New To Mt. Gilead? Read Our Focus to get a basic understanding of who we are and what we are all about.

Recently Updated Information Below

Emergency Safety Procedures at Mt. Gilead Camp and Conference Center

At Mt. Gilead, the safety of our campers is our top priority. We understand that parents may have concerns about the safety measures in place following the tragedy in Texas, and we want to assure you that our comprehensive safety protocols are designed to provide a secure and nurturing environment for all.

Communication and Emergency Preparedness

All counselors at Mt. Gilead carry cell phones throughout the day and night for safety purposes. We believe these devices are critical for emergencies, such as calling 911 during lifeguarding duties or receiving urgent notifications from the National Weather Service or government agencies. We believe staff cell phones are also essential during off-site activities like hikes, canoe trips, or rafting, where walkie-talkies may not reach across our expansive property. Counselors are required to keep their phones discreetly stored in backpacks, with ringers on to ensure they receive emergency alerts, but they are not permitted to use them for personal activities such as taking photos, checking social media, or making calls during camp activities.

In addition to cell phones, our staff uses walkie-talkies to maintain clear communication across the camp. In the event of an emergency, such as a National Weather Service announcement or an urgent situation, our office can send text alerts to all staff members, in combination with our two-way radios, ensuring swift and coordinated responses.

Protection from Natural Disasters

Mt. Gilead’s location on the side of Big Pocono State Park, at one of the highest elevations in the Poconos, protects us from flash flooding. Our camp is not situated near riverbeds or streams prone to flooding, providing an added layer of safety. The primary natural disasters that could potentially affect our area are forest fires, tornadoes, or microbursts. However, forest fires are rare and typically occur only during burn bans or due to accidents. Hurricanes, while possible, are typically forecasted well in advance, giving us ample time to prepare or cancel camp if very severe. Tornadoes are the most dangerous form of natural disaster for a camp like Mt. Gilead, but thankfully, they are rare in this area of Pennsylvania.

In the event of a tornado, Mt. Gilead has a detailed emergency shelter plan. Specific buildings are designated as tornado-safe spots, while others are identified as unsuitable. All staff members are thoroughly trained on these protocols during pre-camp training. CILTS receive this training twice—once as CILT and again in their first year as counselors.

Staff Training and Safety Protocols

Every employee at Mt. Gilead receives a comprehensive safety handbook, which is reviewed collectively before the summer begins. Throughout the camp season, staff are regularly reminded of safety procedures, including how to respond to specific signals, such as an air horn blown three times from the office, which indicates an emergency and the need to check two-way radios and phones for communications. Our staff is trained to act quickly and effectively in any situation, ensuring the safety and well-being of every camper. Safety is our top priority. No one expects an emergency at a summer camp, but we must always be prepared, no matter how unlikely it may seem.

By maintaining robust communication systems, leveraging our safe geographic location, and providing thorough staff training, Mt. Gilead Camp and Conference Center is fully equipped to handle emergencies and provide a secure environment for your daughter. We invite you to contact us with any questions or for further details about our safety measures.

Top Five Parent Questions

1. What time is drop-off and pick-up?

Arrival:

Check-in is from 3 – 4:30pm on your camper’s Sunday. At that time, you will be able to meet the leadership staff and counselors, your camper will get her cabin assignment, and you’ll get information about the different activities there are to choose from that week.

Pick-up:

Pick-up time is at 9:30am on your camper’s last Saturday of camp at the Dining Hall. This is the large, red building that is to the left at the first T-intersection on camp property (where you completed the check-in process on the first day of camp),

2. Can my camper request to stay in a cabin with her friends?

Yes! Every camper can request up to two cabinmates while registering online, assuming that your camper’s friend(s) are in the same age/grade range and also request your camper as well during their own registration process. 

Cabin/counselor assignments are revealed on the first evening of camp (not before).

