How do I register for summer camp?

Step 1: Turn in your completed application and $75 deposit.

The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and is required to reserve your space. Please do not fax the applications. The application must be completed by the camper's legal guardian and mailed at least 4 weeks prior to your camp session. If you would like to qualify for the Early Bird Discount, please refer to the policy below. To submit applications online, call the Registration Office for an access code.

Step 2: Pay the remaining camp fees at least 4 weeks before your session begins.

Attention Group Leaders: Refer to the Group Leader Checklist for detailed instructions concerning group reservations.

What is the summer camp schedule?

Session 1: June 4-9

Session 2: June 11-16

Session 3: June 18-23

Session 4: June 25-30

Session 5: July 9-14

Session 6: July 16-21

Session 7: July 23-28

Session 8: July 30-August 4

How much does it cost?

SESSIONS 1-4

Regular Rate – $375 (or you can qualify for one of the following discounts)

Early Bird Discount ($30) – $345

Group Discount ($15) – $360

Early Bird Group Discount ($45) – $330

SESSIONS 5-7

Regular Rate – $355 (or you can qualify for one of the following discounts)

Early Bird Discount ($30) – $325

Group Discount ($15) – $340

Early Bird Group Discount ($45) – $310

SESSION 8

Regular Rate – $340 (or you can qualify for one of the following discounts)

Early Bird Discount ($30) – $310

Group Discount ($15) – $325

Early Bird Group Discount ($45) – $295

Deposit Policy: All rates shown include a deposit of $75, which is non-refundable and non-transferable. Due to limited availability, spaces will not be held without a deposit.

Group Discount: In order to qualify for the Group Discount, there must be 20 or more campers on the initial registration. Group Leaders must call in advance to receive group registration information or download the information from the website before they can register. Please Note: Churches cannot register together. Each church must register separately.

Early Bird Discount: To qualify for the Early Bird Discount, campers' applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2012. The discount will be applied to your account once the applications are approved by our Registration Office. Please allow 6 weeks for paperwork to be processed.

Age Requirements: Children must be 7 through 12 years old to be eligible for children’s camp.

What time is check-in and check-out?

Individual campers and groups should plan to arrive between 4:00-5:00 p.m. on the start date of their session. Check-out time is at 10:00 a.m. on the last day of each session. Group buses and vans should be in the parking lot by 8:00 a.m. on check-out day for luggage to be loaded. Campers must be picked up by their parent/legal guardian or their designated group/on-site leader.

Can kids stay an extra day or arrive one day early?

No – No exceptions.

Do you provide airport pick-up?

We will pick up campers at the baggage claim area, help them with their luggage, and get them to camp and back to the airport. Flight itineraries must be submitted 4 weeks before the session begins. The airport escort fee is $75 per camper. (Please call for group rates.) Payment for this service must be received 4 weeks before the session. Airport pick-up and drop-off times are between 1:00-4:00 p.m. Note: Some airlines charge a fee to escort an unaccompanied child. This fee is payable to the airline in advance and is in addition to the Dry Gulch airport escort fee mentioned above.  Do not make airline arrangements until all your campers have been confirmed.

Are campers bunked by age?

No – They are bunked by church group, by request, or at random.

What is the counselor to camper ratio?

One counselor for every 13-15 kids in the bunkhouses.

Who is on staff during camp?

The camp is staffed with a professional resident director, food service personnel, trained counselors, a medical team, and 24-hour security. Special precautions are taken during water activities, and certified lifeguards are on duty.

Are campers always supervised?

Yes – A counselor accompanies campers at children’s camp 24 hours a day.

How do you pick your counselors?

Along with checking 2 personal references and 1 pastoral reference, each applicant is carefully screened and hand-picked by the Camp Director.

How are the campers disciplined?

First time – warning. Second time – miss activity. Third time – sent to the Camp Director. Continued disobedience may result in dismissal from camp.

May I call my child at camp?

We are fully aware of our great responsibility in the care of your child. In case of an emergency, you will be notified immediately. Out of consideration for other campers and planned activities, incoming calls are not allowed except in case of emergency. Should campers need to contact parents, calls can be made through the camp office.

Can I reach someone at camp any time of the day or night in case of an emergency?

