Preparing for Camp

Everything you need to get ready for your session at Camp Deer Run.

PACKING
LIST

How soon is too soon to start packing? Trick question, it’s never too early to start prepping for Camp Deer Run! Click below to see everything you should pack for an awesome week at Camp.

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RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

There are a few things that we recommend for setting up your camper’s bunk. We don’t make any money off of these things, we just want to share some specific items that work well with our bunks.

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CAMP DEER RUN COMPASS

The Compass provides an in-depth preview of all the ins and outs of a Camp Deer Run session. The compass has the answer to just about any question you may have. Please read the compass before your session!

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photos

Packing List

Clothes

  • Loose Fitting T-shirts
  • Shorts with a MINIMUM 5 inch inseam
  • Long pants or jeans (mandatory for horse-back riding)
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Pajamas/clothes for bed
  • Light Jacket or Sweatshirt
  • Rain Gear
  • One-Piece Swimsuit
  • Theme Day Costumes

 

SHOES

  • Closed- Toed Tennis Shoes
  • Old tennis shoes or water shoes to wear in the creek
  • Open-toed shoes or sandals (only for the pool or bathhouses)
  • Crocs and other similar shoes (cannot be worn for running activities)

 

PERSONAL ITEMS

  • Water Bottle
  • Camp Chair
  • Bedding (twin size sheets and blanket, pillow, extra pillowcase)
  • Towels and washcloths (for swimming and showering)
  • Toiletries: toothbrush/paste, shampoo, soap, conditioner, deodorant
  • Laundry Bag
  • Bible
  • Notebook, Pen, or Pencils
  • A good flashlight and batteries
  • Box fan or clip fan (we recommend a box fan)
  • Insect repellent & Sunscreen
  • Any necessary medications (see compass for details)

 

DO NOT BRING

  • Electronic Devices:
    • Cell Phones, Radios, CD or MP3 players, Handheld Gaming Devices, TVs, Laptops, Tablets, iPods, 2-way Radios, Walkie Talkies, Smart Watches or any handheld electronics
  • Knives with blades larger than 3 inches
    • Campers under 13 may not bring knives of any size
  • Weapons, Firearms, Paintball/Airsoft Guns
  • Fireworks, Matches or Lighters
  • Bikes, Skateboards, scooters, etc.
  • Pets
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, Nicotine Products, Illegal substances
  • Candy or Food Items
  • Short Shorts or Bike Shorts
  • Tank Tops, Spaghetti Straps, Crop Tops
  • Valuable or sentimental items

 

For more packing information, as well as some tips and tricks, check out the Camp Deer Run Compass!

CDR COMPASS

Recommended Products

Camp Deer Run is not affiliated in any way with the products listed below. Camp Deer Run does not receive commissions or financial consideration of any kind if you purchase these products. We cannot guarantee the quality of these products nor your satisfaction with them. We are providing these simply as examples of options that we think would work well for Camp.

GIRLS’ SHORTS

 

TRUNKS

 

SHOWER CADDIES

 

BOX FANS

 

BUNK ORGANIZERS

 

For a total walkthrough of a Camp Deer Run cabin and our recommendations for how to set up your bunk, click below!

Cabin Walkthrough Video

CAMP DEER RUN COMPASS

ONE-WEEK COMPASS

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TWO-WEEK COMPASS

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DAYCAMP COMPASS

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Day 1 - God Comes First

SCRIPTURE:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6


DEVOTIONAL:

This is a verse that we hear often. It’s a common memory verse. It’s the basis for countless worship songs and hymns. It strikes at the core of all Christian faith and life. These words come from Moses, as He speaks to the Israelites before their entry into the Promised Land. Behind them, there has been a long journey – from slavery to freedom a promise of a land of their own that is very good. But along that journey there has been temptation, and the Israelites have time and time again lost sight of their covenant with God and forgotten the salvation that He delivered to them. Because of that, they spent 40 years wandering in the desert instead of going straight to the new homeland that God had promised.


It’s a lesson to all of us that when we lose sight of God, when we forget about Him and His Word, when our focus drifts away from Him, we end up wandering in a desert instead of enjoying the good things He intended for us.


At Camp Deer Run, we leave behind many of the things in our day to day lives that distract us from God. We leave behind the phones, the TVs, the social media, the stress of school or work, the trials and struggles that we carry with us. When you step through the gates as your session begins, you can leave all of it behind you and just focus on God, pure and simple.
When we set those burdens down, and remove all the distractions that are keeping us from seeing God clearly and putting Him first in our lives, we come closer to Him, we grow deeper in our relationship with Him, we feel His love. And when we know His love for us and understand that we are His beloved children, our love for Him grows too.


But Camp doesn’t have some kind of magic forcefield around it that makes you leave your worries at the door. It’s definitely easier at Camp to leave those things behind. There’s so much fun to be had, so much nature to enjoy, and so many friends to surround you. But at the end of the day, it’s still up to you to let go of the things that distract you from God and to put Him first. Sometimes that’s hard to do, and sometimes it takes a little while to figure it out. That’s ok!


As you prepare for Camp, we just want you to know that God wants to have a relationship with you. God knows you. God loves you. And He wants you to keep your focus on Him, because He doesn’t want you to be lost in the desert. He wants to lead you to the Promised Land!

 

DISCUSSION:


What are some of the things that make it hardest for you to focus on God at home?


Can you leave that behind when you go to Camp? How?


Camp Deer Run is all about seeing God in everything, not just worship or Bible lessons, but in the games and activities and friends and fun. How do you keep your focus on God in all of these different situations?