Director. In all cases, the information you share will be kept confidential and shared with only the appropriate staff parties. It is extremely helpful for us to be aware of potential stressors or anxieties campers may bring to camp so we can prepare appropriately. In this way we can meet the camper where they are and help them have the best time possible at camp.

It’s important to talk with your camper before leaving for camp to discuss any worries they may have about being away from home.

Younger campers’ concerns are often related to missing home, though homesickness is not unusual for campers of any age. Our team fosters a nurturing environment which will help alleviate any homesick tendencies, and homesickness is a topic of particular concern that we focus on during staff training sessions.

How YOU talk with your camper about their time away from home has the biggest impact on their outlook on their camp experience.

Please strive to be positive, upbeat, and keep the focus on your camper and the welcoming, accepting, and exciting time they can expect to have at camp. Acknowledging you will miss them helps them know you care, but please pair it with positive, solutions-based comments such as “We can’t wait to hear from you when you write us letters!” or “We know you’ll have a great time and that makes us happy!”

Please NEVER promise to pick up your camper or let them call home if they are not having a good time.

This creates a barrier to your camper fully investing in the camp experience and all it has to offer.

If homesickness and anxiety persists, we will certainly call you to get your preference on what we do. Our counselors, staff, and chaplain are trained to accompany a camper through their fears and help them know they are safe and loved.

Yes! You can either bring mail to check-in on the first day of camp for staff to distribute through the week, or you can email us at camp@bellwetherfarm.com with your camper's name in the subject line and your message for them in the body of the email. Mail is delivered each day during rest time. Campers will be able to write letters and cards back to you, which we will scan and send to you.

Mailing letters and postcards from home is also acceptable, but sometimes letters arrive after the campers have left their session. Please understand that campers are not allowed to receive any packages. We will hold on to these and hand them to parents and guardians on closing days. Please use the following format when address letters to your camper(s):

Camper Name

Session #

Bellwether Farm

4655 State Route 60

Wakeman, OH 44889

We’re a camp and a working farm—please don’t bring anything that would make you upset if it got dirty or damaged. We will provide each camper with a camp t-shirt, and an all camp photo keepsake. We will NOT be providing water bottles for campers, but we will have some for purchase.

Reminder, all electronic/smart items such as phones, smartwatches, laptops, tablets etc. are not permitted at camp and will be left with the camper’s guardians at drop-off. (Mini-campers, please adjust quantities as needed for your 2-night visit!)

Clothes: Can you jump, bend, stretch and move while keeping your underwear and torso covered?

• 1-2 Reusable Water bottles (We will NOT be providing a water bottle)
• Backpack or drawstring bag to carry items around camp
• Hat and/or sunglasses
• Bandana
• 3-4 Pants and/or shorts
• 5-6 T-shirts or tank tops
• 2-3 Long sleeved shirts (we’re a fan of flannel button ups)
• Fleece or sweatshirt for cold nights
• PJs you feel comfortable walking to the bathhouses in
• Underwear for at least week
• Bathing suit (one you feel comfortable jumping, running, and playing in)

Shoes: All shoes must have a back—flip flops are only permitted to be worn in the bathhouse for showering. They are not a option for moving around camp.

• Water shoes or shoes you can wear in the pond and shower (shoes are required while swimming in the pond)
• Sandals with a strap (crocs with strap pulled down is ok, we recommend sport sandals like tevas, chacos, keenes, etc.)
• Closed-toe sneakers or boots that are ok in the mud (it is camp, we are gonna get messy!)

Stuff: some people bring duffel bags or suitcases, others use big rubber totes.

