Core Values and Faith-Based Principles

As a faith-based organization, Cedarbrook Camps ground everything in a shared Christian commitment. All staff and board members are expected to be devoted followers of Christ, striving to live out biblical values such as sincere love, humility, zeal in service, and faithfulness in prayer (as exemplified in Romans 12:10–12) cedarbrookcamps.com. Each member camp subscribes to a common Statement of Faith reflecting evangelical Christian beliefs – including the Trinity (one God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, humanity’s sin and need for salvation, and more cedarbrookcamps.com. This doctrinal foundation ensures unity in essential beliefs across all Cedarbrook locations.

In addition to its statement of faith, the Association of Cedarbrook Camps has identified four Core Values that shape all programs and camper experiences edarbrookcamps.com. These core values, affirmed annually by each camp, include:

• Spiritual Formation: Encouraging each camper to grow in a personal relationship with God – for example, recognizing the need for Christ as Savior, studying and memorizing Scripture, and participating in daily worship, devotions, and prayers  edarbrookcamps.com.

• Relationships and Community: Providing opportunities for campers to build positive relationships and experience authentic Christian community, consistent with biblical principles of love and fellowships edarbrookcamps.com.

• Skill-Building and Individual Development: Helping campers have fun while discovering their God-given talents and value. Camps celebrate each child’s uniqueness and foster increased confidence, courage, and perseverance through learning new skills and achieving goals in a supportive setting gcedarbrookcamps.com.

• Creation Appreciation: Instilling a deeper appreciation for God’s creation and our responsibility to care for it. Campers spend time outdoors and learn to enjoy and steward the natural environment appropriately cedarbrookcamps.com.

These values reflect Cedarbrook’s holistic approach – nurturing spiritual growth, relationships, personal development, and respect for creation in tandem. They set a tone that differentiates Cedarbrook Camps as intentionally faith-driven and growth-oriented in all aspects of camp life.

Organizational Structure and Affiliations

Association Model: Cedarbrook Camps operate under an association model that balances local autonomy with collective standards. Each member camp is independently operated (often with its own directors and volunteer boards) but formally affiliated through the Association of Cedarbrook Camps. In ACC governance, every member camp has an equal voice, regardless of the camp’s size or enrollment – each camp holds one vote in decisions affecting the whole association cedarbrookcamps.com. This structure ensures that all camps, from the largest to the smallest, are valued equally in guiding the direction of the Cedarbrook ministry. A Board of Trustees (drawn from various member camp leaders) provides overall leadership to the association, and an annual conference brings together camp staff from across the country for training and collaboration.

Standards and Accreditation: To be recognized as a “Cedarbrook Camp,” a camp must affirm the ACC’s spiritual standards, statement of faith, core values, and program goals – and crucially, must attain proper accreditation cedarbrookcamps.com. All U.S. Cedarbrook camps are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), and Canadian camps by an equivalent accrediting body, demonstrating compliance with rigorous industry standards for safety, program quality, and operations cedarbrookcamps.com. The association also maintains key partnerships to support its camps. For example, ACC member camps utilize tools like UltraCamp for registration and camper management, and the ACC maintains a relationship with Christian Copyright Licensing International to ensure legal and enriching worship experiences at camp cedarbrookcamps.com. As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the ACC can receive tax-deductible donations and grants to further its mission cedarbrookcamps.com, all of which helps sustain training programs, resources, and scholarships that benefit the member camps.

Camp Programs and Locations

Geographic Reach: Cedarbrook Camps today form a network of summer camps across the United States and Canada. As of 2025, the Association includes roughly a dozen member camps in regions spanning the continent – from the forests of the Pacific Northwest to the deserts of the Southwest, and from the heartland of the Midwest to the lakes of the Northeast. Member camps are located in states such as Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois (Land o’ Lincoln), Ohio, Arizona (Saguaro), Oregon, Washington (Cascade), and California, as well as in Ontario, Canada, among others cedarbrookcamps.com. Each camp adopts the “Cedarbrook” name (or identifies itself as “a Cedarbrook Camp”) to signal its affiliation and shared standards, though every camp also has its own unique setting and local flavor. For example, Camp Cedarbrook in the Adirondacks (New York) operates in the high peaks region and Camp Cherith – Ontario continues under its historic name in Canada, but both adhere to the Cedarbrook values and program model. This nationwide presence makes Cedarbrook one of the few Christian camp associations with a truly inter-state (and international) scope, allowing it to serve families in many communities.

