Best Week Ever is an overnight, Christian summer camp in Dallas, PA. As a leader in Christian camping since 1972, we love to test the limits of adventure and creativity to make incredible memories for campers and provide incredible value for parents. We’re planning not just a good week or a great week, but your Best Week Ever!
Summer 2023 Moving Mountains – Are you familiar with mountains? Overwhelming challenges? Immovable obstacles that you cannot imagine conquering? Be encouraged! As Christ followers, It’s not the size of the mountain that matters, or even the size of our faith. When we’re obeying his commands and tackling the work that He has given us to do – the tiniest seed of faith, in the hands of our mighty God will move mountains!
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
Derek Hodne, Program Director
[email protected]

ROOTS: ELEMENTARY
Ages 8-12July 30 - August 5, 2023
Pricing
$490 when paid in full by March 15
$510 when paid in full by May 1
$530 when paid in full after May 1

SURGE: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Ages 11-14July 23 - 29, 2023
Pricing
$490 when paid in full by March 15
$510 when paid in full by May 1
$530 when paid in full after May 1

THRIVE: JR / SR HIGH
Ages 13-17July 16 - 22, 2023
Pricing
$545 when paid in full by March 15
$565 when paid in full by May 1
$585 when paid in full after May 1
*THRIVE price includes a trip to Camelbeach Water Park
Guest Speakers
THRIVE : Tucker Rodkey from Painting Freedom
Back by popular demand…Tucker is a talented painter and poet who uses art to share the beauty of the gospel. He’s been a favorite presenter at Winterblast for many years and does an amazing job connecting with students and communicating biblical truth.
SURGE: As a former youth pastor and current speaker and life coach, Arthur Woods has been working with teenagers for well over a decade and is able to incorporate biblical truth with a lot of laughter.
ROOTS: Christian magician and juggler Boston Baechert brings together his exciting skills with his personal gospel story of God’s call on his life! Find out why God called him to be a performer…and why he said yes!
Surge and Thrive Optional Add-ons
FOR SURGE AND THRIVE ONLY
A camper favorite! You’ll spend the afternoon tubing and swimming on nearby Harvey’s Lake!
FOR SURGE AND THRIVE ONLY
$20 with your own equipment or $30 to rent equipment
Your fee includes referees, CO2 and your first 500 paintballs for the afternoon. Bring your own equipment or rent ours. Only camp provided paintballs can be used. Additional 500 paintballs are available for $15. Emphasis on safety!
We invite you to take advantage of registration discounts available for all Camp Orchard Hill families! Families that require additional assistance may submit our Scholarship Request Form along with supporting documents by March 1.
- Scholarship assistance varies based on documented need.
- Upon approval, each family will complete their own registration for programs.
- Please plan to pay the applicable deposit for requested camp weeks.
At COH every meal is a party…but we take our food seriously! Our campers consistently rank meals in their TOP 3 favorite aspects of the camp experience.
Food Services Director, Steve Bassett, takes great pride in consistently providing wholesome, nutritious food that tastes great.
Meals are prepared on-site and are served buffet style. Campers will experience our tried and true guest favorites like PRETZEL SANDWICHES, and will be surprised with creative new additions on a regular basis. Our menu changes daily and is designed to appeal to the specific age group of the campers. Fresh fruit and vegetables are served daily and a non-meat option is available at each meal. We offer several different kinds of cereal and milk in the morning, along with a hot breakfast. We offer 100% fruit juice each morning and then switch over to low sugar juice option. Peanut butter and jelly are a staple at every COH meal, but can be removed when a serious allergy warrants it. We use no peanut based cooking products and gladly accommodate many special diets.
Ample portions, wholesome, great tasting meals and lots of fun are what sets the Camp Orchard Hill dining experience apart from other camps.
Camp Orchard Hill has carefully cultivated an atmosphere of relational, emotional, physical and spiritual safety. Our staff team will model healthy, caring relationships and then expect the same from campers in the group setting. Our programs are specifically designed to develop and promote teamwork and inclusion. Bullying behavior is contrary to our vision and mission and will not be tolerated.
If a camper bullies another camper, they will meet with leadership for an explanation of the offending behavior and the harmful effects that result. If the behavior continues, the camper will be sent home.
Bullying is aggressive behavior by a child or a group of children who take advantage of the power they have to hurt or intimidate others. Bullying can take many forms:
- Verbal abuse including taunting, gossiping, mocking, name calling
- Physical abuse including hitting, pushing, shoving, kicking