• Sleeping bag OR sheets and blankets for XL twin bed
• Pillow
• Toiletries including soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products, comb, hairbands, etc. Please don’t bring anything that smells super great #bugs
• Bug spray and sunscreen
• Towels- we recommend one for the pond and one for the shower
• Flashlight – put your name on it!
• Book or journal, stationary for letters home (we will scan/send these electronically to you)
• Any stuffy, pictures, or comfort items that will help on an overnight trip
• Games for you and your cabin mates

What not to bring:

• Any electronics, including cameras.
• Food or snacks. We promise you’ll get enough from the Bellwether kitchen and we don’t want any critters in the cabins!
• Any tobacco products, including vapes, any alcohol, any drugs that you don't have a prescription for.
• Weapons- including swiss army knives! your counselor will carry an all purpose knife for your wilderness needs

Before packing, sit down with your camper and talk with them about what you all are doing and why. This can mean the difference between a meltdown over a lost toothbrush and no socks (even though they really are there) and a more positive camping experience.

Here’s a short list of ideas to keep in mind!

• Sort clothes by outfit for younger kids and by type of clothing for older kids, bag and label them if needed.

• Pack toiletries separately so they’re easily transportable to the bathroom.

• Pack bedding last so it’s on top or separately in a clean trash bag.

• Hide notes or a surprise for them to find later (no candy or food please).

Potential things to talk about:

• Go over the packing list and ask them what they might not need.

• Discuss why some things are appropriate for camp and why some aren’t

• Discuss non-clothing items they want to bring (and if they don’t mention them, why they should): stuffed animals, picture of family, journal, or paper to write letters home, etc.)

• Are there things they want to add to the packing list?

What to pack everything in:

For our summer camps, we recommend duffle bags, trunks, or large plastic bins that fit under bunk beds. The terrain at camp can break wheeled luggage. Trunks with sturdy wheels usually fare okay.

Packing sleeping bags and bedding in a trash bag can also be helpful as it keeps it clean until use. Make sure to include a replacement bag in case the original gets thrown out!

We are an “unplugged” environment. Please help us to create an environment where new friendships can blossom, and each camper has a unique and special outdoor experience. Do not bring portable music players, video games, computers, iPads, tablets, electronics and cell phones to camp. Furthermore, cell phones and apple watches especially interrupt camp in a variety of ways; namely our ability to enhance your camper’s confidence and independence.

If any of the items listed are discovered, the camp staff will collect the items and return them at the end of the session.

We appreciate that most families and households will honor our request and support our reasoning for not allowing cell phones at camp. We also recognize that some may feel that hiding a cell phone in camper luggage is OK. Keep in mind that by doing this, you are teaching your campers that it is OK to break the rules as well as creating a level of distrust between the camper and counselor or CIT. If a camper is unable to come to camp without a cell phone, then you or your camper(s) may not be ready for the camp experience.

What NOT to Pack

• Electronic Devices (mobile phones, smart phones, smart watches that require a phone, tablets, laptops, gaming devices etc.)

• Any item that may be considered a weapon (knives including swiss army knives) Including other items such as firearms, lighters, fireworks, matches etc.

• Food (snacks, candy, gum, drinks, etc.) We will provide plenty of meals and snacks throughout the session that also meet your camper’s dietary needs.

• Tobacco Products

• Alcohol & Controlled Substances

• Pets or other animals

• Valuable or Fragile Items

• Inappropriate Clothing

Please help us ensure that the above listed items are NOT brought to camp by reviewing what your camper has packed before departing for camp. Please understand that if any of these items are found at camp, they will be confiscated immediately, and if necessary, your child may be sent home.

We are proud of our outstanding counselors and LITs at Bellwether Farm. Each camp season has a team that is fun, friendly, and loving. All seasonal and year-round staff go through an extensive application process that includes an initial application, various interviews, and reference checks and background checks. Before they arrive at Bellwether Farm, all staff complete a sexual abuse prevention training (Safeguarding God’s Children) and completion of their CPR and First Aid certifications. Some of our counselors and LITs have additional training and certifications in lifeguarding and archery.

At the start of the summer, all of the counselors attend a two week-long training that addresses common camper issues (from homesickness to behavior management), emergency situations, and what to expect from campers of different ages. Staff have a chance to practice techniques (as well as games/music/activities) before campers arrive. LITs complete the same required certifications and training in a shortened time frame, as much of the training is hands-on during their camp sessions.

