Tilikum’s first week of the summer is dedicated primarily to homeschool families.

Special Homeschool week pricing includes at least a $60 discount off the regular price for Camp, plus at least an additional $45 discount when you register by May 1.

Realizing that families have differing abilities to pay, Tilikum offers a three-tier pricing structure. Tiered pricing is intended to help families recognize the full cost of Camp and then select the level most suitable for their family circumstances. By choosing to pay the full cost of Camp, Tilikum is able to offer financial assistance to families that need it.

Consider the Family Camp option for Summer Day Camp and QUEST Adventure Camp—a perfect overnight experience for families with campers in these programs, especially those from out of town. This year, Family Camp is available for one week only, from July 6-11, 2025, with a maximum cost of $1,300 for immediate families. The camp starts Sunday afternoon and runs through Friday afternoon, with children in grades 1-10 attending their respective camps from 8:45 AM to 3:45 PM each weekday. Evenings are lightly scheduled, allowing families to enjoy tranquil activities such as canoeing on the lake or gathering by the campfire.

Families will be housed in The Lodge, where each family has its own room(s) and bathroom. Breakfast and dinners are served family-style in Tilikum’s Dining Room, while sack lunches are available for parents to prepare for their campers. For those with specific medical dietary needs, Tilikum’s Food Service can accommodate requests with advance notice and a small additional fee. This setup fosters a restful, family-centered experience while offering an exciting camp program for children.

Tilikum is dedicated to strengthening the bonds between you and your kids, with a focus on maintaining these connections even after camp ends. Through partnerships with local churches, we aim to extend the impact of camp experiences into the ongoing spiritual journey of each camper. This approach provides churches with a well-organized and staffed children’s camp, allowing for a rich, intergenerational bonding experience between campers and counselors. To streamline the process, we offer an efficient check-in system and reduced group rates for parties of ten or more, allowing churches to choose how they handle these savings to best support their group’s needs.

Groups attending Tilikum are asked to take on certain responsibilities to ensure a seamless experience. Each group designates a Group Coordinator, who acts as the liaison between Tilikum and their church, handling all administrative needs and assisting with paperwork collection. Groups are also responsible for providing one volunteer counselor for every 14 children, ideally an individual with a connection to the church community, such as a parent, college student, or grandparent. Additionally, transportation coordination falls to the group, with some churches utilizing their own buses or renting transportation as needed.

Group benefits

• A well planned, organized, and staffed children’s camp.
• An amazing inter-generational bonding experience between campers and camp counselors.
• A streamlined check-in process.
• Reduced rates for groups of 10 or more. Some churches pass the rate reduction through to campers while others charge the standard rate and retain the difference to subsidize transportation costs. It’s up to you.

Group responsibilities

• A dedicated Group Coordinator – This individual will be the advocate at your church and the administrative connection to Tilikum.
• Coordinate paperwork – Group Coordinators work in conjunction with the Camp Program Director and Registrar to collect the necessary forms from their campers.
• Coordinate Counselors – Groups commit to providing from their church or group one volunteer counselor who is at least 16 years old for every 14 children. These dedicated volunteer counselors provide a consistent link between a child’s spiritual journey at camp and back home in their church group. Many groups utilize parents and college students returning for the summer. Grandparents are welcome too, but be aware the terrain at Tilikum requires agile mobility.
• Coordinate transportation – Many church groups have buses or vans they can use to transport their group to Tilikum. Others don’t have permanent vehicles so they rent buses for the week.

Monday morning check in begins at 8:30AM. Summer Staff will direct you to the parking area. Look for a Welcome Staff with a Clipboard, they will direct you to the next station. Tuesday thru Friday morning drop off is between 8:45AM & 9:00AM. Upon arrival, please give your child’s name to the Welcome Staff with the clipboard. You will then be directed to the next available drop off point. Drivers please remain in your vehicle. Tilikum Summer Staff will assist your child to exit the vehicle and remain in a safe place as drivers exit the property.
When should I pick my child up from camp?

Pick up time for both Day Camp and Quest is at 3:45PM. Upon entering Camp property, drivers will be directed to a parking area in the Play Field. Please take your photo ID to the check out table located by the schoolhouse to sign your child out and receive a checkout ticket. Use your checkout ticket to collect your camper and exit the property. High Adventure campers are picked up at 4:00PM on Thursday in the field behind the waterfront restrooms. Please present your photo ID at the checkout table and pick up your child’s medications.

