Registration and check-in is held in the parking lot of the Jack Wyrtzen Center at the Bible Institute. The address is 4200 Glendale Road, Pottersville, NY 12860. Arrive on Sunday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Late arrivals should report directly to the camp office. Please carry any medications with you through the check-in process to give to the health center staff, but leave luggage in the car – drop-offs happen at camp.

Pick-up time is Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., back at the Jack Wyrtzen Center at the Bible Institute. Parents or guardians picking up campers must have a photo ID to verify their identity. Call 518-494-1300 to make arrangements for late pickups.

Round-trip van shuttles are available at certain times from Albany International Airport, the Pottersville and Schroon Lake Trailways bus stops, the Albany/Rensselaer Train Station (Amtrak or Megabus) and Trailways Greyhound Station are available. There is a $25 fee per person each way.

Because online registration closes at 5 pm on the Thursday prior to camp, we need to have the same deadline for transportation requests.

Call 518-494-6000, option 1 or email customerservice@wol.org to arrange transportation. Please have ride information ready. A Word of Life staff member will meet the camper and can keep return tickets in the camp office until departure time. All parts of the health form must be submitted before transportation can be provided.

All transportation requests must be submitted prior to 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to Saturday departures and Sunday arrivals.

Passports are required for all campers who are not US citizens. Upon arrival, international campers are encouraged to give these documents to the camp office for safekeeping.

Should a need arise, a parent or guardian must still be able to reach camp property within 48 hours. If this is not possible, a secondary contact must be designated to do so.

We would love for campers to stay for more than one week! In fact, the only thing that can top one week of camp is even MORE weeks of camp! Campers can stay up to three weeks during the Summer. Weekend Experience is an awesome extended program for those who just can’t get enough camp in one week. WE campers will spend Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon enjoying a one-day pass to Great Escape Theme Park in Lake George (retail value: $68), a pizza and movie party (retail value: $8) and a Sunday morning program. They’ll also get a special TWA t-shirt (retail value: $12), four meals and camp lodging (retail value: $60) and don’t worry, laundry service is included too (retail value: $10 – did we mention the mud pit?).

Campers can put spending money (for things like special activities, pizza, Snack Shack treats, camp store shopping, etc.) in the Camper Bank for safekeeping. The amount of spending money is up to individual family preference. Word of Life is not responsible for any money or items not deposited in the bank. Counselors are available to assist campers who are not accustomed to handling their own money.

We try to keep additional charges to a minimum and have been able to eliminate some over the years! However, a few of the optional activities, such as paintball and water tubing, require additional cost.

An ATM is available for parental use only. Please ask for assistance upon arrival.

Nope. Electronic devices are not permitted at The Ranch. Camp is all about getting away and focusing on God and fun…not checking Snapchat. We collect all electronic devices at the start of the week and return them at the end of camp.

Camper calls should be limited to emergencies only. Call The Ranch office at 518-494-1300 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. to leave a message to be delivered. The camper will return your call if necessary. Please limit calls after 10:00 p.m. to extreme emergencies only.

Letters and packages:
[Camper’s name & date of attendance] WOL Ranch
4200 Glendale Road
Pottersville, NY 12860

Email
You can also send an email with your camper’s name in the subject line and we’ll print the email out to deliver it! Email: ranch@wol.org

Lost and found articles are returned upon claim by a parent or guardian for up to two weeks after the camping week ends. Simply call, specifically describe the missing item and if it matches an item in our lost and found, we’ll ship it to you for the cost of shipping.

Service animals are permitted, as defined by law. This is limited to dogs and does not include emotional support animals, comfort, therapy, or companion animals, or pets. Persons with service animals are requested (but not required) to make it known to customer service or enrollment staff during the application process to facilitate accommodation. Service animals are permitted in public spaces provided they are:
a. housebroken
b. vaccinated
c. under the control (usually a leash) of their handler
d. not endangering the safety of others
e. not causing a disruption

Yes. All Word of Life Camps are approved to operate and are inspected at least twice annually by the Department of Health (NY or FL). Word of Life meets, and in most cases exceeds, all health and safety guidelines for camp operations. Full reports are available by contacting the state Department of Health.

You can note any and all food allergies on the health form. Campers with food allergies should speak with the chef upon arrival at camp so they can be aware of and avoid potential allergens. You can also email Customerservice@wol.org with any concerns.

Campers with diabetes will need to bring extra supplies, emergency supplies and a written plan of action. Every camper with diabetes should have an individualized Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP), sometimes referred to as a health care plan, diabetes care plan or physician’s orders. Please send a copy of this plan with the health form.

You can note bee allergies on the health form. Campers with life-threatening allergies are required to carry their EpiPen with them at all times. If a camper with a bee allergy does not know how to use the EpiPen, staff will be available to assist. In the case of an allergic reaction, health center staff and EMS will also be called to the scene.