Programs and Age Groups: Cedarbrook Camps primarily offer week-long residential summer camp programs for youth. The camps typically serve children and teenagers from about 7 to 17 years old, covering elementary through high school ages campcherith.ca. Many locations run separate weeks or sessions tailored by age or gender group. Some camps were founded as girls-only programs (a legacy of the Pioneer Girls roots) and continue to specialize in girls’ ministry – for instance, Camp Cedarbrook in the Adirondacks is a camp “where girls ages 7–17…grow in their relationship with God.” campcedarbrook.org Other Cedarbrook camps host both boys and girls, either in co-ed sessions or in single-gender weeks scheduled back-to-back. Over the years, the trend has been toward inclusion of both genders: for example, Oregon’s camp added a boys’ week in 1993 and eventually moved to a combined co-ed camp model by 2003 oregoncampcedarbrook.com. This flexibility allows each Cedarbrook camp to best serve its local community’s needs, whether that means providing a brother-sister camp experience, an exclusive girls’ environment, or even day camps and family programs.

Beyond the traditional summer overnight camps, many Cedarbrook camps offer specialty programs or extensions of the camping ministry. These can include leadership development programs for older teens (often called CILT – Camper in Leadership Training, which prepares high schoolers to become future counselors)cedarbrooktexas.com, as well as specialty camps focusing on skills like horsemanship, wilderness trips, or specific hobbies. Some camps host family weekends (such as mother-daughter or father-son retreats) and shorter “intro to camp” sessions for younger children who might be new to overnight camping campcherith.ca. Across all these programs, the core intent remains the same: to provide a fun, adventure-filled camp experience that is rooted in Christian faith and values. Campers spend their days engaged in activities like swimming, archery, crafts, hiking, canoeing, and campfire programs – all while being mentored in faith by the counselors and staff. Each camp location takes advantage of its natural setting, whether that’s swimming in a lake, riding horses on mountain trails, or sleeping under the stars, to help kids unplug from everyday pressures and encounter God’s creation up close.

What Makes Cedarbrook Camps Distinctive

At the Association of Cedarbrook Camps (ACC), we recognize that families have many choices when it comes to summer experiences for their children. But Cedarbrook Camps are not just another option—we are a Christ-centered movement, shaped by tradition, excellence, and a commitment to nurturing young hearts for God’s glory. What sets us apart isn’t just what we do—it’s how and why we do it.

Christ-Centered in Every Way
Faith is not a program at Cedarbrook—it is the heartbeat of everything we do. From the moment a camper arrives, they are immersed in a spiritual environment that is intentional and personal. Daily Bible studies in small groups, morning devotions, and evening campfire worship help young people learn how to live out biblical truth in everyday life. The Word of God is not a backdrop—it’s the foundation. Our commitment to an unapologetically Christian focus ensures that every camper has the opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a real and personal way.

Staff Who Mentor and Model Christ
We believe transformation happens through relationships. That’s why our camps maintain a high staff-to-camper ratio and choose counselors who are spiritually grounded, emotionally mature, and deeply invested in each child’s growth. Many of our leaders were once campers themselves—now returning to pour into the next generation. In small group settings, mentors walk alongside campers, not just teaching skills but shaping character through lived example. Our counselors are more than supervisors—they are disciple-makers.

Intentional Skill-Building and Leadership Growth
Cedarbrook Camps are known for their unique blend of fun and formation. Our activity offerings—from archery to drama, canoeing to crafts—are thoughtfully designed to build confidence, teach life skills, and cultivate leadership. Campers are given choices, encouraging independence and self-discovery within a guided Christian framework. Programs like CILT (Camper in Leadership Training) exemplify how we equip older campers to grow into faithful servant-leaders—both at camp and in life beyond.

A Christlike Community of Belonging
At Cedarbrook, campers don’t just attend—they belong. The family atmosphere is real and intentional. Cabin life, shared responsibilities, and team challenges foster deep bonds and teach lessons in cooperation, humility, and grace. Our campers learn to love like Christ—not just in theory, but through daily practice. Many campers return year after year, and lifelong friendships are forged in the joyful, spirit-filled rhythms of camp life.

Legacy and Meaningful Traditions
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. With a heritage that traces back to the 1940s, Cedarbrook Camps preserve time-honored traditions that have helped shape thousands of lives. Whether it’s adopting a unique “camp name” (often inspired by biblical birds), singing classic camp songs, or earning badges for personal growth—these practices bind generations together in shared memory and spiritual meaning. Our traditions aren’t old—they’re enduring.

Excellence that Parents Can Trust
ACC holds every member camp to the highest standards of safety and quality. With ACA accreditation as a requirement, families can rest assured that every detail—from waterfront supervision to food service, from counselor training to emergency protocols—is handled with the utmost care. Our leadership development events, conferences, and training materials help camps consistently operate with both professional excellence and spiritual fervor.

At Cedarbrook Camps, we’re not just making memories—we’re making disciples.

Every camper, every counselor, every summer is a chance to draw closer to Jesus Christ. That’s why we do what we do. That’s why Cedarbrook is different.

Absolutely. Whether you’re looking for a summer camp or a full Bible-based outdoor program, our camps offer an environment where youth form lasting friendships, grow in faith, and are “planted in the house of the Lord” to flourish (Psalm 92:12–13).