College-age or older adults who have been selected for their desire and abilities to work with children, their friendly personalities and their commitment to the Lord. Tilikum’s summer staff are taught to recognize teachable moments as a priority and use them to challenge and encourage youth and point them towards a relationship with God. All of our Summer Staff have current certification in First Aid/CPR and Emergency Water Safety, and Lifeguards are certified by the American Red Cross.

Tilikum provides a safe, Christ-centered environment. Though these situations are rare Tilikum reserves the right to call the camper’s parent and ask for the camper to be taken home if it is deemed that his or her behavior or actions pose a threat to a camper’s safety or the Camp. Staff will inform campers of behavior expectations at the beginning of Camp. A camper will immediately be sent home under the following circumstances:

• Bullying of any kind
• Any act of physical violence against another person
• Deliberately running away from their group (this does not include wandering away by accident)

Family Night is a long-standing Tilikum tradition that gives campers an opportunity to “guide” their family through the camper experience on the Thursday evening of their camp week! Pack your own picnic dinner and join us on the Thursday night of Camp for a look inside your camper’s week! Come to the Fawver Center to sing some silly camp songs and get a sneak peek at what’s going on behind the scenes at Tilikum this year. During free time ride The Big Swing, paddle The Big Canoes, and check out the Barn or School House!

The best way to connect with your kids’ counselors is at pick-up time at the end of each camp day. Their availability varies depending on their responsibilities after camp and during Family Night.

To support busy parents, Tilikum is expanding its bus program for seven weeks this summer, providing round-trip transportation and professional supervision for an extra $60. This service is designed to add valuable hours back to your day while ensuring a smooth, safe experience for your child. Buses, leased from First Student in Newberg, are well-maintained and staffed by carefully screened drivers with valid Oregon Commercial Driver Licenses, chosen specifically for their experience and ability to connect with children. From the moment kids board the bus until they are picked up, they’re under the attentive care of Tilikum’s trained Summer Staff, following the safety standards set by the American Camp Association (ACA). For an additional option, some local churches may offer transportation for their congregations during select weeks, and they might have room for a few extra campers. In these cases, register through your church directly to reserve a spot on their bus.

Prior to the start of camp, each family must complete a Medical Release Form for their child at least two weeks in advance—without this form, children will not be permitted to board. Monday morning registration marks the first check-in; children will receive a sticker identifying their camp group and a backpack tag that serves as their ticket onto the bus all week, which should stay on their bag. During registration, parents will receive an important flyer with updates, Family Night details, and contact information for transportation questions. Parents will also review and sign the Transportation Agreement, which lists approved individuals for child pick-up. Only those on the list, with a photo ID, may pick up campers. Any changes to the pick-up list should be emailed to the camp in advance.

Parents should also discuss any health concerns or medications directly with camp staff at check-in to ensure proper support. The rest of the week, check-ins will occur directly on the bus, and once boarded, children will remain on the bus until they reach Camp Tilikum. For smooth logistics, please arrive promptly at drop-off and pick-up times each day; buses cannot delay departures or wait for late pick-ups due to multiple scheduled stops. If your child won’t be riding the bus on a particular day, please inform the camp staff ahead of time. Tilikum’s expanded bus program is designed to make summer camp simpler, safer, and more enjoyable for your family!

At Camp Tilikum, our focus is on creating unforgettable experiences for campers, but we also cherish the chance to capture some of these joyful moments on camera. In the quieter moments, our team strives to document highlights so parents and families can share in the memories and see the smiles, friendships, and adventures their campers enjoy each year. To explore recent years of camp memories, visit our gallery below, sorted by year.

If you need to change or cancel or your camp registration for any reason, please email Crystal Headrick/Camp Registrar, as soon as possible. If you cancel more than three weeks from your camp start date, you will receive a full refund minus a $40 transaction fee. A 50% refund will be given for cancellations made between 8 and 21 days prior to the first day of camp. Cancellations made 7 days or less prior to the first day of camp will not be refunded. Exceptions can be made for illness or accident with a note from the camper’s physician. Tilikum prorates the amount of refund based on the number of days the camper attended, minus a $40 transaction fee. There is a $40 transaction fee for switching from one week of camp to another.

This summer, we talked about the desire God has for us, and how He calls us to live a life of goodness and love like His son Jesus! Our stories for each week centered around Paul the Apostle, who like us, was “Wanted” by God to do good works.