CLBC FAQs

CLOTHES! (Very important you don’t forget these and be sure to check out the CLBC DRESS CODE which is listed below. NO tank tops.) Label ALL clothing and other items with the camper’s name. (Every effort will be made to help campers keep up with their belongings, but the camp cannot be responsible for lost items. A lost and found will be available at the end of camp on pick-up day.)  

Bible—It is Canal Lake BIBLE Camp!  

Bedding—For middle and high school overnight camp, lodging is in dorm style rooms with twin sized bunk beds. You will need pillows, sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag.  

Towels and Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, sunscreen, bug spray etc.)  

Flashlight (overnight camp)  

PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS—(NO MEDS ARE DISTRIBUTED ELEMENTARY WEEK. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WEEKS ONLY) These will ONLY be accepted in the original container having clear instructions on the pharmacy label with camper’s name.

Thanks for asking. Electronics are prohibited (this includes phones, smart watches, etc.). Fortunately, many schools are following the same rule during class times, so your child should be familiar with it. Disconnecting from the outside world creates a safer environment and keeps us more in tune with the goal of camp. We want your children to have less distracted opportunities for developing relationships, focusing on teachings and conversations, being creative, having fun, and most of all, growing in their knowledge and fellowship with God. Should a phone be found on your child, it will be locked away in a safe place until the end of camp.

(See question 2.) Sorry, no. Unless there is a medical reason a child needs a cell phone, we ask that campers leave these items at home. However, if your child ever needs to call home, our counselors will make sure they have access to a phone. 

We’re thrilled you asked! It’s very simple, and we enforce it! Many of these codes are also enforced in schools now, so your child should already be accustomed to them. Check it out below.

Shorts: Must fall at or below the length of your child’s fist when it is balled at his/her side.

Shirts:  Shirts must have sleeves. No tank tops for girls or guys.  Shirts must cover your stomach when your arms are raised perpendicular to your body (T pose).  Shirts should have no offensive words or graphics.  If wearing leggings or biker shorts, a shirt must be worn that goes to the end of your fist.  

Jeans: You will want at least one pair of jeans for cool evenings. Please, no holes or rips unless they are below your fists when at your side.

Swimwear: For girls, a tankini or one piece. If your child wears a 2 piece, they must wear a full tank-top covering. We recommend 2 swimsuits. They do not have to wear a t-shirt while swimming.   For boys, no speedos.  Wear clothes over swimwear on the way to and from the lake/pool.  

Underwear and socks: We don’t recommend sharing, so make sure you pack plenty!  

Shoes: Required at all times at camp. We recommend at least one pair of tennis/athletic shoes and flip-flops/sandals.  

PLAY clothes are suggested. Keep in mind, we do a lot of messy activities. Don’t send their best.  With counselor discretion, your child may be asked to change their outfit to better meet the standard of the camp.

We attempt to accommodate as many dietary needs as possible. Our dedicated cooks serve a really great variety of fresh fruits and veggies along with our main entrees. If your child is diabetic, vegetarian, lactose intolerant or has nut allergies, we will definitely be able to accommodate them. Just let us know about the accommodations when you register your camper online. However, we are NOT equipped to handle dietary preferences or undiagnosed sensitivities. We have a large number of campers, and if your child eats dairy sometimes or some gluten, but not all, we will either feed them completely dairy and gluten free or we will feed them the regular menu. Thanks for understanding.

Yes, absolutely. We allow one friend request per child. Please make sure you note who they wish to be dorm partners with on the registration form prior to registration day. There is the occasional time when this is not possible, but we do try to place the kids in a dorm where they have a friend and feel comfortable. Also, keep in mind we try to place campers of close age and grade together.

Our dorm moms and dads are the greatest, aren’t they!? You can request a dorm mom or dad through the registration portal, though we cannot guarantee your child will get the person they request.

While we try to put campers with a friend in the dorms, we do not guarantee that children will be placed with their friends on their team. However, we do have time built into our schedule that allows for campers to spend time hanging out and doing activities with their friends. 

