Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is currently undergoing the ACA accreditation process. We are very excited to become a part of this great organization.

The questions from the GreatSchools article are broken into several posts into several different posts. Below is Part 4 of the questions the GreatSchools article suggests being asked before signing up to a summer camp. I have answered the questions for SFR. Feel free to contact the office 918.263.3622 with any further questions. The SFR team is happy to help!

8. What does a typical daily schedule look like?

Day Camper

9:00 am- Arrival

9:20 am- Welcome to camp

9:30 am – Games (with water breaks and sunscreen re-applications)

11:00 pm- Lunch

11:30 pm- Waterfront (alternating days between pool and pond)

12:30 pm- Craft

1:15 pm- Ministry Time

2:00 pm- Snack

2:30 pm- Counselor Groups

3:30 pm- Pray/ Memory Verses

4:00 pm- Parent Pick-Up*

*Friday the Closing Ceremony will begin at 3pm.

Overnight Camper *Tuesday and Thursday are mandatory shower nights

8:00 am- Breakfast

8:30 am- Cabin Clean-Up

9:15 am- Morning Encounter (teaching the campers the importance of and how to have their own daily quiet time with the Lord)

10:00 am- Games (with water breaks and sunscreen re-applications)

11:00 am- All Camp Game Challenges

12:00 pm- Lunch

12:30 pm- Family Group Time (cabin groups)

1:30 pm- Activity Classes

2:45 pm- Free Time: pool/pond/Frisbee/basketball/volleyball/horses/etc. (Counselors remain with the campers at all times)

5:15 pm- Get ready for dinner

5:45 pm- Dinner

6:30 pm- Mini All Camp Games

7:15 pm- Worship/ Night Encounter

8:15 pm- Cabin Talks (campers ask questions about the night meeting)

9:00 pm- Store

9:30 pm- Night Games (Counselors remain with the campers at all times)

10:45 pm- Bedtime

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is currently undergoing the ACA accreditation process. We are very excited to become a part of this great organization.

The questions from the GreatSchools article are broken into several posts into several different posts. Below is Part 3 of the questions the GreatSchools article suggests being asked before signing up to a summer camp. I have answered the questions for SFR. Feel free to contact the office 918.263.3622 with any further questions. The SFR team is happy to help!

 6. What medical staff work at the camp and what backup facilities are nearby?

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch has a Registered Nurse stay on camp and are available 24/7 each week campers are here. SFR’s selection process for the camp nurse requires a familiarity with a current member at SFR, application, interview with the Camp Director, reference checks, and a verification of an Oklahoma RN License by the OBN.

All medications are kept under lock, only being accessed by the RN on site. All prescribed medications must be in the original container with instructions from the physician.

The ACA recommends that an overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site every day, and that day camps should have direct phone access. If your child takes medication, has food allergies or a chronic medical condition, be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child’s needs.

Skiatook EMS is less than 15 minutes from SFR, and Avant Fire Department is less than a mile from SFR.

7. What is the camp’s approach to discipline and how does the camp handle conflicts between campers?

To view our detailed disciplinary procedures, check out the post Camper Expectations, Part 3: SFR Disciplinary Procedure.

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is currently undergoing the ACA accreditation process. We are very excited to become a part of this great organization.

The questions from the GreatSchools article are broken into several posts into several different posts. Below is Part 2 of the questions the GreatSchools article suggests being asked before signing up to a summer camp. I have answered the questions for SFR. Feel free to contact the office 918.263.3622 with any further questions. The SFR team is happy to help!

 2. How does the camp recruit, screen and train its staff?

You can find a detailed SFR Staff Qualifications HERE.

3. What about return rates?

This summer (2013) we have 58% staff returning! The ACA says at most camps, 40-60 percent of the staff returns.

4. What’s the ratio of counselors to campers?

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch abides by the American Camp Association for camper to staff rations, which are as follows: ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 6-8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

5. How old are the counselors?

The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise. All staff members are graduated from high school. Less than 1% of staff members are 17, simply because of the way their birthdays fall. SFR honors the ACA recommendation of counselors being at least two years older than the campers they supervise.

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is currently undergoing the ACA accreditation process. We are very excited to become a part of this great organization.

I will break up the questions from the GreatSchools article into several different posts. Below is the first question the GreatSchools article suggests being asked before signing up to a summer camp. I have answered the questions for SFR. Feel free to contact the office 918.263.3622 with any further questions. The SFR team is happy to help!

