Summer Camp 2024
About Camp
Gateway Church of Austin is excited to once again return to Highland Lakes for SUMMER CAMP!
Camp is for middle school and high school students in 6th-12th grades during the 2023-24 school year.
About Camp
Everything you’ll love about camp:
- Opening up in small group time with peers who make them feel safe sharing their life experiences
- Competing in team games and events
- Showing off hidden talents during the Saturday Night Live skit night
- Worshiping with our incredible camp band to center their hearts on God.
- Hearing relevant, heartfelt messages given by our camp guest speaker that helps breakdown walls and barriers preventing them from experiencing the life God has planned for them.
Things you can’t wait to do at camp:
- Squishing into the mud during mud games. Is it really camp if you don’t get dirty?
- Climbing high on the the Hexapod - this 3 level 54 element challenge course will make you feel like you can overcome any fear no matter which level you try
- Soaring across the sky on the 500 foot zip line
- Splashing into the pool with slides and volleyball net. It’s the perfect way to cool off on a scorching Texas summer afternoon
- Swooshing across Lake Travis on banana boats.
NEW this Year:
- Our camp theme this year is Eternal
- Highland has added a cool, new pond where the floating inflatable obstacle course is now located.
- We have an incredible guest speaker this year. We’re excited to introduce our campers to Phil Mion from Calvary Church in Miami, FL. He will expand upon a different aspect of our camp theme Eternal each night of camp.
Have questions about camp? See our FAQ’s page.
Registration and Finances
The cost of camp this year is $450. This includes food and lodging for 4 nights, plus this year’s camp t-shirt. You may choose to pay the entire cost up front, or pay only a $75 deposit now. The balance is due by June 6, 2024.
Early bird special $400 - Register by APRIL 14th and get $50 off the price of camp.
Families with more than one student registering can take $40 off each registration by using the Promo Code: SIBLING.
Camp registration closes on Friday, May 31st at 11:55 p.m.
DONATE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
We need your help to send students to camp who might need a little financial boost. Help a student go to camp by donating to our scholarship fund.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Application Deadline: May 19, 2024
VOLUNTEER AT CAMP
Come to camp with us and help us make it a great experience for our students. Let us know you’re interested by emailing the Camp Operations Director - Erin Caffey
We need trustworthy adults to volunteer as:
- Team leaders - take charge of a group of campers and act as their camp counselor.
- SpecOps - special operations: they are our backbone behind the scenes team
CAMP FAQs
Camp takes place at the Highland Lakes Camp & Conference Center near Spicewood, TX in the Pace Bend park – just under one hour west of Austin
Thursday, June 27 - July 1, 2024
Registration for camp closes on Friday, May 31st at 11:55 pm. Don’t miss out! Register at: https://www.gatewaychurch.com/event-details/?id=106774
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- Erin Caffey - Camp Operations Director - erin_caffey@gatewaychurch.com
- Isaiah Struve - Camp Director/North Student Pastor - isaiah_struve@gatewaychurch.com
- Katelyn Rogers - Camp Director/Buda Student Pastor - katelyn_rogers@gatewaychurch.com
- Peter Shenk - Camp Director/South Student Pastor - peter_shenk@gatewaychurch.com
While the schedule each day varies, here’s a sample of what a day might include
- Breakfast
- Intro to the day
- Small groups
- Games
- Lunch
- Camp activities
- Clean-up
- Dinner
- Worship Service
- Closing Activity
- Lights Out
Middle Schoolers: 6th-8th grade
High Schoolers: 9th-12th grade
The grades are based on the grade each student is during the 2023-24 school year. Seniors who graduate in May are also invited to attend camp with us.
Kids who were in 5th grade during the 2023-24 school year can only go based on a recommendation from the Kids director at your local Gateway campus. Also, if your campus offers the Born to Lead program, those 5th graders are pre-approved to join us and attend camp.
Because it is awesome! Need another reason? Okay. We see Summer Camp as a strategic opportunity for students to participate in a small group setting with their peers and small group leaders. These relationships can lead to healthy growth relationally and spiritually.
