The Vineyard Camp & Retreat Center
In establishing The Vineyard Camp & Retreat Center, I pulled together all of the things that I believed would make our camp enriching, challenging, fun, unforgettable and enchanting. The greatest challenge in establishing the camp has been not only to meet the needs and dreams of children but also to satisfy the concerns and hopes of parents.
The Vineyard is a culmination of many years of dreaming, praying and planning. For over thirty years, I have attempted to bring all that is wholesome and praiseworthy to The Vineyard. Every aspect of The Vineyard is dedicated to that dream: quality and excellence for children of all backgrounds.
Many others have labored to make sure that everything at the camp (from the food service and grounds, to the skilled instruction and construction) is performed and planned. We are devoted to one simple task: to provide the finest program and facilities in the country.
Most camps offer only four-week sessions to boys or girls. We strongly believe that youth need to learn how to interact and conduct themselves in a co-educational environment. Thus, all sessions at the camp are open to boys and girls (50/50).
We recognize the importance of family vacations and holidays, and with that in mind, we also offer all one-week sessions (though most campers attend several weeks).
The single most important element to a positive experience is the spiritual focus of a camp. At The Vineyard, most guests comment that they immediately sense that it is a holy haven, a camp dedicated to honoring God by serving Protestant and Catholic campers and staff in an unsurpassed manner. All children, regardless of their spiritual conviction, are welcomed and loved at our camp.
Finally, we place great emphasis on the quality of staff we employ. Parents and campers say that we have the most outstanding and caring staff anywhere. We also take great pride in offering the lowest camper to staff ratio (3:2) of any sports camp in the world.
Come see why thousands of children, youth, and adults call The Vineyard their favorite place on earth.
Our Purpose
The Vineyard is more than just a sports camp; it is a ministry dedicated to relationships and discipleship. From the beginning, it has been our threefold goal to share God’s love, demonstrate (through the lives of our staff) holy living, and explain the challenge of discipleship. Most of our campers come from Christian backgrounds (Catholic and Protestant), but a child of any spiritual conviction is welcomed.
We try to disciple youth using a “lifestyle approach” by spending most of the day with sports and recreation and offering evening worship services and optional Bible studies at night. Whether it is a gentle hand to teach a particular skill or taking time to reflect on nature’s quiet beauty in the forest, we teach by example and wait for the child’s response. Our feedback from campers and parents is very encouraging and explains why 80% of our campers return each year.
Typical Day at Camp
Representative Countries and States
Countries
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
China
Colombia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Guatemala
Holland
Honduras
India
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Mexico
Poland
Spain
Switzerland
Tahiti
Ukraine
Venezuela
States
Alabama
California
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Our Statement of Faith
The Vineyard Camp and Conference Center is an inter-denominational summer camp and conference center committed to serving Catholic and Protestant families from around the world. We are a non-profit (501(c) 3) corporation not affiliated with any other organization, including those bearing the name “Vineyard Churches,” “Vineyard Music,” and “Vineyard Ministries.” The Vineyard was founded by Dean Barley and is led by an advisory board of directors and trustees who meet regularly to help Dean fulfill his vision and ministry.