A letter to parents and campers from the directors of Beginner’s Week.
Dear Campers, Parents or Guardians,
We are very excited for our week of camp this year and we hope you are getting excited about camp as well! This year we will be getting to know Jesus. If this is your child’s first year as a camper, we are super excited to have them join us! If this is your child’s second or third year, we are super excited that they are returning, and we invite them to bring a friend with them!
Our Mission at Beginner’s Week is to serve God through ministering to Elementary School aged kids. We are a God centered youth camp that teaches school aged children about God and their personal journey with their faith. We look forward to ministering to your family for a week this year. If you have any questions or worries about camp, such as your child has never slept away from home before, please do not hesitate to reach out to the directors. We can work with you to get your child to camp. We have a wonderful group of staff members that are looking forward to meeting you, and your camper!
What to expect at camp
Each day, we have breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks along the way! Your child will spend time in Bible Classes appropriate for their age and participate in activities that build and grow their bible knowledge. Each evening, God is a priority, and we worship him with singing acapella songs of praise, learning of his word and praying. Throughout the day, we have arts and crafts, sports, team time, cabin time, free time and much more! This year we are introducing several new things to the week, including a paint war. This will take place on Friday afternoon. Please make sure to pack your child a gray T-shirt to get paint on! White shirts will not be permitted, as they become see through when they are wet.
Registration and Check In
Registration begins at 2:00pm on Sunday, July 14th. No one will be permitted to check in before this time.
Upon Arriving at camp, report to the main pavilion first for check in. (PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THE VILLAGES UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECKED IN! You will receive a pink or blue card with your child’s name on it, and this will be their “key” to enter the village.)
We will do our best to accommodate campers to stay with their friends or certain counselors, but we cannot guarantee that you will receive the cabin you want.
Pay the camp fees if they are not paid in full.
Turn in any incomplete paperwork.
Turn in Snack Shop Money to Sue Truex. (Items will cost $1.50 this year) (We recommend enough for one drink and one candy of choice for each day. This is $15.00)
Meet the Directors
Meet with the Camp Nurse and turn in ALL medications and report ALL Allergies/Conditions at this time. (ALL Medications will be administered by the Nursing Staff; No Medications will be allowed in the cabins.)
Meet with the Cooking Staff to report all food allergies that your child may have.
If you plan to pick up your child on Friday night, please signa permission slip during check in.
Turn in White T-Shirt for Tie Dye.
Receive Admission Card to go to village.
Meet your child’s counselors.
Parents will be permitted to be in the villages to help their camper settle in for the week.
Parents WILL NOT be permitted into the villages during the Check- out process Friday night or Saturday Morning. Counselors will make sure to bring everything to the pavilion for the check-out process.
Sunday Evening Meal – This year, we have invited 1st and 2nd graders to join us for a few hours at the beginning of camp so that they may get familiar with NOCYC. Food will be provided, and there is no need for a sack lunch as in other weeks.
During beginner’s week, we have a water park. This water park is very popular with the 3rd-5th grades. Campers should bring a swimsuit and shorts and a t-shirt to wear over the swimsuit (the waterslide sometimes gets muddy). (Campers should also bring shoes to get wet during the water park.)
Each camper must bring the following items:
Please Label your child’s items so the staff knows who they belong to.
Bedding (pillow, sheets, and blanket or sleeping bag)
Towels (at least 4 – labeled with camper’s name), Wash Cloths
Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Hairbrush/Comb, Sunscreen, etc.
Insect repellent
Sturdy closed-toed tennis shoes (Not crocs for safety purposes) (will be needed for sports and activities) and flip flops or water shoes to wear to shower/water park.
White 100% cotton T-shirt to be tie-dyed for a team shirt (turn in at registration)
Gray T-shirt that is suitable for getting paint on (paint war)
Swimsuit and shirt / shorts to wear at waterpark.
10 sets of clothes per week. (We recommend this many to promote good hygiene. Campers need to bring both shorts and pants to camp, and the shorts must be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee.
Jacket or Hoodie (It can get cool in the evenings and early mornings.)
Flashlight with name
Reusable Water Bottle with camper name on it.
Notebooks, Pens, or pencils.
Hat
Bibles will be provided at camp.
Snack Shop Money ($15.00 per camper this will be enough, as they are allowed to purchase two items from the snack shop each day.)