Yes – The emergency number is (918) 785-2850. EMERGENCY ONLY.

What do you do for homesick kids? Do you let them call home?

Yes – Campers are allowed to call home. Campers who become homesick and leave their camp session early are not eligible for refunds. If a camper leaves camp for any reason, it is the responsibility of the parents to provide transportation home. The camp will not be held responsible for travel expenses incurred in picking up the child.

Can campers receive mail during their stay?

Yes – If you wish to send mail to your campers while they are at Dry Gulch, please send it a few days before the session begins. You can send it to 572 Dry Gulch Rd, Adair, OK 74330-3004. It is very important that you indicate your camper’s first & last name and session date on the envelope. Due to the excessive amounts of email and limited amount of time at mail-call, Dry Gulch no longer accepts e-mails for campers.

Does Dry Gulch allow visitors?

Dry Gulch, U.S.A. maintains a 24-hour security staff and restricts access to workers and campers. All visitors need to be pre-approved and must schedule their visit in advance by calling 918-785-2156. We can only accommodate a very limited number of visitors each evening and accept on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visiting hours are from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. for evening chapel service only. VISITORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND OTHER ACTIVITIES OR SIT WITH CAMPERS. No children under 7 years old are allowed.

Can adult sponsors do activities with kids?

Yes – Sponsors can participate in activities with the campers, but are not required to do so. Campers are overseen by our trained Dry Gulch staff, not by adult sponsors. The hospitality center with internet service for your laptop and private phone booths will be available. Sponsors can play in our recreation area and relax during meal times in our sponsors’ private dining room.

How much does it cost for an adult sponsor to attend?

The fee for sponsors is $199. Only 1 sponsor is allowed for every 10 campers, because sponsor housing is limited. Please call the Registration Office to see if extra sponsor spaces are available for groups traveling long distances.

Where do sponsors stay?

Sponsors are housed in adult male or female bunkhouses, not with the campers in their group. Groups will receive 1 apartment for every 50 paid campers. Sponsors’ children are allowed to stay at Dry Gulch only if they are registered campers, and they must bunk with their group. There are no accommodations for RV’s or tents.

Do sponsors have to be a certain age?

Yes – All sponsors must meet the minimum age requirement of 21 years of age or older and must be a U.S. citizen and resident with a valid Social Security number.

Does Dry Gulch require a background check on adult sponsors?

Yes – Adult sponsors must have a background check approved by the Registration Office, no exceptions. Dry Gulch only accepts reports from pre-approved background check agencies. Please refer to the Group Leader’s Checklist for a complete listing. An approved background check is good for 5 years. If you do not have a background check on file in our office, you can obtain one through the Registration Office for an additional $45 fee per person. Sponsors without an approved background check will not be allowed to stay at camp.

Is there a nurse available at all times?

Yes – Nurses are on staff 24 hours a day.

Which medications should my child bring to camp?

Prescription medications should be in the original bottle with only the amount needed for the camper’s length of stay at Dry Gulch. All prescription bottles should come in a Ziploc bag with a completed Dry Gulch Medication Label attached to it. All inhalers, nasal sprays, and epipens must be in the prescription box with label and must NOT be expired. Over-the-counter medications brought to camp will not be accepted at check-in. If an exception needs to be made for campers taking Claritin, Zyrtec, Miralax, etc., please call the Registration Office for an OTC Medication Authorization Form. No vitamins or herbs will be accepted without a doctor’s note.

Do you give kids pain reliever if needed?

Yes – Designated medical staff is available at the Nurses’ Station to dispense over-the-counter medication as needed.

Does my child have to turn in his medicine even if he knows when to take it and how much?

Campers are allowed to bring prescription medications, but these must be turned in to the nurse at Check-In (this includes inhalers).

Are feminine products available at camp?

Yes – The nurse has a supply of feminine products.

How close is the nearest hospital?

Ten miles.

Are you able to provide special dietary needs such as no sugar, no candy, nothing with red dye in it, no fried foods, etc.?

Yes – If the camper is under medical supervision by a doctor or allergic reaction is known. To ensure special needs are met, please call the food service manager at least 2 weeks prior to the child’s camp arrival. An adult sponsor from your group may be required to prepare the camper’s special meals.