This is a very common request. In fact, if we said yes to this request every time, we wouldn’t have camp according to age at all. We completely understand that some of you have mature children, some of you have children with a sibling in a different age group, etc. There are often legitimate reasons why it might be ideal for your child to attend a different age level week of camp than their appropriate one. The problem is that there are also a lot of really legitimate reasons why we need to keep the right ages in the right weeks. Activities, team building, teaching, dorm devotions, and games are all carefully created for specific age levels. Additionally, our counselors are trained and prepared to help with specific age levels each week. Because we cannot make exceptions for one without others hoping for the same exception, the answer to this question is NO. If you feel your circumstances are truly unique or have a medical reason why your child should attend a different week of camp you may email your request to canallakebiblecamp@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as we are able. Otherwise, we will do everything in our power to make your child comfortable should you choose to send them to the appropriate week of camp. (To determine what week your child should attend, simply select the week for the grade your child will be rising into the following year according to the traditional public school calendar according to their age. )

Often we have campers with a birthday during the month of July. Sometimes parents want their kids to attend with two different friends. Camp is just so fun, isn’t it? Sorry. One week of camp per child per summer!

Yes, but you’ll need to sign them out from the nurses station and sign them back in when you return. (But seriously, mom! Don’t make ‘em go to the dentist during camp!!)

Well, that’s a great question! Glad you asked. Camp is funded by generous donations and lots of fundraising. It actually takes tens of thousands of dollars to run camp every year and we trust God to provide. If you’d like to make a tax deductible donation to CLBC, you can donate here.

That’s a deep question. We’re glad you asked about that. Here’s where we stand on the big stuff. 

Statement of Faith  

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.  We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.  We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.  We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.  We believe in the resurrection of both the save and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.  We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, we do have certified lifeguards at the lake. Additionally, our children wear life vests while at the lake. We don’t take the honor of caring for your children lightly and use this precaution because we want to provide the safest environment possible. 

We’re sorry, the $10 is non-refundable as stated on the registration form.

No need to do that, but you may want to check out our new CLBC Store at registration or when you pick your child up from camp at the end of the week. We have really affordable CLBC gear that you may wish to purchase as a memento. (And you’ll love this: ALL the proceeds go right back into CLBC.)

We love awesome parents who love to be involved in their children’s lives. In addition to having a background check, our staff go through an interview process, training, and other team building activities throughout the year. We are very careful when selecting volunteers (since we’re caring for your precious children!). If you are willing to walk through the entire process, you may click on the Staff Application tab from the Home Page and send us your application.

We have a variety of terrific volunteer nurses, EMT’s, and paramedics who help in our nurse’s station.

We are a Bible camp run by volunteers. As such, we are not equipped for major medical conditions, however, we have had many diabetic children (who are able to manage carb counting/insulin), for example, who attend camp with no difficulty. Additionally, we have been able to accommodate a few children with special needs. We take these situations on a case by case basis and you are welcome to email us at canallakebiblecamp@gmail.com to discuss your child’s specific scenario. If your child has special needs, we ask that you email us prior to registering them so that we can discuss your situation. We treasure every child and realize we are limited in the scope of our volunteer capabilities. Thank you for understanding.

Elementary: June 16-20 or June 23-27. You may attend one week only. 

High School: July 14-18 

Middle School: July 21-25

Elementary Day Camp Drop-Off is 8:00AM Monday and 8:30AM Tuesday – Friday. Pick-Up is 4:00PM every afternoon. (Check your email for potential updates.) 

Teen and Middle Weeks: Monday, 1:00PM – 3:00PM. (Check your email for potential updates.) 

Be sure to check your email a few days prior to camp for any potential updates on registration.

We cannot accept children early. We have to give our counselors time to arrive—we wouldn’t want campers without counselors!

You can do that if you need to. It’s not ideal because they won’t get their pick of track times or bunk beds, but if you have no other choice, you can register them late. Report to the nurse’s station to do so.

Elementary Week – 4:00pm Friday 

Teen and Middle Weeks – 3PM Closing ceremonies begin at 2PM on Friday. You must pick your child up NO LATER THAN 3PM. Closing ceremonies include announcing team winners, individual winners, awarding prizes and final thoughts. Most kids really like to stay through closing ceremonies. Parents often enjoy observing them, though it is not a formal event. Campers return to their dorms after closing ceremonies where they are released to parents after the parent has signed them out. (Check your email for potential updates.)

You can sign your child out from 8am to noon, but must call in advance. Most kids really want to stay through closing ceremonies. We really try to keep things organized and ensure the safety of all our children, so it is best if you come during parent pick-up at 3PM and sign your child out AT THEIR DORM. Do be advised though that there is no early sign out after noon on Friday.