WHAT NOT TO BRING – DO NOT BRING: Cell Phones, radio, CD
players, IPOD’s, MP3 players, electronic game devices, any other electronic device. Extra Snacks are Discouraged in cabins due to overconsumption and the attraction of animals into cabins. Snacks will be provided, as well as an opportunity to buy things at the snack shop.
DO NOT BRING: firecrackers, matches, lighters, pocketknives, or weapons of any kind.
There will be no shaving cream battles or similar activities during the week of camp.
VISITORS – Please report to a Camp Director upon arrival. Visiting during camp week is discouraged as it tends to make homesickness worse in this age group once they see a parent. We ask that visits be limited to Friday evening when we have our final assembly and activities. All visitors must abide by camp rules. For camper and staff safety, Visitors, including PARENTS will NOT be allowed in the villages after move-in on Sunday afternoon.
NO PETS – No pets are allowed at camp including at registration, during visits, and at check-out times. Exceptions may be made for service dogs if arrangements are made in advance. Thank you for your cooperation.
CHECK-OUT – If someone other than the parent or legal guardian of the child will be picking them up, we must have parent’s written permission that is given to the directors.
Saturday: The camp must be vacated by 9:30 Saturday morning. Pick up campers in the PAVILION AREA. *Parentswill NOT be allowed in the villages on Saturday morning.* Friday Night: Many parents take their campers home on Friday evening. Please notify the director and sign a permission slip if this is your intention. We ask that no camper leaves on Friday before the evening assembly and activities, which begin at 7:00 PM.
During the Week: If for some reason, your child needs to leave throughout the week, please notify the directors and sign a Permission slip during registration. After the slip has been signed, the camper must be signed out with a director prior to leaving camp. If the camper returns to camp, please sign back in with a director so that we are able to track where all our campers are.
DISMISSAL – The directors reserve the right to remove any camper from camp that is unwilling to obey camp rules. Parents will be notified immediately, day or night, and asked to come take the uncooperative camper home.
Beginner’s Week is going to be packed full of activities and fun! We are looking forward to meeting all of you soon, and we thank you for making church camp a priority and sending your children to experience it! Please feel free to reach out to any of the directors if you have any questions before camp!
Chuck Hopkins is the fulltime preacher at the Orrville church of Christ in Orrville, Ohio. Chuck has been preaching at Orrville for the last 6 years. Previously Chuck preached at the East Sparta church of Christ for 23 years. He began preaching at the age of 16. Chuck’s wife is Linda and together they have 4 grown children and 12 grandchildren. Chuck & Linda have worked at NOCYC for many years. Chuck has been the president of the board since 2019.
Ryan Evans (Kent church of Christ)
Ryan has been a director at Beginner’s week since 2022. Ryan has been involved with NOCYC since he was a camper in 5th grade. He started working as a kitchen staff member in middle school week, then moved to be a counselor in both Middle school week and Beginner’s week in 2017. He thoroughly enjoys working with the kids at camp and is excited each year to make a spiritual impact on today’s youth! When Ryan isn’t working at camp, he is a full time Firefighter/Paramedic at Suffield Fire Department and works for the Hartville Fire Department. Ryan met his Fiancée Sarah at NOCYC in 2019 and they have enjoyed working together at camp each summer since then! Camp isn’t just once a year for Ryan, once it is over, he constantly is thinking on how to improve for the next year!
Beginner’s Week
Grades 3-5
A letter to parents and campers from the directors of Beginner’s Week.
Dear Campers, Parents or Guardians,
We are very excited for our week of camp this year and we hope you are getting excited about camp as well! This year we will be getting to know Jesus. If this is your child’s first year as a camper, we are super excited to have them join us! If this is your child’s second or third year, we are super excited that they are returning, and we invite them to bring a friend with them!
Our Mission at Beginner’s Week is to serve God through ministering to Elementary School aged kids. We are a God centered youth camp that teaches school aged children about God and their personal journey with their faith. We look forward to ministering to your family for a week this year. If you have any questions or worries about camp, such as your child has never slept away from home before, please do not hesitate to reach out to the directors. We can work with you to get your child to camp. We have a wonderful group of staff members that are looking forward to meeting you, and your camper!
