Camp Policies FAQ

In order to have the best week possible, we ask campers to commit to these Community Guidelines:  

1. Respect Others: I commit to respecting all campers and staff at RVR. 
   • I will do my part to create a wholesome environment. 
   • I will refrain from bullying speech and actions. 
   • I will refrain from any inappropriate or unwanted touching of others and their belongings. 
   • I will choose kindness, togetherness, and an open mind towards others. 
2. Respect RVR: I commit to respecting RVR’s property and program. 
   • I will follow camp guidelines and procedures. 
   • I will refrain from damaging property and equipment. 
   • I will clean up after myself and leave areas better than how I found them. 
3. Respect Yourself: I commit to respecting myself by making the most of this week. 
   • I will let a staff member know if I feel sick, scared, or need help with something. 
   • I will let a staff member know if there are issues with other campers or camp staff.  
   • I will embrace challenges and try new things to the best of my ability.

The safety of all guests and staff is our number one priority. Therefore, RVR reserves the right to dismiss anyone immediately for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to the following:

• Threats of harm, or causing harm, to self or others
• Possession of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, nictoine or vape products
• Weapons of any kind
• Sexual harassment
• Theft
• Property damage
• Fraternization
• Bullying
• Curfew violation
• Infractions of camp policies

What happens if my camper is dismissed for any of the above or other behavior issues?

Campers dismissed for inappropriate behavior will not receive a refund or prorated fees. RVR also reserves the right to deny their return to camp in the future.

Yes. RVR reserves the right to search any participant's belongings for signs of pests (including, but not limited to, lice and bed bugs), illegal substances, weapons, or any other items not permitted at camp. Searches may be conducted at our discretion for the safety of all campers, staff, and TNT.

These searches may be preventive (such as at check-in) or conducted during the teen's stay if a safety concern arises. RVR may take action to protect campers, staff, and TNT which could include sending your camper home, asking parents to remove infested luggage or property, or confiscating banned items.

We also use security cameras throughout campus and cover many safety topics during staff training to help maintain a safe environment.

RVR Health Services staff collect and dispense medications according to directions provided. To ensure your camper's safety, please follow these guidelines:

• Medication Forms: Bring the required completed Medication Administration Authorization form to check-in. (You can also upload to your their RVR account in advance or fax to Health Services at 443-712-1015.)

• Original Containers Only: All medications must be in pharmacy-labeled bottles (no daily pill boxes) and should contain only enough for the week of camp. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications require a doctor-signed authorization form.

• Administration Times: Medications are usually dispensed after breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed—unless otherwise prescribed.

• Exceptions: Fast-acting inhalers and epi-pens may stay with your camper, but still need to be checked in by Health staff.

• Injectable Medications: A written physician order is required for nurses to administer injections (including insulin and growth hormone replacements).

• Over-the-Counter Medications: Common medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Benadryl are provided by our Health Center—please do not pack extras. (Note: we do not stock aspirin or aspirin-containing products.)

While we aim to serve meals that the majority of campers enjoy, we recognize that not every camper will like everything. We offer menu variety (e.g., not serving beef at three consecutive meals) but cannot accommodate every individual need due to our setup and Health Department regulations.

Specialized Meals

• We cannot provide individualized specialized meals. If a camper cannot eat what is being served, we will try to find an alternative, but this must be the exception, not the rule.

Food Allergies

• We understand that some campers have food allergies and will do our best to support them.
• Campers must be able to identify their own allergies. For example, if a camper is lactose intolerant, they must know which dairy products to avoid. If unsure about ingredients in a meal, they should ask the Chef.
• At check-in, please notify the Health staff about any allergies so they can be documented on the camper's health form. Staff will do their best to help campers avoid allergens, but it is ultimately the camper's responsibility to manage their own diet.
• If you have questions or concerns about your camper's allergy, please contact us prior to the start of camp.

Bringing Your Own Food

• Due to Health Department regulations, food cannot be stored in the kitchen or in camper housing.
• If a camper cannot eat most of the meals provided, you may send supplemental nutrition bars (e.g., PowerBars, granola bars) or nutritional shakes (e.g., Ensure) with them. These items will be kept by the Health Center and can be picked up after meals.
• To protect TNT, campers, and staff with severe or life-threatening allergies, do not send food or drinks to share unless pre-approved by camp staff. All shared snacks must be store-bought with visible ingredient labels, and items containing nuts should be avoided whenever possible.