You go to your child’s dorm to pick them up. You must sign your child out with their dorm leader. If you are early (8am-noon), you report to the nurse’s station. You may wish to watch closing ceremonies in the gym and then follow your camper to the dorm to sign them out.

Elementary Week: No parent visitation during day camp. 

Teen and Middle Weeks: We totally understand; you miss your kids! We’d love for you to come to the Wednesday evening service at the old sanctuary at 7PM (try to arrive 10 minutes early). To ensure the safety of our campers, we ask that you remain in the service area at all times, and then say goodbye to your children as soon as the service ends. We ask that all visitors respect our visiting hours. Again, they are from 7:00PM to the end of the service on Wednesdays of Middle and High School weeks. Please check your email for any updates on this the week of camp!

No. After hosting this camp for over fifty years, we’ve learned a few things. One of them is that most kids don’t get homesick . . . parents do! Parent visitations interrupt planned activities, and it can upset the kids. Though it may not upset your kids, it will often make other children miss their parents. We are providing an enjoyable and safe environment for your children, and you will get to take them back home with you soon! 

If you need to contact your child for an emergency, please contact us.

We will do everything we can to encourage your camper should they start missing you. We will certainly allow them to call mom and dad if they are missing you. Should they really struggle every day, we may determine that they are not quite ready for an independent camp and ask you to pick them up. Usually our fun-loving counselors and nurturing dorm parents are able to encourage even the most timid of campers. Typically our homesick campers end up having so much fun that by Friday, they don’t want to go home.

We do not allow medication elementary week, and our nurse does not administer prescription medication elementary week. Please plan accordingly. 

Teen and Middle Weeks, our nurse will be glad to help your child with their medication. Please be certain that you turn in ALL meds to the nurse on registration day. To ensure everyone’s safety, campers may not keep any meds in their dorm.

Some years we do offer some off campus track times. Any off campus activities are chaperoned. Your child does not have to participate in these activities.

That would be helpful info to have! 145 Bible Camp Circle Blairsville, GA 30512 Just in case you get lost, you may want the phone number too: 762-525-7562

CLBC is an overnight camp, and we give preference to ALL overnight campers prior to considering day campers for teen and middle weeks. We often have a wait list for full-time campers.. So, if you’d like your child to come to camp, they will most likely not be able to unless they can come overnight. However, if you have a unique situation, please check with us by sending an email to canallakebiblecamp@gmail.com. Should we approve a day camper, you will be given specific instructions and times for drop off and pick up that must be respected. Our staff are very busy throughout the day, so it is imperative that these instructions are followed.

Every day is slightly different, and each camp week also varies. This will give you a general idea. 

Elementary Weeks 

Drop Off 

8:30AM 

Vacation Bible School Activities 

9AM – 12PM 

Lunch 

12PM 

Day Camp Activities 

12:30PM – 4:00PM 

Pick Up 

4:00PM 

Middle and Teen Weeks 

Meals: Campers are provided with breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and dessert, and evening snacks. 

Team Games: Teams will participate in challenges that require them to work together to overcome obstacles, decipher underlying themes, and brainstorm.  

Activities: Although the activities can differ from year to year, we have consistently had a variety of both active activities as well as more laid back activities. Active ones include swimming at the lake or pool, nine square, gaga ball, laser tag, archery tag, airsoft, basketball, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, spikeball, and more. More laid back ones usually involve craft type projects (like bracelet making, tye dye, etc.), art, board games, card games, just hanging out, and more.  

Free Time: This is a time where campers get the choice of what they’d like to do, whether that’s being active, joining in on a scheduled activity, just hanging out and talking, or taking a nap in their dorm.  

Teachings and Discussions: This is a Bible camp because we want our campers to learn the truth of God’s Word and to be given opportunities to discuss it with their counselors. Teaching times include morning devotions, game debriefs, afternoon HOPtalks, evening worship service and message, and nighttime dorm devotions. Campers will hear from a variety of leaders, and will be given chances to talk with counselors about what they are learning. 

Nighttime Special: Every night at camp we host a special activity for all the campers. We try to change these up and keep them a surprise, but we’ve always had good feedback! Also, we almost always have a big campfire on Thursday night. 

Dorm Time: Campers are usually sent back to their dorms around 10PM to get ready for bed and nighttime devotions. We try to make it possible for campers to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.