Pathfinder Aged Campers (10th & 11th Grade) Are Not Able To Request Campers Enrolled In Traditional Weeks. Learn More Here

3. What is your refund policy for cancellations?

All summer camp deposits ($300) are refundable until June 15th, at which point deposits could no longer be refunded. There is no fee for switching camp weeks – assuming the requested week is still available at the time.

4. When does my camper choose her activities?

There are three categories of activities at camp. Activities with fees attached (horsemanship, trips & riflery) and activities without any additional fees (all other activities). Only the activities with fees (horsemanship, trips and riflery) are required to be selected during registration because space is limited and these activities must be paid by credit card.  Any other activities at camp (archery, high ropes, crafts … etc. etc.) are selected by the camper on her first night at camp. Every camper chooses 4 activities at camp, if one of these was a pre-paid activity like horsemanship, a canoe trip, or riflery then the camper will choose only 3 more on the first night at camp.

5. Do you post camper photos during the week?

Oh Yes! Mt. Gilead uploads thousands of photos a summer in private galleries that are emailed directly to families and not seen anywhere else online. Once a family receives their photo album link for the week, they can re-check daily to see new uploads and even revisit the gallery throughout the year after camp is over. Photo albums are never deleted, and the links remain active indefinitely.

For Health and Safety Questions: Please see our Health and Safety Page

Other Popular Questions:

What kind of bathing suit can my daughter wear to camp?

Out of respect for the different ages and backgrounds of our campers, Mt. Gilead is a bikini free zone! We ask parents to send their daughters to camp with a one-piece bathing suit or tankini.

Calling Home

We would never keep your camper from calling home in a stressful situation at camp if we felt it was important (unless a parent requests otherwise during registration). Parents are always contacted in medical situations and before campers are able to call home for various other reasons. In other words, we will call you before your child calls you.

Do boys work in the summer camp program?

Not in the same sense that you will find at other summer camps, and this makes Mt. Gilead unique from various other all-girls summer camps. The exception of boys at camp would be part-time maintenance help for lawn care and maintenance repairs and the Executive Director of Mt. Gilead who handles maintenance oversight and vital office work during camp. Neither of these male positions are directly involved with camper supervision or running of programs.

Does the ministry have a Statement Of Faith?

Yes, we do! Our Statement of Faith can be found here: https://www.mtgileadcamp.org/statement-of-faith/

Remaining Parent Concerns.

We understand that there can be concerns from parents regarding recent emotional stress at home, possible bullying at school, or fears of embarrassing situations at camp like bed-wetting or from possible physical or emotional disorders. For this reason, we have online forms available to parents during the online registration process. This gives you the option to prepare our staff, and potentially your child’s counselor (with parent permission), for your camper’s week here at camp. Our staff are trained to not only let your child have a great week but to protect and encourage your child in areas where it’s most needed. This is a benefit of having a highly selected staff combined with a moderately-sized summer camp. We will work with you on setting up the right situation for your camper in regards to potentially embarrassing situations or situations where a camper could feel lonely or isolated. No one is left out at Mt. Gilead, we strive to encourage every camper to be herself, and with highly organized daily activities and a ratio of 1 staff member to every 4 campers, our camp structure leaves no room for children to feel un-supported or not included.

Who’s in charge of the Camp? Who owns it?

What makes Mt. Gilead unique is that it is not owned by anyone or any family. Mt. Gilead is not a business, it’s a mission-focused ministry with the ultimate goal of encouraging girls in their walk through life and in Christ. Mt. Gilead Camp is a 501C3 registered non-profit that is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board meets several times a year to monitor the progress and direction of the ministry which is handled on a daily basis by the Executive Director. All board positions are on a volunteer basis only, so no board member receives compensation for their time. Mt. Gilead has approximately 50 female staff and volunteers each summer. The Executive Director runs the day to day operations for the ministry as a whole, while the Summer Camp Director oversees the daily operations for the all-girls camp program each summer.