Ponderosa

High School Camp

Experience The Gospel At Play!

Pricing

Summer 2024 Registration Is Open!

You Bring a Counselor

 $859

per camper

$300

per counselor

We Provide a Counselor

$939

per camper

Deposits are transferable and refundable
in the case of a canceled event

Need Financial Help?

There are scholarships available for every camper that needs them. We call it Camperships!
Campers and parents can apply for a Campership during the registration process online.

Learn more about Camperships here!

2024 Camp Dates

Elyon Summer 2024 Theme

About the Summer Camp Theme

Throughout the week at camp, we will be walking through parts of the book of Matthew, focused on the person of Jesus. If you haven’t read this book before, take some time before camp to read it. As you do, pray and ask the Lord to reveal the truth of His Word to you; maybe jot down some questions that come up and talk with your youth pastor, small group leader, or a mentor about them before you come to camp.  

Spiritual Direction

Jesus is the central figure of the Bible and of all history which necessitates a response from all of us. This summer, we will be looking at the person of Jesus through the book of Matthew. As Jesus reveals who He is, He asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” In the same way, all of humanity must answer the question, “Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is?”

Visual Direction

We will be showing a series of short theme videos that take place in a dystopian humanoid world, where we follow Maddix, a tax collecting bot, as he encounters an unusual bot named Elyon; and he must overcome his disbelief and pride to discover if this bot really is the Savior, the One worth giving up everything he has ever earned or cared about in life to follow. Our hope and purpose for these videos is to set up each message that the speaker will be sharing from the Book of Matthew about the person of Jesus. 

Theme Verse

Matthew 16:13-16

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Super Spirit Day

Chrome Craze, Cyber Waves, and Neon Dayz

Team Colors

Royal Blue T-Shirt

Royal Blue

Purple T-Shirt

Purple

Theme Teaser Video

Theme BTS Video

FAQ

Ponderosa can seem pretty surreal at first—one thousand campers, epic team competitions, cinematic camp themes, balcony-shaking music, and virtually endless activities, all at 5200 feet elevation in the national forest. But once you settle in you’ll realize that Pondy is actually very real—breakout groups with your peers and youth pastor, sunrise worship by the lake, and a thousand simple moments where you notice the Gospel at play in your heart and all around you.

Ponderosa truly is the best of both worlds where you can escape the regular routines of life while rediscovering all the things that a life in Christ provides.

IMPORTANT
Some older mapping services will suggest you take the 245. It is a curvy, winding road that will take you at least an additional hour. DO NOT take 245!

What to Bring

  • Bible
  • notebook
  • pencil/pen
  • flashlight
  • sleeping bag
  • pillow
  • toiletries
  • warm and cool clothes
  • jacket
  • modest one-piece swimsuit (no tankinis)
  • a towel for swimming and showering
  • a water bottle
  • $60 recommended spending money
  • If your child is bringing medication or supplements, please send them in their original containers.* 

What NOT to Bring

  • Drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor*)
  • alcohol
  • tobacco
  • fireworks
  • firearms
  • electronic devices

*Prescribed Medications, Vitamins & Supplements:
These will be collected and dispensed by the camp health center. We consider any vitamin, supplement, or over-the-counter therapy that is taken to treat a condition or maintain health to be a “medication”. We are not able to give a medication that we cannot identify and dose from the original container. Sending medication in anything other than the original container may result in the camper not receiving it.

Yes!

Here’s how you’ll need to address your letter/package:

Ponderosa – (Camp Dates)
(Camper Name) – (Church registered with)
64144 Hume Lake Rd
Hume, CA 93628

For example:
Ponderosa – June 15-21
Johnny Smith – ABC123 Church
64144 Hume Lake Rd
Hume, CA 93628

IMPORTANT: Please send ten days prior to desired delivery date!

At Hume we care about providing the highest level of healthcare to our campers and staff. Check out this important info for everything you need to know about health and safety while at camp.

For each week of camp, check-in begins Sunday at 2:00 PM for churches and individuals.

Sunday afternoon is a great time to get your swim test done. Dinner begins at 5:30 PM and the counselor meeting begins at 6:00 PM (in Memorial Chapel).

Camp ends Saturday morning after breakfast.
IMPORTANT: Individual campers must be picked up by 9:00 AM.

To get a good idea of what to expect for summer:
Download the Ponderosa Camp Schedule

Why choose Ponderosa?

The gospel isn’t merely one ingredient in our programming mix. It’s the reason for everything we do.

Creative Theme

The theme is a practical link between the entertaining aspects of camp and our presentation of the gospel. We leverage it as a background to Biblical truth.

Recreation

The high-energy, innovative games at Hume Lake give campers an outlet for their energy and counselors a chance to encourage team-building.

Dynamic Worship

Indoor worship, outdoor worship, corporate worship, devotional worship. Hume nurtures the attitude of worship from sunrise to sunset.

Activities

Hume Lake has an arsenal of activities for you and your students. Each afternoon during free time we push the limits while we play hard.