Campers will be checked for head lice prior to admission. RVR follows a strict “no nit” policy, which is different from public school guidelines. Campers with lice or nits will be sent home for treatment and may only return after being cleared, to ensure the safety and well-being of all TNT, campers and staff.

• Returning to Camp: Campers may return 24 hours after treatment (immediate return is allowed with proof of professional treatment), provided no nits are found by camp staff.

• Personal Items: All clothing, bedding, and personal items must be properly treated before returning. Refer to the CDC website for detailed guidance on head lice and treatment.

How can you help?
Check your camper's head carefully 2–3 days before camp and treat if needed. Watch How to Check for Lice to learn how to do a head check at home.

RVR has partnered with MD Lice Control to offer discounted pre-camp head checks. For details, call 410-487-2899 or visit mdlice.com. Be sure to mention you are a patron of RVR.

We believe the camper–counselor relationship is one of the most important parts of a camper’s experience. That’s why we take great care in recruiting and training the best possible staff.

• Recruitment: Our teams actively recruit year-round, visiting college campuses and connecting with candidates through various channels. Applicants complete an extensive application, provide references that submit detailed Personal Evaluation forms.
• Screening: Every staff member undergoes a comprehensive screening process, including:
  • Background check
  • NSOPW (National Sex Offender Public Website) check
  • Fingerprinting
  • Child Protective Services check
  • Motor Vehicle Records check (if applicable to their role)
• Training: Hired staff participate in 10 days of training, which includes safety procedures, program preparation, and certification in First Aid and CPR (with at least one certified staff member assigned to every cabin).

Year after year, we are committed to hiring top-quality staff so you can feel confident that your camper is in excellent hands.

Most of RVR’s summer staff are 18 and older, and all counselors must meet this minimum age requirement.

We also offer our TNT program for students ages 14–17 who want to serve on our field, store, kitchen, or dining crews. Please note, this teen program does not oversee campers.

For more information about these opportunities, visit our Work at RVR page.

Our staff-to-camper ratios vary depending on camper age and the program they are attending.

Minimum ratios are as follows:

Overnight Camp:

• Ages 15–17 → 1:10 (Frontier Town)
• Ages 13–14 → 1:8 (Frontier Town)
• Ages 9–12 → 1:8 (Fort Roller)
• Ages 7–8 → 1:6 (Cadets)

Day Camp:

• Ages 9–10 → 1:10
• Ages 6–8 → 1:8
• Ages 5 and under → 1:6

These ratios reflect minimum staff-to-camper ratios during free time and general camp activities. Additional staff are present for higher-risk activities such as archery, ropes courses, and paintball to ensure camper safety.

Yes! If your camper would like to room with a friend, you can submit a roommate request during registration. Simply enter the friend’s name in the Roommate Request tab of your account. If you receive a roommate request from another family, log into your account, select Registrations, scroll to the Roommate Request tab, and enter the provided request code.

Roommate Request Guidelines:

• Each camper may request up to three friends (four campers max per room).
• Campers must be enrolled in the same program and session.
• Requests apply to room assignments only, not bunks. Bunks are assigned first-come, first-served. Arriving together at check-in on Sunday at 3:00 pm can help friends bunk nearby.
• Campers must be within two grade levels of one another. For example, a camper who completed 8th grade may room with a 7th, 9th, or 10th grader—but not 11th.
• When needed, we may place older campers down a grade, but younger campers are not moved up.
• We will do our best to honor roommate requests, but they cannot be guaranteed.
• Both families should confirm the request during registration to improve the chances of matching.
• Roommate group limits: Requests are limited to four campers per group, and multiple groups cannot be merged into a single cabin. This policy helps maintain a healthy cabin dynamic and ensures every camper feels included and valued.
• Privacy Note: For camper safety, we cannot share registration or session details for any camper other than your own. Please contact the other family directly for confirmation.

RVR offers a variety of stores and shops where campers can buy gifts, crafts, and snacks. Campers use a computerized banking system, so no cash is needed. Each camper wears a name bracelet for easy identification at checkout. You can add money to your camper’s account anytime through your RVR account.

