Summer Camp Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

It's common for new campers and parents to have a lot of questions about camp. The beauty of the camp experience exists in part because it takes campers (and parents) out of their comfort zones. We love that about camp, but we also want to ease the anxiety as much as we can. These are the most common questions we get, but feel free to give us a call (931.729.9723) or email our Summer Camp Director at summercamp@nacome.org  if you have a  question that isn’t here. Talking about camp is second only to living it for us. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have!

FAQs Prior to Camp

  • NaCoMe is a Presbyterian camp (PCUSA).

  • That's not a problem at all! NaCoMe is certainly a PCUSA camp, but most of our camp curriculum focuses on core truths of the Christian faith, not specifics of Presbyterian doctrine. We explore concepts of God's unfailing love, His grace, the life of Jesus Christ, and how we should live as a result of these truths, among other things. As Jesus would, we welcome all!

  • Of course! NaCoMe guarantees one co-requested cabin mate. So make sure you both request each other!

  • Visiting camp can calm a fair amount of anxiety for first-time campers, and we would love to schedule a visit for you and your camper(s). Call our office at (931) 729-9723 or email summercamp@nacome.org to coordinate your visit with our Summer Camp Director.

  • No camper should be turned away because of an inability to pay. NaCoMe is blessed to have multiple people and organizations that support this goal. If you can’t afford camp, all you have to do is call or email our Summer Camp Director and they can discuss the various ways to make sure your camper doesn’t miss out.

  • Each camper is responsible for the full payment of his/her camper fees. In order to guarantee your camper’s spot, we need a deposit, which will be paid upon registration. The remainder of the payment is due May 1st. You can choose from several different options while registering. If you have additional questions concerning setting up this payment, please email our Summer Camp Director at summercamp@nacome.org.

    In case a camper must withdraw and cancel their registration, everything but a $50 processing fee will be refunded until May 1, 2025. After this date, no refunds will be issued.

  • All campers must be covered by family medical insurance. NaCoMe does not provide medical insurance for campers, nor does it assume financial responsibility for medical emergencies. Please provide complete medical information on the Health History Form, which can be found on the registration website.

  • We recruit students from colleges across the US. We also have a number of previous campers who apply to work here at NaCoMe. Each summer staff goes through an intensive screening process, two personal interviews, a background and reference checks.

  • Counselors are in charge of a single group of up to 7 campers each week. Counselors will be paired with a co-counselor and 7 more campers. This entire group is called a Family Group and will do all the camp activities together through the week.

  • Please use your best judgment when packing for camp. Clothes, bathing suits, and shoes should be athletic and functional as we are very active at camp and your clothes need to keep up with you. You may be playing on a water mat, ziplining, or playing field games while here, so pack accordingly. Camp can also be dirty and messy, so we do not recommend bringing new clothing.

    See the additional resource section for a Packing List.

  • Camper registration for all camps will begin at 4:00 p.m. on the first day of the camp (Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday). Checkout for week-long/mini-camps is at 1:00-2:00 p.m. on the final day of the program (Tuesday or Friday) with the closing ceremony beginning at 1:00 p.m. All parents/guardians and campers must check in with their counselor and, for your camper’s safety, check out with their counselor prior to leaving camp.

    Additional information concerning drop off and pick up will be sent via email after registration.

  • During camper check-in, you have the option to drop off any packages in our daily labeled bins. You can also send an email using our camper mailing system and we will print it out for your camper. Information for how to use the emailing system will be emailed to campers’ guardians prior to their week of camp.

    You can also send snail mail directly to us. Please note that we are rural, and it takes mail a while to get to us. Please send mail prior to your camper’s week in order to ensure it arrives before/while they are here. Mail received after their departure will (unfortunately) not make it’s way back to you. NaCoMe’s mailing address is: NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center Attn: Camper’s Name 3232 Sulphur Creek Rd. Pleasantville, TN 37033

  • Yes! All indoor lodging facilities are equipped with AC and heat.

  • Meatimes are served at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. daily. Our summer camp menu provides kid-friendly meal options. At each meal, there is always a hot & cold food line served cafeteria style.

    If you have any specific dietary restrictions or needs, please let us know in advance.

  • You can put money into the Camp Store account through the online registration system or by calling the Camp Office. Each weeklong camper will receive a $10 credit from NaCoMe on their account and half-week campers will receive $2 to get a drink and a snack daily at the Camp Store if they choose. They can also use this money for shirts, hats, or other available items. We recommend sending $20-30 for weeklong campers and $10 for half-week campers.

    Any unused funds at the end of the session will be donated to our Camper Scholarship Fund; no refunds will be given.

  • Our summer camp curriculum focuses on the core truths of the Christian faith. During the week, camp has Worship twice a day (morning and evening). Every camper will have the choice to participate in a communion service on Thursday evening.

  • One of the most significant elements of the camp experience is learning independence. It’s hard to be apart; however, kids adjust to camp life much more easily than we often assume.

    So, we usually don't allow phone calls or visits to the camper during the camp week. The best way to communicate is by emailing your camper, but please be aware that they will not reply to your emails. You'll get the information about emailing your camper at registration.

  • We strive never to dismiss campers from camp, but NaCoMe reserves the right to do so in order to protect the campers and the camp community. Unruly or dangerous behavior or possession of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, firearms, weapons, or fireworks are grounds for immediate dismissal.

Camp Life FAQs

FAQs During Camp

  • We focus a tremendous amount of energy on serving our campers during the week of camp. With that in mind, we do our best to post photos each day by 11:00 am to a photo-sharing website. Parents will be given the information needed for viewing photos at camper registration.

  • Missing home can happen to even the most seasoned camper, and it's probably the issue that can most affect a camper's experience if it is left unresolved. Our staff are trained to identify homesickness early and our schedule is designed to prevent it early in the week, the most common time for homesickness to occur. In extreme cases, we will consult with the parent to find a resolution, but most of the time that step isn't necessary.

  • Bumps and bruises are expected at camp. Should anything more serious happen, we have a Registered Nurse on-site at all times, and we're in close contact with other medical professionals in the event of an emergency. In the unlikely event that anything happens to a camper, we'll be in touch with parents or guardians to decide on further steps.

FAQs After Camp

  • Camp is a unique experience for participants and each camper can express their experience differently. We think that's a good thing. Many campers will want to talk about camp for weeks, some will want to ruminate on the experience before sharing about it, and others are simply too tired to share all about it in the car. Whenever your child does want to share, we recommend using open-ended questions and finishing the conversation with questions about how they feel they're different after camp or how they want to live differently after camp.

  • Call us! You can reach our Summer Camp Director via their email summercamp@nacome.org or by calling our office at 931.729.9723. We’re happy to talk about your camper's experience. Whether your feedback is positive, negative, or neither of those, we’d love to hear about your experience. We view the camp experience as a partnership, and communication only strengthens that ability. Additionally, we recommend you fill out our parent survey usually emailed in late July or early August each year.

  • We're happy to hear it! No marketing on our end will ever replace a good word-of-mouth reputation. If you want to help spread the word about what NaCoMe is doing, we're always looking for people to speak to their church congregation. If that's too daunting, we'll be happy to come to speak to your church. Give us a call and we'll coordinate a visit.

Additional Resources