Plus, they’re going to have a lot of fun, make great friends, and come home VERY, VERY tired.
Full price registration is $450 for 5 days/4 nights. This can be paid all at once upon registration or pay only the deposit of $75 now with the final balance due by June 6th. We also offer great discounts for early registration and sending multiple siblings to camp.
Register before April 14th and get $50 off the price of camp, making the total only $400. Siblings can get $40 off for each camp registration by using Promo Code: SIBLING. Be sure to take advantage of these savings to reduce your overall cost of camp.
No, you may choose the option to pay only the $75 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit when you register. The final balance of the cost of camp is due by June 6, 2024. You can pay the remaining camp balance anytime before June 6th at My Invoices.
Yes! Siblings can get $40 each off the price of camp by using Promo Code: SIBLIING on each registration.
If you cancel prior to June 6th, you will receive a full refund of what you already paid minus the $75 deposit. If you cancel after June 6th, no refund will be given. At that point your money will go toward helping another student get to camp that might not otherwise be able to pay their balance.
To pay the remaining balance for camp, you can go to My Invoices and look for the block with the Camp logo. Click the button to pay the outstanding balance. You may pay toward your balance in any amount until June 6th when the final balance is due.
Yes, scholarships are available! If you would like to apply for a scholarship, use the link below. Scholarships are given out in 25% and 50% off discounts based on need and available funds. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is May 19, 2024. Don’t delay because after that date, funds will be allocated to applicants and no additional funds will be available. Apply for Financial Aid Here
You will be notified via email if you receive a scholarship by the end of May. Go ahead and register for camp and pay the $75 deposit to hold your spot for camp.
We do not currently have any formal fundraising plans for camp.
Absolutely! We LOVE it when our students invite their friends – especially if they don’t attend church at all.
Campers can begin to arrive at Highland Lakes Camp in the early to mid afternoon on June 27. Dinner will be served on Thursday. Campers should then be picked up by late morning on July 1st. Exact times will be sent via email at the beginning of June.
- Great times of connection and community with other students and selected leaders
- Small group hangouts
- High-energy worship/music
- Relevant talks from staff and guest speakers
- Games, swimming and adventure activities!!
In June, the official Packing List will be emailed to families, but here’s a list of what campers have brought in years past:
- Sleeping bag or sheets & pillow (linens will NOT be provided)
- Clothes for 4 days/ 4 nights (plus one extra, optional) - don’t forget your underwear!
- Team colored clothes or accessories
- Shoes - One pair sturdy close-toed shoes for games, climbing wall and zip line activities; flip flops or sandals for non-game times are fine, but make sure they’re sturdy enough for lots of walking on rocky ground around camp
- Pajamas
- Hat & sunglasses (optional)
- Swimsuit & swim towel
- Trash bag/plastic bags to put muddy/wet clothes in
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray (optional)
- Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, hair brush, etc.
- DEODORANT - please!
- Bath towel & washcloth - ideally this is separate from the swim towel
- WATER BOTTLE - super important, they will carry it everywhere
- Flashlight
- Alarm clock/watch
- Bible, journal & pen
- Snacks (optional, but they must stay wrapped/sealed to keep out bugs)
- Spending money for concessions, coffee shop, and gift shop - we recommend around $40 or so.
Each family is responsible for transporting their camper to and from camp at Highland Lakes Camp near Spicewood, TX in Pace Bend Park
Absolutely! Safety is one of our highest values. We have incredible leaders and trained volunteers who love our students. The majority of our camp leaders will be the same people who lead your student’s small groups each week! All are background checked and receive special training to be at camp. For physical ailments, the camp has a Registered Nurse on site to facilitate medications and deal with any medical issues that might arise.
REQUIRED FORMS
The Camp Medication Administration Permission is required IF you are sending any medication with your camper: Medication Administration Form.pdf
The Camp Registration Form is REQUIRED of every camper and must be printed, filled out and brought in person to camp check in: Reg Form - Summer Rental - Student.pdf