Summer camp is part of growing up in a Utah Valley ward: Girls Camp for the young women, quorum camps for the young men, and increasingly combined youth camps and stake youth retreats. Leaders plan and run them; parents sign the forms, pack the bags and do the driving. This guide covers where the camps go, how the reservations work, and what parents need to handle.
Where Utah Valley's camps go
- The Heber Valley Camp. The Church-owned camp near Heber City is where many Utah stakes hold their girls camps, combined youth camps and stake youth retreats. Recent stake listings describe zip lines, hiking, canoeing and campfire devotionals, and cabins at some sites.
- Other Church camps. The Church has other camps, including elsewhere in Utah, and leaders can browse them on the Church's camping site.
- Closer to home. Some wards use campgrounds in the nearby canyons for shorter activities; see Camping Near Provo. For a ward party at a city park, see Pavilion and Park Reservations in Utah County.
How reservations work, and what is changing
Leaders reserve Church camps through camping.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, signing in with a Church account and choosing the group type, such as Young Women, Aaronic Priesthood quorum or combined youth. The same site links the Church's Young Women Camp Guide and Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Camp Guide.
Reservation windows open in a set order, with stake youth groups first, then ward youth groups, then other groups, and members and families last. The timing has changed before, so leaders should confirm the current dates on the camping site or with the stake before the season opens.
Who goes, and for how long
- Girls Camp: young women, typically from the year they turn 12 through recent high school graduates; stakes set the details.
- Young men: Aaronic Priesthood quorum camps, and combined camps with the young women.
- Length: usually three or four days. Schedules vary by stake.
What parents handle
- The forms. A permission and medical form for each youth, signed by a parent, with medications and allergies listed.
- The packing list. It comes from the ward or stake after registration and usually covers a sleeping bag and pillow, layers for cold mountain nights, sturdy closed-toe shoes, a water bottle, sun protection, a flashlight, scriptures and a journal, and any medications.
- The cost. It varies by ward and stake; some wards cover camp from the youth budget.
- The drive. Drop-off and pickup are often at the stake center. New teen drivers may not be able to carry friends; see Teen Driving in Utah.
The rest of the youth calendar
Camp sits alongside FSY, which stakes attend in alternating summers, and Pioneer Trek, which stakes hold periodically. See FSY in Provo and Pioneer Trek for Utah Valley Stakes. For day camps and other summer programs, see Summer Camps in Utah Valley, and for year-round classes in drama, coding and chess, Utah Valley Kids' Classes by Interest.
Practical notes
- Leaders, confirm the booking dates early. Stake youth groups book first.
- Parents, watch for the forms. Camp cannot happen without them.
- Pack for cold nights. Mountain camps get cold even in July.
- Ask about the cost early. Wards handle it differently.
Related Guides
- FSY in Provo
- Pioneer Trek for Utah Valley Stakes
- Teen Driving in Utah
- Summer Camps in Utah Valley
- Camping Near Provo
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Utah Valley stakes hold Girls Camp?
How do leaders reserve a Church camp?
Who can go to Girls Camp?
How long is Girls Camp?
What do parents need to do?
What is the Heber Valley Camp?
What forms do parents sign for camp?
What should my child pack for camp?