No. While our culinary services are sensitive to common allergens, we cannot promise a nut free environment nor can we control snacks that other campers bring with them.

Word of Life is not an allergen-free facility, as we regularly serve foods containing peanuts and tree nuts, dairy products, seafood and fish, eggs, gluten, refined sugars, soy, and other common allergens. Word of Life strives to keep allergen items separate during preparation, serving, and storage for your safety but it is not guaranteed. We cannot guarantee that campers will completely avoid contact with a particular food while at our facilities, and we may not be able to accommodate those with severe allergies, who react not only to a food being ingested, but also to skin contact, close proximity, or an airborne allergen.

It is the responsibility of the parent or youth leader to communicate with the culinary staff to assess possible accommodations.

Yes. WOL can accommodate many, varied dietary needs. Applicants should notify the WOL camp chef of any dietary restrictions or allergens and the culinary staff can provide alternative meals throughout the week.

We have nurses on duty 24 hours a day. Many of our staff members are also trained in first aid, CPR and responding to emergencies.

If a camper becomes ill or injured, every attempt will be made to contact a parent, guardian or emergency contact. If the decision is made to send a camper to a doctor, he or she will typically be taken to Warrensburg Urgent Care, which is about 20 minutes away, via Word of Life transportation. A counselor or health center staff member will accompany the camper. Parents or guardians will need to make arrangements if payment is required at the doctor’s office or pharmacy.

Word of Life uses Glens Fall Hospital. It is approximately 35 miles from The Ranch property, but there is an ambulance within 5 miles of the property.

Please contact the Word of Life Health Center by phone or email prior to registering for camp. We would like to discuss your camper’s needs with you so we can make a recommendation for attendance. Camp attendance is lower some weeks and we may suggest registering for one of those times.

Word of Life is a nonprofit, charitable organization dependent on God and His people. Those who use Word of Life facilities and/or engage in related activities waive and release any claim for personal injury or property damage. Attendees agree to carry insurance or have the resources to cover the expense related to personal injury or property damage that occurs on Word of Life property.

The state of New York requires that all medications including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements be listed on a camp medication form with the signature of a provider authorized to prescribe medications. Campers will not be allowed to take anything that is not listed on the form while at camp.

WOL seeks to place campers in the safest and most appropriate camp location. Sometimes older campers who are developmentally delayed may be placed in a younger setting, however they must still fall within the following physical age ranges:

The Ranch: The Ranch is for elementary aged children going into grades 1-5. Campers must be at least 6 years old at the time of attendance and must not have reached their 12th birthday.

The Wild: The Wild is for middle school pre-teens going into grades 6-8. Campers must be at least 10 years old at the time of attendance and must not have reached their 16th birthday.

The Island: The Island is for high school teens going into grades 9-12, or recently graduated students. Campers must be at least 12 years old at the time of attendance and must not have reached their 20th birthday.

Florida Youth Camp: Weeks vary by age.
• Junior Camp is for children and pre-teens ages 6-12. Campers must be at least 6 years old at the time of attendance and must not have reached their 14th birthday.
• Teen camp is for teens ages 12-18. Campers must be at least 11 years old and must not have reached their 20th birthday.

In order for a camper to take any medication while at camp, page 3 of the health form must be filled out entirely and signed by both a licensed provider and a parent or guardian. Medications must be brought in their original containers and must not be expired. At registration, all medications will be checked in and kept by the health center. We will bring the medications to meals and nighttime activities. If a camper needs medication at another time, it will be available at the health center.

Vitamins and supplements are considered medications at Word of Life camps. In order for a camper to take vitamins and supplements while at camp, page 3 of the health form must be filled out entirely and signed by both a licensed provider and a parent or guardian. Vitamins and supplements must be brought in their original containers and must not be expired. At registration, all vitamins and supplements will be checked in and kept by the health center. We will bring them to meals and nighttime activities. If a camper needs vitamins or supplements at another time, they will be available at the health center.

The state of New York requires that all medications including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements be listed on a camp medication form with the signature of a provider authorized to prescribe medications. We are required to follow the instructions on the medication form.

Please check with your pharmacy to see if you can refill the prescription in advance so medication for the entire length of camp can be checked in at registration. Many insurance plans will cover this if you ask for a “vacation refill.” If this is not possible, you can arrange for a medication to be filled at a local pharmacy and we will pick it up.

Campers must have all medications listed on their medication form at registration. If you forget to pack a medication, a replacement may be able to be picked up at a local pharmacy. However, this is a time-consuming extra step that delays your camper from jumping into the fun-filled camp experience, so please do everything possible to make sure all medications are packed and match those listed on the health form.