All training is infused with fun and activities. Role play activities help us practice giving clear expectations and directions, being specific in praise and affirmations and using a clear and loving tone when redirection is needed. These skills are essential to life in the community as staff as well as to building relationships with campers.

We continue our training throughout the summer. Our year-round team works with staff to enhance their abilities and skills in working with campers beyond the first day of camp, creating a dynamic learning environment that uses ongoing assessment and feedback to help our staff be their best and lead by example.

We hope that your camper will be comfortable and safe while at Camp at all times and in all places. To that end, we ask that campers intentionally follow the below policy to ensure that their clothing is supportive, safe, and comfortable.

Campers, counselors, and LITs:

Must Wear:

• Shirt: with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms.

• Bottom: shorts/pants/sweatpants/skirt/dress/leggings.

• Shoes: closed-toe, closed heel shoes are required for safety during running/playing activities

May Wear:

• Hats, including religious headwear

• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans”

• Midriff baring shirts

• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed

• Tank tops, including spaghetti straps, and halter tops

• Athletic attire

Cannot Wear:

• Violent language or images.

• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of the same.

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography.

• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.

• Visible underwear.

Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, and nipples are covered with opaque material because we live a active lifestyle at camp (running, jumping, playing, bending, swimming, etc.) All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories above must meet this basic principle.

The health and safety of our camper(s) and staff are of the utmost importance to us. We place special emphasis on medical care and attention through our resident summer camp nurse. Our nurse treats all camper(s) and dispenses all required medications and is available to deal with illnesses and emergencies during the entirety of the session. All campers are required to visit the nurse’s table at check-in for pre-screening and lice checks.

We currently do not have any masking mandates or COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Our Summer Camp Nurse or Director of Program Innovation will contact parents and guardians in the case that their camper(s) become ill or obtain an injury.

All visits to the Health Center and Summer Camp Nurse are recorded.

Here are a few examples of when we would and would not contact parents and guardians. This list is representative, but not exhaustive.

We will not call parents and guardians for minor scrapes, lacerations, splinters, stomach aches, headaches, or bug bites etc.

We will contact parents and guardians for any allergic reactions, stitches, possible concussions, broken bones, any severe or persistent symptoms causing the camper(s) to be in pain or discomfort etc.

Our Summer Camp Nurse is here to assist your camper(s) with any medical attention that they need while at camp. In the rare event in which additional treatment is required, a local physician, EMS, and hospital emergency room facilities are easily accessible. If your camper(s) need medical attention off-site such as a trip to the emergency room, one of our leadership team members will be in contact with you as soon as possible and communicate any and all details to provide the best care for your camper(s). Getting your camper(s) to safety is the most important step in this process, and we will keep you informed along the way.

If your camper(s) take any over the counter (examples include allergy medicine and melatonin) or prescription medication they must be listed on the Health Form and brought in their original packaging.

We have very specific policies on medication administration and will not be able to give your camper any medication that is not listed on their form or in their original package(s). If additional medications have been prescribed to your camper, and they are not listed on the signed form, they will not be able to be given to your camper(s). Parents and Guardians will have to call and have their Physician give our Nurse written permission to administer the medication.

The Summer Camp Nurse and Director of Program Innovation will be available during registration for any specific questions, but these policies will apply in all cases for the safety of our campers.

All medications, prescriptions & over-the-counter, require documentation.

Prescription medications must be in the original container with a pharmacy label attached. Only send the number of tablets your child will need. DO NOT SEND FULL BOTTLES.

Over-the-counter medications must be in the original containers and labeled with the camper’s name.

Each medication container must include only the medication included on the label.

The first dose of a medication that a camper has not taken before should be given at home so the camper can be monitored closely for hypersensitivity and side effects.

Medications not in original containers or packages WILL NOT be given.

Medications will only be administered according to the label directions.

Prescription and over-the counter medications (including but not limited to topical creams like icy hot, melatonin, allergy medicine, etc.) being sent with your camper should be listed on the Health Form and turned in at Opening Day.

We do not administer medications for Family Camps. Parents and Guardians should be prepared to administer medications while visiting Bellwether Farm.