Local Ministry

We believe youth pastors know their youth groups best. In light of that, we run camp in order to give youth pastors the freedom to focus on their students.

Amazing Location

It is a place of great natural beauty, with warm summer days, cool nights, an amazing lake and wilderness surroundings. God makes cool stuff.

Questions?

  • Contact Us

Do you prefer the phone?

Call our Hume Information team
 1 (800) 965-4863

Deposit and cancellation policy

Deposits and Payments
  1. The first deposit will be $35/spot, due upon booking
  2. The second deposit will be an additional $100/spot (totaling $135/spot), due 130 days prior to arrival
  3. The third deposit will be an additional $100/spot (totaling $235/spot), due 60 days prior to arrival
  4. The final balance will be due four weeks prior to arrival
Cancellations
  • If and when you are needing to cancel any spots, it will forfeit the full deposit per spot for what the deposit is at the time of cancellation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected].

Christopher Hilken

Speaker

Chris Hilken is a pastor from San Diego California. He is also a trained apologist and frequently shares at conferences aimed at engaging the mind & the heart of believers and non-believers alike. He’s a single father of 5 children after losing his wife tragically in 2021. He shares his journey of grief as a testimony to the goodness of God.

Nick Ely

Speaker

Nick Ely is a church planter with Christ Church from Phoenix, Arizona, where he has served since 2013. He is married to Rachel and they have three unstoppably cute little boys, Titus, Jude, and Josiah. Before church planting, he spent 7 years in student ministry and loves camp with his whole heart. He believes that lives change when people encounter the glory of God in the pages of the scriptures and the power of the Spirit.

Stevy York

Speaker

Stevy loves Youth ministry and is passionate about seeing every generation step into and know that the life of Jesus is actually life to the full! He was a Youth Pastor for the last 6 years and recently stepped in as the Associate Pastor at Light Church in Encinitas, CA. In his free time, when he’s not hanging with his wife Trisha, he likes to walk across the train tracks to his favorite surf break and end it with a California Burrito (French fries and Carne Asada all wrapped in a bean blanket!)

Jonny Ardavanis

Speaker

Jonny Ardavanis is the Dean of Campus Life at The Master’s University and the Host of the Dial In podcast. Jonny is passionate about people growing in their love for Jesus Christ as they grow in their love and obedience to God’s Word. Jonny is married to Caity and they have one daughter named Lily.

Josh Goertzen

Speaker

Josh Goertzen was born and raised in Kansas. He began ministry at 20 years old serving among the urban poor and leading ministries to reach and disciple kids and families from hard places. After marrying his wife Erika they moved to the inner city of Richmond, CA to continue ministry. In 2021 they moved to Santa Clarita, CA where Josh now serves as the Pastor of Student Ministries. Here they welcomed their first child, Rex. Josh then graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

James Prendergast

Speaker

James Prendergast is the Director of Student Ministries at Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg, CA. Being saved as a junior high student, James has a great passion for seeing young people be transformed by Jesus Christ as they encounter Him on the pages of Scripture. James is married to his high school sweetheart, McKenna, and they have one beautiful daughter named Blakely.

Brian Howard

Speaker

Brian is the Teaching Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California, where he has served with students and adults since 2007. His preaching ministry is built around making disciples who live and love like Jesus Christ. Brian believes that the Holy Spirit changes lives through relentless proclamation of the gospel and careful teaching of the Bible. He and his wife Dani have been married since 2013 and have three children, Grace, Noah and Hope.

Dr. Erik Thoennes

Speaker

Erik Thoennes is a Professor of Theology at Biola University and a pastor at Grace EVFree, La Mirada. He was voted Professor of the Year twice and was awarded the Faculty Excellence Award by his colleagues at Biola University. He is the author of “Life’s Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says About the Things that Matter Most,” and “Biblical and Theological Studies: A Student’s Guide,” Erik and his wife Donna have four children and love the people and ministry of Hume Lake!

Austin Payne

Speaker

Austin grew up in Quito, Ecuador as a missionary kid which kick started his passion for seeing people surrender their lives to Jesus. He now serves as a high school pastor in San Diego, CA at North Coast Church with his wife Paige and two daughters, Piper and Phoebe! He has way too many hobbies including surfing, dirt bike riding, golfing, and pretty much any lawn game.

Hume Christian Camps and Retreats

Join us for an amazing

Summer at Hume

We’ve opened our lodges and cabins to families and couples! Come up the mountain to worship, hear the Word, and spend time playing together in God’s creation. It’s the best place to be this summer!

Virtual Summer Camp 2020

Missing camp? Try our

Virtual Camp

We’re bringing Hume to you! With chapels hosted by our Camp Directors, you’ll get to participate in worship, play “virtual Rec” games, watch theme videos, and hear from Hume speakers. You don’t want to miss this!

We need help this summer!

Volunteer

As you know, things are a bit different at Hume this summer. The good news? The Lord has made it possible for us to shine His light in some wonderful ways, and we really need your help to make it happen!

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