Collettsville, North Carolina · Since 1936
Ninety years of summer in these mountains.
A week away from screens, in a valley with a river running through it. Campers leave knowing they can climb the thing, paddle the thing, and make a friend doing it.
- Youth, adult & family camps
- Youth: rising grades 3–12 & graduating seniors
- June 13 – July 31, 2027
Welcoming campers to the same valley for 90 years
Camp weeks for youth, adults, and families in summer 2027
Youth rising grades; graduating seniors welcome in eligible sessions
Outdoor ministry of the Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Find your way in
Three reasons people come up the mountain.
Families send campers. Churches and colleges serve. Groups of every kind gather. Each one has its own page, its own dates, and its own price.
Summer Camp
Seven weeks of adventure for youth, adults, and families, June 13 through July 31, 2027.
Sessions & tuition
Retreats
Lodging, meals, and meeting space for 8 to 120. Published rates, year-round.
Plan a retreat
Mission Trips
All-inclusive Appalachian service trips for youth groups and college teams.
Bring your groupWhich camp is right for my camper?
Pick by grade. We’ll take it from there.
Choose an adventure for youth, an adults-only week, or time together with your family. All grades are rising; graduating seniors are welcome in eligible youth sessions.
| Camp | Dates | Who can come |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Camp | June 13–19, 2027 | Adults only |
| Valleywide 1 | June 20–26, 2027 | Rising grades 3–12 and graduating seniors |
| Drama Camp | June 27–July 3, 2027 | Rising grades 6–12 and graduating seniors |
| Family Camp | July 4–10, 2027 | Children and the adults who call them family |
| Senior High Paddle Camp | July 11–17, 2027 | Rising grades 9–12 and graduating seniors |
| Valleywide 2 | July 18–24, 2027 | Rising grades 3–12 and graduating seniors |
| Middle High Paddle Camp | July 25–31, 2027 | Rising grades 6–9 |
Adult Camp includes lodging, meals, and camp activities at $99 per adult per night with double occupancy or $125 with single occupancy. See three-night and full-week options. Family Camp is $75 per adult, $50 per teen (12–17), or $30 per child (4–11) per night; children 3 and under are free. Lodging, meals, and camp activities are included. Choose a three-night or six-night Family Camp stay. Valleywide 1 and Valleywide 2 are $475 per camper, per session. Drama Camp and both Paddle Camps are $560 per camper, per session. Contact us for registration details.
Why JRVC
We take the screens away and hand back the day.
Our mission is simple: help youth seek God, build nurturing relationships, and rediscover the joy of the outdoors. By stepping away from digital distractions, campers find the space to listen — to nature, to their peers, and to their Creator.
Campers sleep in cabins, eat in the dining hall, and spend the day at archery, on the climbing wall, in a canoe, on the trail, or sitting still in the chapel at the top of the hill.
- Grouped by developmental stage — never too easy, never overwhelming.
- A squad system so every camper is known by name and included.
- Staff who are trained, screened, and here all summer — not passing through.
It is a place where strangers become friends, where community is built amidst diversity, and where people of all ages discover new parts of themselves.
Life in the valley
What a week here actually looks like.
Real campers and counselors on the Johns River, at the archery range, and on the steps of Ratz Dining Hall.
Before you book
The questions every parent asks.
If yours isn’t here, call Kevin at 828-387-5736. He answers.
What does a week at resident camp cost?
Valleywide is $475 per camper, per session. Drama Camp and both Paddle Camps are $560 per camper, per session. Adult Camp and Family Camp offer nightly rates and flexible stays. Explore the summer schedule for full pricing, or contact us for registration and campership information.
How are staff screened and trained?
Every staff member completes a background check, references, and a pre-camp training week covering supervision, safety, and emergency procedure. See our safety and staffing page for ratios and health coverage.
What time is drop-off and pick-up?
Drop-off is Sunday between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m. Pick-up is Saturday between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Day camp runs 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
My camper has allergies or takes medication. Who handles that?
The health form is part of registration and goes to the camp health officer before arrival. Medication is collected and stored at check-in and dispensed by staff. The kitchen accommodates dietary needs with advance notice — tell us when you register.
Can we afford camp?
Yes, if we can help. The Campership Fund exists to remove cost as a barrier, and asking is confidential and normal. Email kevin@jrvc.org or call 828-387-5736.
Summer 2027
Six sessions. Somewhere in them is your camper’s week.
Registration is open now. Sessions fill from the youngest grades first, so early is better.