Get ready for Couples Camp

This should give you just about everything you need to know for Couples Camp.

Have a question beyond what’s covered here? Talk to your Camp Leads.

The Basics

Schedule

You’ll need to arrive (as a group) on Friday between 4:00pm and 6:30pm.
We’ll shoot for departure by around 1:00pm on Sunday. As with marriage…if you’re in, you’re in for the whole thing. No late arrivals or early departures.

In Case of Emergency

Communication

Generally, we’re off the grid during COUPLES CAMP.
We’ll be turning off and leaving our cell phones behind before we head out to the campsite. Another option is to leave it locked in your car before hiking in.

  • If there’s an emergency at home:
    Before COUPLES CAMP, your Camp Leads will give you a phone number for your family to call in the event of an emergency.

  • If there’s an emergency at COUPLES CAMP:
    We’ll have a medical response team onsite, and a way to get you from the campsite to a hospital.

Did you hear that we’re offering a DRIVE-IN option at Couples Camp this year? Have questions about that? Check this out for more info.

What’s the deal with Couples Camp, anyway?

  • We’re all in this together.
    COUPLES CAMP isn’t a “sit and get” retreat. It’s an adventure that we’re all going to share. It’s going to be great!

  • We’re intentionally not giving you all of the answers to every possible question.
    You’re all smart, capable people who’ll be surrounded by others just like you. We’re just going camping for two nights. You’ve got this! Nothing worth doing is easy. That little uneasy feeling you’ve got? The “oh man, can I do this?”. That’s you being stretched. That’s growth happening, right now. That’s good stuff.

  • COUPLES CAMP isn’t for everyone.
    We’ll always choose the path less traveled. We’ll err on the side of challenge. If someone asks you if we’ll make special arrangements or exceptions for them, the answer is almost certainly a loving “No.”

  • There won’t be any storage accommodation for nursing moms.
    We love that nursing moms are coming to camp and we’ll have a small amount of extra electricity available inside a barn for pumping but there won’t be any communal refrigeration/storage available for anyone to use.

  • Plan to meet with your campsite.
    This is your chance to have everyone together, in whatever space you want. No worries if some folks aren't available or are out of town. Just do your best.

  • This is your event.
    Camp Leads are the hosts. You’ll need to work together to pull together all of your gear and provisions. We’ll provide lunch on Saturday, but your campsite will need to handle all the other grub and gear you’ll need. If you have any sort of dietary restrictions or special needs, make sure you take extra precautions. Lunch won’t have any special options. We supply water.

  • Wait, beer and wine?
    Yes. While it certainly isn’t the focus, it will be present.

  • This won’t be Couples Counseling Camp.
    We’re going to clear some space for God, embrace the challenge and disconnect from the everyday. Couples Camp will be 70% camping, 20% open space, and 10% content/teaching and worship. We expect God to show up in incredible ways.

  • Generally, we’re off the grid during Couples Camp.
    We’ll be turning off and leaving our cell phones behind before we head out to the campsite. A great idea is to leave it in your car. (Just try it)

  • Camping is primitive.
    There won’t be a shower house or electrical hookups. We’re all in tents. God was all about tents! How many shower houses can you find in the bible? Paul was a tentmaker, not an electrician!

What to Bring

Everything you pack needs to fit into one duffel bag and one backpack.
You’ll be hiking* all your gear over a mile, so pack lightly.
*you can drive your gear in now for 2025

Clothes. Two main ideas: keep yourself dry, and dress in layers. Extra socks, a jacket for night, a rain layer, etc. You’ll also want sturdy boots, or something rugged enough to handle hiking in the woods all day.

Toiletries. You pretty much just need Wet Wipes (for cleaning up without water) and a small towel (like a shammy, just in case). A toothbrush and toothpaste is sort of optional. Don’t bother with a razor.

Food. We’ll supply lunch on Saturday, as well as beer/wine/soda/water. Beyond that, you’ll need to bring your own—food for dinner Friday, breakfast and dinner Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Lunch on Sunday is up to you (we expect to be leaving the camp area by around 1pm). Bring food that can be stored without refrigeration, and that doesn’t need a whole lot of prep time (unless you’re a campfire gourmet). Clif Bars, jerky, cheese and crackers are all great options.

  • Make sure you get ahold of all of this stuff:

    • A headlamp (a cheap one from Home Depot is fine)

    • A folding camp chair for the campfire (a crappy tailgate chair is fine; fit it on top of your duffel bag, slipped between the handles)

    • A sleeping bag (a basic one will work; it’s only 2 nights)

    • A pad to go under your sleeping bag (if you don’t have one, Google “camp thermal break DIY” to find cheap ways to do this)

    • A plate (for lunch) and bowl for other meals at your campsite

    • A cup for coffee/soda/water/beer/wine

    • A spork or other utensil

    • Earplugs (normally these would be optional, but you’ll be surrounded by at least 1,000 snoring machines)

  • Make sure you’re covered with all these between everybody in your campsite:

    • Tents

    • Lighter or waterproof matches

    • Trash bags (the big contractor sized bags)

    • A tarp (or two), along with bungees and/or rope, for building a lean-to for your group in case it rains

  • Bring this if you have it, and if you have room.

    • Sunglasses

    • Pain reliever

    • Allergy meds

    • Sunscreen

    • Instant coffee

    • Dehydrated food

    • Jetboil or similar cooking system

    • Multi-tool

First time camping? Here’s some tips and camp hacks.

What not to Bring

Don’t bring a gun. We’ll have too many people, and it’s completely unnecessary for this event.

Don’t bring power tools. They’re too heavy and bulky anyway.