Youth Camp Rules

The weekly camp director, while under the authority of the eldership of the Anchorage Church of Christ, is the final authority on all matters pertaining to camp policies and rules during a camp session. He will be responsible for determining whether a camper is returned home due to illness, safety infractions, or failure to obey camp rules. All campers are expected to adhere to all MSBC Rules & Regulations, and Alaska state laws.

Safety Rules

Safety is a primary concern at Midnight Sun Bible Camp. All staff and campers are required to act in a manner that promotes their own safety, as well as the safety of others, at all times, while at MSBC.

  1. Cabin campfires must be supervised at all times and extinguished properly before abandoning.
  2. Hiking on roads or trails must be done as a group of three or more with an adult present and the approval of the weekly camp director.
  3. Swimming is permitted during supervised swim periods, at designated boys/girls docks, and with the “buddy system.”
  4. Personal Flotation Devices are required for all campers who do not pass a swim test.
  5. All swimming and boating activities require a minimum of two qualified staff members to be directly present.
  6. No horseplay or dangerous behavior is allowed in or near the water. No boat swamping, ramming, or any other dangerous behavior is allowed.
  7. No one, including staff, may be pushed or thrown into the lake.
  8. Personal flotation devices are required for ALL individuals while participating in any boating activity.
  9. Campers are only permitted in or on boats during supervised boating periods.

General Rules

  1. Campers are expected to attend the full camp session.
  2. Campers are discouraged from bringing cell phones. Staff may confiscate any electronics which create a distraction from camp activities.
  3. At a minimum, parents or guardians and the elders of the Anchorage Church of Christ will be notified if any camper breaks Alaska state law, and the camper will immediately be transported home.
  4. If campers want to work at camp, they may do so, but it must be at a different week and for only one week. Campers are also encouraged to attend their own week as a camper.
  5. A parent may serve as staff while their child is a camper during the same week at the discretion of the weekly director. Campers with parents serving as staff will have no special privileges. The parent must focus on their assigned staff position and allow the camper to attend as a camper.
  6. A cabin counselor may not have their own child in the same cabin to which they are assigned.
  7. Use of the camper bathhouses is a privilege. Campers found abusing or wasting resources may be denied use of the bathhouses for the duration of the camp session.
  8. Campers and counselors must practice modesty when getting dressed or changing clothes in the cabins. Designated changing areas are provided inside the cabins for anyone desiring more privacy.
  9. All staff will enforce the dress code. The weekly camp director is the final judge as to what is permitted and appropriate.
  10. Pants, knee length shorts, dry suits, or wet suits are required for water-skiing.
  11. Dress shall be modest at all times. The following are specifically not permitted:
    1. Shorts above the knee (they must be to the knee)
    2. Sleeveless, tank top, midriff, see-through, or low neckline shirts
    3. Clothing with inappropriate words or images
    4. Bikini-style swim wear (male or female)
    5. Skin-tight clothing such as leggings or spandex (without appropriate outer layer).
  12. Staff members and campers shall always be in groups of three or more when not in public view.
  13. Physical contact between staff members and campers that is done in expressions of comfort and approval is permitted. Any suspicious, inappropriate, or unusual observations of physical interaction between staff members and campers shall be immediately reported to the weekly camp director.
  14. No “back rubs” or massages of any kind are permitted unless administered for a medical purpose by the camp medic in the presence of at least two additional adult staff members.
  15. All reported incidents will be investigated and the parents of the child notified of the incident.
  16. Campers are expected to sleep in their assigned cabins and remain in their cabins after “lights out” each night.
  17. Campers must remain with a supervised group at all times.
  18. Visitors must have approval from the camp director prior to arriving at camp.

Off Limit Areas for Campers

  1. Dome shower house.
  2. Cabin and swim areas of the opposite sex.
  3. Cabin areas between classes during recreational and group activities, unless specifically authorized and accompanied to the area by a counselor in groups of three.
  4. Any area of the lake from which the main boat dock or one of the two swimming areas cannot be seen.
  5. Any property the camp does not own, except with express permission of the property owner obtained by the weekly camp director.
  6. Public land with the exception of supervised water-skiing, supervised hikes, and canoe trips.

Not Allowed

  1. Rough housing, “cabin smackdowns”, or any other type of physical or verbal abuse to campers or staff.
  2. Guns, fireworks, knives, tobacco products, alcohol, or illegal drugs including marijuana and vaping are not allowed on camp property.
  3. Pranks or playing with fire.
  4. Raiding of cabins or disturbing the private property of others.
  5. Littering of the campgrounds.
  6. Food and drinks in the cabins (drinking water is provided at the cabins).
  7. Any display of affection beyond holding hands or momentary consensual hugs.
  8. Motor boats or any other loud activity on or near the lake before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. This protects the privacy of other property owners.

Photos and Videos

  1. We assume that most families enjoy seeing pictures of their children and other campers enjoying themselves at MSBC. Photos are regularly taken by staff and campers. MSBC organizers are not able to control the distribution of photos or videos taken at MSBC, including potential postings to Social Media sites. See below for MSBC Photo and Video policies.
  2. MSBC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken during a MSBC event, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. MSBC may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted by MSBC including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc.
  3. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject, parent or legal guardian.
  4. A person attending an MSBC event who does not wish to have their image recorded for distribution should make their wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers, and/or contact MSBC at Anchorage Church of Christ, 2700 DeBarr Road Anchorage, AK 99508, in writing of his/her intentions and include a photograph. MSBC will use the photo for identification purposes and will hold it in confidence to the best of it’s ability.
  5. By participating in an MSBC event or by failing to notify MSBC, in writing, of your desire to not have your photograph used by MSBC, you are agreeing to release, defend, hold harmless and indemnify MSBC from any and all claims involving the use of your picture or likeness.
  6. Any person or organization not affiliated with MSBC may not use, copy, alter or modify MSBC photographs, graphics, videography or other, similar reproductions or recordings without the advance written permission of an authorized designee from MSBC.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!