Johns River Valley Camp & Retreat Center · Est. 1936 Talk to us 828-387-5736
The road through the Johns River valley at Johns River Valley Camp
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Give · Volunteer · Work here

Camp runs on people who care.

Some give money. Some give a Saturday. Some give a summer. All of it keeps ninety years of this place going.

Why it matters

A week at camp changes what a kid believes about themselves.

Camp is where confidence is found, resilience is built, and friendships get made face to face instead of over a screen. In a world full of screens and schedules, it is a vital pause. That does not happen on its own — it is powered by people who believe in it.

Give

Fund a campership

Our greatest need and highest priority. Camperships cover part or all of tuition for families who cannot otherwise afford camp, and they are the difference between a child coming and staying home.

Volunteer

Spend a Saturday

Work weekends tackle the projects that keep the site safe and welcoming — bathhouse renovations, a new cabin, a vehicle shelter. No experience required, and lunch is on us.

Work here

Spend a summer

We hire resident leaders and activity specialists every year. Housing and meals included, and it looks good on a resume that you can handle twelve twelve-year-olds in a canoe.

Give

Four funds. Pick the one you care about.

Every gift is tax-deductible. JRVC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 56-0640109, and we steward every dollar toward the work described here.

Greatest need

Campership Fund

Removes cost as a barrier for families. $485 sends one camper to a Juniors session for a full week; any amount goes toward a partial campership.

Sustaining

Rocking Chair Fund

A maintenance fund for the unglamorous, essential work — roofs, plumbing, porches, and the rocking chairs that make the porch worth sitting on.

Current project

Kitchen & Water

Replacing aging kitchen appliances and adding water filtration for the dining hall. Serving three meals a day for ninety years wears equipment out.

Legacy

Legacy Giving

Include JRVC in your will or name the camp as a beneficiary, and ensure the valley is here for the campers who come after you.

Volunteer

Current projects on site.

Work weekends run spring through fall, usually Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. All skill levels welcome — we will teach you what you need to know, and lunch is provided.

Two phases · Interior

Women’s Bathhouse Renovation

Phase one: remove the tile and stalls. Phase two: install new stall dividers for showers and toilets and paint and finish the interior walls. Best suited to groups of 6–10; no trade experience needed for demo and painting.

Two phases · Interior

Men’s Bathhouse Renovation

The same scope as the women’s bathhouse, run in parallel. Demo, then new partitions, fixtures, and paint. A good project for a church group that wants visible progress in a single Saturday.

Carpentry · Outdoor

Vehicle Shelter

Build an enclosed pole-barn shelter for the camp vehicles, which currently sit out in the weather year-round. Framing and roofing experience welcome but not required — we will pair you with someone who has it.

Four phases · New build

New Cabin

Framing, then dry-in with siding and roofing, then mechanical and utilities, then interior finishing. The biggest project on the list and the one that will take the most weekends — and the most skilled hands.

Bring your group for a work weekend

Church groups, scout troops, campus ministries, and corporate teams are all welcome. We can host up to 60 volunteers with lodging and meals, and we will scope a project to fit your group’s size and skill level.

Work here

Summer staff 2026

We hire four to six full-time resident leaders each summer, plus activity specialists. It is hard work, it pays modestly, and people come back for years.

  • Housing and all meals included for the season
  • Pre-camp training week covering supervision, safety, and programming
  • Positions in archery, lifeguarding, climbing, canoeing, music, arts and crafts, and low ropes
  • Background check and references required for all staff

Not old enough to be staff but not done with camp? Ask about the Counselor in Training program for 16-year-olds.

Open roles

  • Resident counselor4–6 positions
  • Archery instructor1
  • Lifeguard2
  • Climbing instructor1
  • Canoe / kayak instructor1
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