1. What’s the camp’s philosophy? 

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is a Christian Camp and Retreat Center that provides an environment to encounter the fullness of God.

We believe in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy, and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct; the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His substitutionary atonement for sin, His bodily resurrection, His personal, visible return to earth to reign in righteousness and glory; the Person of the Holy Spirit, and His work of conviction, regeneration, and sanctification, Who indwells every believer, equipping them with gifts for service and witness; the necessity of new birth, in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and the importance of a life fully committed to the will of God in Christ and the church as the one universal body of Christ Who is the Head, called to be God’s redeemed people.

Each morning at SFR, every person at camp does a morning encounter – the SFR staff teaches the campers what a daily quiet time is, why it is important, how to do it, and then give campers an opportunity to practice taking ownership of their relationship with Christ.

Every evening, you will find campers and staff at a night encounter – Holy Spirit driven worship and scripturally sound teaching.

Clothing:

• Long pants (for horse riding or cool days)
• Shorts (must be as close to fingertip length as possible)
• Skirts/ Dresses (optional) MUST BE TO TOP OF KNEE
• T-shirts/ Tank tops must be wide enough to cover all bra straps (Spaghetti straps and strapless shirts are not permitted)
• Hoodie/ Light Jacket
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sleepwear
• Dark clothes for night games
• Water shoes (NOT flip-flops)
• One-piece swimsuit

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Chapstick
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Soap
• Lotion (optional)
• Paper/Envelopes/Stamps (optional – available in the camp store)

Equipment:

• Bible
• Journal
• Pen
• Washcloth
• Towel
• Bedding (twin size bed, sleeping bag, pillow)
• Laundry Bag
• Sunglasses
• Flashlight

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or broken items.

Please do NOT bring

• Electronics, including cell phones, iPods, iPad’s, CD players, Gameboys, PS3s, laptops, etc. as these items will be taken from the campers and returned to the parents at the closing ceremony on Saturday.
• Food/ Candy (this invites critters into the cabins)
• Expensive clothing
• Jewelry
• Weapons
• Tobacco Products
• Flip flops

Our meals are prepared in the kitchen by our lovely cooks who have been at SFR for a number of years.

Breakfast is served at 8am each day. At the most important meal of the day, you will find proteins, fresh fruits, and carbs. We proudly serve fresh eggs (not the bagged, powder, or liquid stuff)! This helps us start our days with lots of energy to keep us active throughout the day. We also provide cereal as an alternative option to our freshly cooked meal. Breakfast is served with water, juice, and milk.

Lunch is promptly served at 12pm, and dinner at 5:30pm. We ensure that there are proteins, vegetables, and carbs served at each. After dinner, there’s always a delicious homemade dessert! But that’s not all! One of the most favorite options provided at lunch and dinner is the full salad bar loaded with fresh greens and veggies, fruit and dressings (lite options available). Also, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are provided as a secondary option to each of our hot meals at lunch and dinner. To keep campers and staff fully hydrated, we ask campers to drink one glass of water at lunch and dinner before drinking lemonade or another sweetened beverage.

We are fully aware of allergies, so while we do not provide special meals, we will inform our staff of a camper’s restrictions and help them choose allowed foods from our available menu.

We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have! Simply call the office at 918.263.3622.

Section 5: Camp Program Logistics

This is the fun part – CAMP IS ALL FUN AND GAMES AND JESUS!

Shepherd’s Fold Ranch is known as ‘a place in the country where you can do business with God’. It is safe to say that we spend 80% of our time outdoors…We love exploring God’s creation! We do make sure the staff and campers wear sunscreen, take water breaks, and rest in the shade. We eat and sleep in the sweet air conditioned dining hall and cabins, respectively. If the Lord blesses us with rain, we either play in it for a short amount of time then dry off and play games inside, or simply go straight to playing indoors or under the covering of shelter.

• Camper Drop-Off Time
  • Day Camp: 9am Monday – Friday
  • Overnight Camp: Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm.
  • Camper Pick-Up/ Closing Ceremony
    • Day Camp: 4pm Monday through Thursday. FRIDAY there will be a special presentation at 3pm.
    • Overnight Camp: Saturday morning at 10am we will begin our closing ceremony in the Eagle’s Nest. This includes several different Kodak moments that you won’t want to miss!