What to expect at camp
Each day, we have breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks along the way! Your child will spend time in Bible Classes appropriate for their age and participate in activities that build and grow their bible knowledge. Each evening, God is a priority, and we worship him with singing acapella songs of praise, learning of his word and praying. Throughout the day, we have arts and crafts, sports, team time, cabin time, free time and much more! This year we are introducing several new things to the week, including a paint war. This will take place on Friday afternoon. Please make sure to pack your child a gray T-shirt to get paint on! White shirts will not be permitted, as they become see through when they are wet.
Registration and Check In
If you plan to pick up your child on Friday night, please sign a permission slip during check in.
Each camper must bring the following items:
Please Label your child’s items so the staff knows who they belong to.
WHAT NOT TO BRING – DO NOT BRING: Cell Phones, radio, CD
players, IPOD’s, MP3 players, electronic game devices, any other electronic device. Extra Snacks are Discouraged in cabins due to overconsumption and the attraction of animals into cabins. Snacks will be provided, as well as an opportunity to buy things at the snack shop.
DO NOT BRING: firecrackers, matches, lighters, pocketknives, or weapons of any kind.
There will be no shaving cream battles or similar activities during the week of camp.
VISITORS – Please report to a Camp Director upon arrival. Visiting during camp week is discouraged as it tends to make homesickness worse in this age group once they see a parent. We ask that visits be limited to Friday evening when we have our final assembly and activities. All visitors must abide by camp rules. For camper and staff safety, Visitors, including PARENTS will NOT be allowed in the villages after move-in on Sunday afternoon.
NO PETS – No pets are allowed at camp including at registration, during visits, and at check-out times. Exceptions may be made for service dogs if arrangements are made in advance. Thank you for your cooperation.
CHECK-OUT – If someone other than the parent or legal guardian of the child will be picking them up, we must have parent’s written permission that is given to the directors.
Saturday: The camp must be vacated by 9:30 Saturday morning. Pick up campers in the PAVILION AREA. *Parents will NOT be allowed in the villages on Saturday morning.* Friday Night: Many parents take their campers home on Friday evening. Please notify the director and sign a permission slip if this is your intention. We ask that no camper leaves on Friday before the evening assembly and activities, which begin at 7:00 PM.
During the Week: If for some reason, your child needs to leave throughout the week, please notify the directors and sign a Permission slip during registration. After the slip has been signed, the camper must be signed out with a director prior to leaving camp. If the camper returns to camp, please sign back in with a director so that we are able to track where all our campers are.
DISMISSAL – The directors reserve the right to remove any camper from camp that is unwilling to obey camp rules. Parents will be notified immediately, day or night, and asked to come take the uncooperative camper home.
Beginner’s Week is going to be packed full of activities and fun! We are looking forward to meeting all of you soon, and we thank you for making church camp a priority and sending your children to experience it! Please feel free to reach out to any of the directors if you have any questions before camp!
Camp Makes Friends Forever!
In Christian Love, your 2024 camp directors;
Chuck Hopkins (330)-936-1366 hoppyjr2@gmail.com
Preacher at Orrville church of Christ
Ryan Evans (330)-289-2302 ryange1999@gmail.com
Member at Kent church of Christ
Register Online Now! https://shop.nocyc.com/?mep_events=beginners-week-july-14-20
Meet the Beginner’s Week Directors
Chuck Hopkins (Orrville church of Christ)
Chuck Hopkins is the fulltime preacher at the Orrville church of Christ in Orrville, Ohio. Chuck has been preaching at Orrville for the last 6 years. Previously Chuck preached at the East Sparta church of Christ for 23 years. He began preaching at the age of 16. Chuck’s wife is Linda and together they have 4 grown children and 12 grandchildren. Chuck & Linda have worked at NOCYC for many years. Chuck has been the president of the board since 2019.
Ryan Evans (Kent church of Christ)
Ryan has been a director at Beginner’s week since 2022. Ryan has been involved with NOCYC since he was a camper in 5th grade. He started working as a kitchen staff member in middle school week, then moved to be a counselor in both Middle school week and Beginner’s week in 2017. He thoroughly enjoys working with the kids at camp and is excited each year to make a spiritual impact on today’s youth! When Ryan isn’t working at camp, he is a full time Firefighter/Paramedic at Suffield Fire Department and works for the Hartville Fire Department. Ryan met his Fiancée Sarah at NOCYC in 2019 and they have enjoyed working together at camp each summer since then! Camp isn’t just once a year for Ryan, once it is over, he constantly is thinking on how to improve for the next year!