• Online:
  • Log in to your RVR account.
  • Click Registrations
  • Select Store Card
  • Enter the amount and complete payment
• By Mail:
  • Send a check to:
    River Valley Ranch
    4443 Grave Run Road
    Manchester, MD 21102
  • Include your camper’s name and note that it is for bank money

Spending recommendations:

• Consider setting a budget for your camper’s purchases and discuss in advance how they use the money: snacks, candy, crafts, and souvenirs
• For most campers, $25–$100 for the week is a typical range.
• Monitor the account balance anytime online.

There are two options for handling any remaining balance on your camper’s bank account:

• Donate the remaining balance to RVR:
  During registration, you can choose to donate any leftover funds as a tax-deductible gift. Donations help support programs for the following summer. A receipt is available upon request.

• Refund the remaining balance to you:
  If you did not select the donation option and your camper’s account has a balance greater than $5.00, the funds will be refunded electronically within 2–3 weeks after camp ends. Balances under $5.00 will only be refunded upon request.

• The Wagon Wheel (Snack Shop): Campers can enjoy a variety of hot foods like mozzarella sticks, fresh-baked cookies, and pretzels, as well as candy, snacks, and cold beverages. Don’t forget to save room for Hershey Ice Cream!
• The Trading Post (Merchandise Store): Campers can take home RVR merchandise to remember their summer, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and souvenirs. Show off camp spirit with fun, trendy items!

We charge a small fee for emails to help cover the costs of providing this service. RVR has invested significantly in making photos and emails available to families, and charging a nominal fee ensures we can continue offering them.

If the service were free, we would likely receive thousands of emails each summer, making it extremely costly and time-consuming to process and print them all.

The email system we use makes it easier for parents and relatives (including those out of state or overseas) to send messages to campers during the week. While there is a small cost ($1.00 per email), it helps us provide the service in a sustainable way.

Please note: while emails are delivered to campers, replies are not guaranteed. Some campers may choose not to write back, or responses may take a day or two depending on their schedule.

Regular mail is still always an option, though it does not offer the same timeliness.

• State and County Compliance: RVR complies with the MD COMAR for summer camps and is inspected by both the state and county several times each year.

• ACA Accreditation: RVR is also accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), which requires us to meet and exceed industry-wide standards of excellence in camping.

RVR’s mission is to cultivate a wholesome Christian environment where guests and staff may grow to their full God-given potential. This means that we believe all people have been created in God’s image and can have a personal relationship with Him through His son Jesus. We see the entire camp experience as one that shares the love of Jesus in both our words and actions. This is done through the formal communication that happens in our daily meetings/small groups and how well we love and care for each camper who comes to RVR. Our hope is that each camper will experience, as Jesus described it, “life to the fullest”!

RVR is a Christian camp, what does that mean?
RVR's Statement of Faith

If you have further questions about who we are and the Christian messages and values we teach, please contact us at 443-712-1010 or info@rivervalleyranch.com

For our camp programs, we welcome any camper or teen regardless of their gender identity. Our staff is trained to share the love of Jesus with all guests and provide a safe space for them. In order to create this environment, we have guidelines that need to be respected in order for gender issues to not become a disruption at camp. We want to share these with you in advance so that parents, along with their camper, can make an informed decision about whether or not RVR is the right fit.  If your camper identifies as LGBTQ, please discuss these guidelines with them prior to registering them for camp, to make sure they can feel comfortable in this setting.

1. Any camper or teen identifying as LGBTQ must not use their camp experience as an opportunity to try and force others to accept their viewpoint on gender identity. If the expression of their gender becomes disruptive, we may decide to remove them from the program for their own benefit and those around them.
2. Conversely, if any camper or teen harasses or makes a significant issue with another who is identifying as LGBTQ, he/she may be asked to leave (Note: this would also be true for any individual who is harassing another individual for any reason).
3. For those identifying as transgender, they will be housed with their biological birth gender.  Our staff will use biological gender pronouns consistent with the housing in which the camper is staying or simply use their name. Transgender campers may request that others use their preferred pronouns, but may not make an issue if others prefer not to.  Any camper or teen who is uncomfortable using the preferred pronoun may also simply use the transgender individual's name. If anyone anticipates this being a problem before attending, it may be better to refrain from coming to camp. 

If you have further questions, please contact our office at info@rivervalleyranch.com