SAMPLE SCHEDULES:

Day Camper

9:00 am- Arrival

9:20 am- Welcome to camp

9:30 am – Games (with water breaks and sunscreen re-applications)

11:00 pm- Lunch

11:30 pm- Waterfront (alternating days between pool and pond)

12:30 pm- Craft

1:15 pm- Ministry Time

2:00 pm- Snack

2:30 pm- Counselor Groups

3:30 pm- Pray/ Memory Verses

4:00 pm- Parent Pick-Up*

*Friday the Closing Ceremony will begin at 3pm.

Overnight Camper  *Tuesday and Thursday are mandatory shower nights

8:00 am- Breakfast

8:30 am- Cabin Clean-Up

9:15 am- Morning Encounter (teaching the campers the importance of

and how to have their own daily quiet time with the Lord)

10:00 am- Games (with water breaks and sunscreen re-applications)

11:00 am- All Camp Game Challenges

12:00 pm- Lunch

12:30 pm- Family Group Time (cabin groups)

1:30 pm- Activity Classes

2:45 pm- Free Time: pool/pond/Frisbee/basketball/volleyball/horses/etc.

(Counselors remain with the campers at all times)

5:15 pm- Get ready for dinner

5:45 pm- Dinner

6:30 pm- Mini All Camp Games

7:15 pm- Worship/ Night Encounter

8:15 pm- Cabin Talks (campers ask questions about the night meeting)

9:00 pm- Store

9:30 pm- Night Games (Counselors remain with the campers at all times)

10:45 pm- Bedtime

If you have any questions, please contact the SFR Team at 918.263.3622 or Click to Email.

Section 4, Part 4:

This is the fourth part of section 4 of ACA’s article. (Read Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE and Part 3 HERE) Today’s post will discuss how Shepherd’s Fold Ranch handles homesickness.

According to author and psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, 97 percent of children experience at least some occasional homesick feelings at camp (ACA). In a nutshell, homesickness is normal! Parents – be encouraged!  It’s a sign that campers love their homes!
During staff training, we spend quality time teaching our staff how to handle this common occurrence. Last week I attended a homesickness webinar provided by the American Camping Association.  Michael Thompson, PhD, was the presenter of this webinar. After an hour and a half, I was very encouraged that SFR is handling homesickness well! Here’s what we do:

• Pray with the camper and ask the Lord to shower down His peace!
• Talk with the campers, asking questions and intently listening to their answers. This lets them know they are valued by their counselor and cabin mates and it also builds relationships, which makes being away from home more comfortable.
• Encourage the camper that their parents want them to make friends and have fun at camp. We help the camper make a list of all the stories to tell their parents on the car ride home!
• Distract the campers with fun games and activities. This gets their mind off being elsewhere and allows the campers to enjoy where they’re at. More often than not, campers realize that camp is a great place – they make friends, worship the Lord, and get to play awesome games and by the end of camp, they don’t want to leave!

These techniques are quite successful. In the instance that these practices do not work, we will give you (the parent) a call, seeking your wisdom in exciting your camper about camp. We LOVE having campers at camp and we believe there is power in encountering Jesus and making friends in the summer camp setting. That being said, if a camper is absolutely set on going home, to the point that if they are simply miserable because they are missing home and not enjoying games or worship or friends or food, we will inform you (the parent) and it is possible that the camper will go home.

If you have any questions regarding how SFR handles homesickness, please don’t hesitate to email Click to Email or call the office at 918.263.3622.

See you at camp! Register HERE.

Blessings, Hope // Camp Director

GREAT NEWS!

Bridgeway Church, North Haven, Courtyard, and Harvest Life International are all bringing groups of kids – so many that the June 26-29 min-week is already full! Guts Church caught wind of the mini-week and a third mini-week was added at the beginning of June – it too is full!

Don’t miss out! We still have availability in the June 23-26 mini-week. Reserve your spot today!

Register Here: https://registration.campbrain.com/Portal/Login.aspx?H=ShepherdsFoldRanch&G=800

Treehouse Village Mini-Week campers will have the opportunity to spend half a week of camp exploring God’s creation, participating in pool ‘olympics’, horseback riding, zip lining over the pond, playing new games, fellowshipping with their peers, and many more exciting activities! Bible based object lessons, parables, and worship encounters are a fundamental part of each day at THV Mini-Week.

If you have any questions, please call the office at 918.263.3622 or email Click to Email.