Can parents send special food to replace sweets?

Special foods can be sent only if medically necessary. Snacks are not allowed in the bunkhouses and would therefore need to be turned in by the counselor to the General Store or the kitchen.

Are washing machines available for campers that wet the bed?

If the camper tells the counselor, the housekeeping staff will clean up while the group is out.

Do you have accommodations for children with special needs?

Yes – Please call the Registration Office for more information about the Buckaroo Program.

How many times a day do you have chapel services?

We have chapel twice daily: once in the morning and once in the evening.

What denomination is Dry Gulch, U.S.A.?

Non-denominational (see our Statement of Faith).

Do Gospel Bill and the gang come to see the kids?

No – The Gospel Bill gang has hung up their spurs.

What are specific activities the campers will be doing?

Campers will be involved in a variety of activities including swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, basketball, go-karts, waterslides, inflatable games, banana ride, inner tube riding, obstacle courses, bumper cars, riding the carousel, and the old-fashioned steam-engine train, etc.

What do the kids do if it rains?

Play in the game room, play on inflatable games, or watch movies.

How much money do they need to bring?

Most campers bring $25-$30 for daily snacks, souvenirs, and a camp t-shirt.

How many times are kids allowed to go to the General Store?

Campers are allowed one trip to the store during the camp session to shop for souvenirs. Snacks are ordered and received once daily (1 beverage and 1 food item per day).

Do kids keep their own money at camp?

Kids’ money will be collected upon arrival at camp and placed on account in the General Store. All transactions will be made on account and remaining money will be returned to campers at check-out time.

Is the $75 deposit ever refundable?

No – The $75 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.

If a group is receiving the Early Bird Discount and another camper registers with that group after the Early Bird Deadline, will the additional camper receive the discount also?

No – Any additional campers registering after the Early Bird Deadline will receive the regular rate.

Can kids pay their balance at the door?

No – The fee must be paid in full at least 4 weeks prior to the camp session. If the total camp fees due are not received at least 4 weeks prior to the camp session, the reservation will be considered cancelled with no refund. Other than the confirmation letter, no additional reminders will be sent.

If I need to cancel my child’s reservation, will I get a refund?

Each year, Dry Gulch, U.S.A. is forced to turn away hundreds of campers due to lack of space. No-shows and late cancellations prevent others from sharing the camp experience. Group and individual cancellations must be received in our office no later than 4 weeks prior to the camp session in order to receive a refund of the full camp fee less the $75 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit per camper. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the cancellation. Allow approximately 6-8 weeks to process any applicable refunds.

If my child has to come home early, is there a partial refund?

It depends on the reason for leaving. In the case of illness (as determined by the camp nurse), the camp fees will be refunded on a per day basis. All refund requests must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the camp session.

In the case of dismissal due to continued behavioral problems or homesickness, camp fees will not be refunded. The camp will not be held responsible for travel expenses incurred in picking up the child.

The Camp Director reserves the right to dismiss any camper whose conduct becomes in any way detrimental to the best interest of the other campers. No refunds will be given in these cases.

Please Note: Each camper will be examined for head lice upon arrival. If nits or lice are present, campers will be turned away with no refunds issued.

Where do I send my payments and registration forms?

If your child is attending with a group, it is very important that all payments and forms are turned in to your Group Leader. This will ensure that you receive the same rate as the rest of the group, and that your child will be able to bunk with the group.

To submit applications online, call our Registration Office for an access code.

If your child is registered as an individual, you can mail your information to: Dry Gulch, U.S.A. Registration Office, 1003 N. 129th E. Ave., Tulsa, OK 74116. You can also fax your information to our office at 918-439-8378 or e-mail at info@drygulchusa.com.

Can I e-mail or call with other questions?

If your child is attending with a group, please direct all questions to your Group Leader. If your child is registering as an individual, you can call us at 918-234-5656, ext. 135 or e-mail us at info@drygulchusa.com.

For security purposes, information pertaining to a group or camper will not be released to anyone other than the Group Leader or Parent. When contacting our office, the Group Account Number or Camper Confirmation Number must be available for verification purposes.