Send Your Kid to Camp

Sending your child to camp is a big step, and we want you to feel confident and supported in the process. This page is designed to be your starting point. Here you’ll find a letter from our Divisional Youth Secretaries, an overview of our Camp Brief, and helpful resources to decide if overnight camp is the right fit for your child. You can also learn more about the purpose of our summer camp programs and what your camper can expect from their time with us. 

A Letter from the Divisional Youth Secretaries

The Transformative Power of Youth Camping Experiences

Greetings,

We are thrilled to welcome. you to another exciting season of adventure, learning, and personal growth at Northwoods Camp! As we prepare for an unforgettable experience, we want to take a moment to share why youth camping is such a valuable opportunity for young people.

Camping is more than just a summer tradition - it is a life-changing experience that fosters independence, resilience, social development, and spiritual growth. Away from screens and the distractions of everyday life, campers immerse themselves in nature, build meaningful friendships, and develop important life skills that will serve them for years to come.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of youth camping:

1. Personal Growth & Confidence - Camp challenges campers to step out of their comfort zones, try new activities, and embrace challenges, building self esteem and resilience in the process.
2. Social Skills & Friendships - Camp provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where campers learn teamwork, cooperation, and communication while making friendships that often last a lifetime.
3. Connection with Nature - In today's fast-paced digital work, camp offers a much-needed opportunity to disconnect and appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors, fostering a lifelong love for nature and adventure.
4. Leadership & Responsibility - Campers take on responsibilities, whether through group activities, camp chores, or leadership opportunities, instilling a sense of accountability and leadership skills.
5. Spiritual Growth - Most importantly, camp is a place to experience real faith in action. From large group teachings to one-on-one conversations, every component of camp comes from an outpouring desire to share the love of God with everyone that joins the camping experience.

We are honored to be a part of your child's summer adventure and are committed to providing a safe, enriching, and fun-filled environment. Thank you for trusting us with this incredible opportunity to help your child grow and thrive.

We look forward to an amazing camp season ahead at Northwoods Camp.

Regards,

Captains Robyn and Joshua Hubbard
Divisional Youth Secretaries
The Salvation Army | Northern Division

2026 Camp Brief

Our Camp Brief is your go-to guide for everything you need to know before sending your camper to camp. This document brings together key information including registration details, health and safety policies, transportation, packing lists, and more—all in one convenient place.

While much of the information on this website is drawn from the Camp Brief (check out the links at the top of the page), we encourage families to review the brief in full to feel fully prepared and confident for the camp experience.

View or download the 2026 Northwoods Camp Brief here.

Camp Readiness

Overnight camp is a unique and exciting experience, and we want both campers and their families to feel prepared and set up for success. To help with that, we’ve created a Camp Readiness resource designed specifically for parents.

The first resource helps answer the question, “Is my child ready for camp?” by offering thoughtful questions you can ask yourself and your camper, highlighting key parts of the overnight camp experience. The second resource provides practical, step-by-step ways to help your child prepare—so they can arrive at camp feeling confident and ready.

View or download the Camp Readiness resources here.

Our Purpose and Goals for Summer Camp

Purpose

The purpose of Salvation Army camping is to serve the needs of campers: physical, social, and spiritual. For physical needs, our aim is to help campers develop good health habits in cleanliness, proper rest, balanced diet, exercise, and care of the body. To meet social needs the camp provides an opportunity for each camper to contribute to and receive from a group living experience. The aim is to help campers make their own right decisions, stimulate creativity and foster independence.

The fact that The Salvation Army is a religious organization makes it possible for its camping program to integrate concern for the spiritual dimension of life. We believe in God, His Word, and what it teaches, and a pattern of living exemplified by Jesus Christ.

Northwoods Camp seeks to achieve these purposes through carefully selected staff, well planned programs, mission minded facilities, and the complete integration of the highest standards of health, safety, and spiritual commitment to God.

Goals

1. To promote an awareness of God and his love. To provide an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. To encourage growth toward spiritual maturity.
2. To help develop an understanding, appreciation, and sense of stewardship for the natural environment and all living creatures.
3. To help individuals grow in their understanding of themselves and each other and to develop compassion and love for each other.
4. To facilitate self expression through thought, worship, song, work, play, physical activity, and the development of new skills.