- Organized social rejection including exclusion from activities or groups
- Public humiliation
- Threatening racist, religious or sexist remarks
- Frightening acts
Part of the power of camp is the freedom to unplug from the constant noise and distraction of technology, and plug-in to the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. For this reason, campers are not permitted to bring their cell phones to camp. However, parents are encouraged to send letters or use e-camp one-way emails and camper reply services. Photos of camp activities are also posted on our camp website regularly to help you share in the camp experience. Check out opportunities to communicate with your camper while they are at camp!
Attending camp with a friend is a awesome experience! Indicate your cabin-mate preference on your registration form and we will make every attempt to honor your request. Cabin-mates must be within one year’s age of each other and requests must be written.
The camp experience is designed to build confidence and a healthy sense of independence in each camper. While it is rare, we do encounter campers who experience homesickness and we will give individual attention to each situation. On the first day, our counselors will work to keep the camper on-task and focused on the very next thing – instead of the whole week. On the second day or night, the Executive Director or Program Director will call a camper’s parents to ask for suggestions or routines that may alleviate homesickness. We will do our best to implement these suggestions (i.e. night light, bedtime story) to create a comfortable environment. If homesickness continues after the second day we will again contact parents to determine if it is in the camper’s best interest to remain at camp. In our experience, campers calling home does not improve the situation, but almost always concludes with the camper going home. Our desire is to help every camper have a safe and successful week of camp!
Ratio requirements vary based on the age of campers and the camp setting.
- For Overnight Camp, the ratio is 1 counselor to every 7 campers.
- For Day Camp ages 4-5, the ratio is 1 counselor to every 6 campers.
- For Day Camp ages 6-9, the ratio is 1 counselor to every 8 campers.
- For Day Camp ages 10-15, the ratio is 1 counselor to every 10 campers.
We hire every seasonal staff member as if they were caring for our own children and provide intense training to prepare them for service. All Day and Overnight Staff undergo a rigorous screening process including an application with references, an interview, plus state and national criminal background checks. Each team member completes a 10-day training and orientation program that encompasses all aspects of camp life and covers the ACA requirements for staff readiness.
At Camp Orchard Hill we plan every activity with your child’s safety in mind. In the unlikely event that he or she requires medical attention while at camp, COH is prepared with a registered nurse on duty 24/7, certified lifeguards, and staff certified in CPR and First Aid.
If you child has an accident or illness we will use the primary contact information that you have provided on their health form, as well as alternate contacts if you cannot be reached. This process is initiated by the Director and/or the lead health-care provider, but can be delegated to an appropriate staff member. Since we have no way of determining what each person considers an emergency, the general camp practice is to contact parents when there is concern about a camper’s health and/or when a situation is not progressing as expected. Because many people remotely access their voice mail, it is expected that camp personnel will leave a voice message that appropriately communicates the need for a given parent to call the camp.
If it is necessary to seek medical attention, every attempt will be made to contact parents prior to treatment and again at the conclusion of treatment to provide an update on the camper’s health.
As an accredited member of the American Camping Association, you can be assured that we comply with up to 300 health, safety and program quality standards. Being accredited by the ACA is solid proof of our accountability, credibility and commitment to you, the parents, and your campers.
Activities
Archery • Challenge Course including Racing Zip Lines • Pendulum Swing and Climbing Wall • Ultimate Frisbee • Dodgeball • Blob • Lake Water Slide • Pool • Nerf Battle • Gaga • Skatepark • Nine Square-in-the-Air • Fishing • Boating • Basketball • Game Room • Broom-ball • Carpet-ball • Low Ropes Challenges • Maker Space
Testimonials
“This week was truly unforgettable! I was able to connect with God on a special level. I’ve recommitted my life to God and I’m very happy. I can’t wait until next year!”
“As an accredited member of the American Camping Association you can be assured that we comply with up to 300 health, safety and program quality standards. Being accredited by the ACA is solid proof of our accountability, credibility and commitment to you, the parents, and your campers.”