June 2-6, 2025
Encounter Camp exists to put the focus where it belongs — on Jesus!
Middle School & High School students, along with their leaders, come together for 4 days to lift up the name of Jesus, worship together, learn together, and have the best summer experience of their lives. Encounter is Set within the wood borders of Camp Geneva in Central Florida - featuring an incredible lake, pool, cabins, bunk houses, and onsite activities. this is sure to be a life-changing week of Gospel-centered teaching, worship and community for every group.
registration coming soon
This is the Camp Experience,
Elevated
worship
Get ready for incredible, high-energy, Gospel-centered Worship experience in every main session hosted by Lakeside Worship and special guests. Big! Giant! Epic! Words fail to express what’s in store!
teaching
We are excited to host several guest speakers throughout the week in both our evening and morning sessions. guest speaker reveal coming soon!
we will also be offering breakout sessions geared towards youth ministry leaders. Those participating in these panels will be speaking from years of experience in student ministry. Our goal is to give you everything we know about Student Ministry, so you can go back home and take your leadership to the next level for your church, your students, and community - all for the Glory of God!
pack wars
Get ready for Pack Wars! Every group will be assigned to a Pack and will be notified of your pack Color 30 days from ENCOUNTER CAMP! This is a daily competition where each team will culminate as many points as possible. So come ready to represent your Pack! We want loud! We want energy! We want epic! Bring your flags! Bring noise makers! Bring your all!
Want to help?
Have your leaders sign-up to help be door greeters, run our merch station, activity leads, floor ushers, and more! Your group will receive a 5% discount off your total registration when you sign up for any number of serving spots.
schedule
Tuesday - Thursday:
•7:00AM: Morning Devotionals
•8:00AM: Breakfast
•9:00AM: Leader Breakout Session with Guest Speakers
•10:30AM: Morning Session
•12:00PM: Lunch Break
•2:00PM: Afternoon Activities
•6:00PM: Dinner
•6:30PM: Evening Debrief Time
•7:00PM: Evening Session
•9:00PM: Group Activities, Campfire Time
Friday:
•8:00AM: Breakfast
•9:00AM: Check-Out
Monday:
•2:00PM: Check-in and Registration
•2:00PM - 6:00PM: Free Time
•6:00PM: Dinner
•7:30PM: Evening Session
•9:30PM: Campfire Gatherings and Nighttime Reflection
General FAQS
WHO IS ENCOUNTER CAMP FOR?
ENCOUNTER CAMP is designed for student groups of rising 7th graders (summer following 6th grade) through graduated seniors. the leaders of each group take full responsibility for their students at all times during the week. For that reason, we are unable to accommodate individual students at Encounter Camp. To register, a group must bring both students and leaders. We require at least one leader for every eight students.
WHERE WILL THE MAIN SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?
All Encounter Camp Main Sessions will take place at “The Lodge”. You’ll be able to locate this and all other locations on the Encounter Camp App.
WHAT WILL A TYPICAL DAY BE LIKE?
A typical day at Encounter Camp will include a Morning and Evening Session, Church Group Time, and free time to experience all the Camp has to offer. This includes “The Blob” on the lake, the pool, and other exciting activities scheduled throughout the week. Please refer to the Encounter Camp App for more details.
WHAT ARE PACKS?
PACKS provide an exciting, fun, and highly energetic element to ENCOUNTER CAMP! Students put into teams that consist of multiple groups. throughout the week there will be several activities to compete and Winners are crowned the last night of Camp!
WHAT IS “CAMPFIRE TIME”?
CAMPFIRE Time is for you and your students to connect as a group after the evening session to discuss the message, the day, and what God has been doing. Please refer to the Encounter Camp App for locations for Campfire Time. Please Note, we only have so many actual “Campfires”. Meeting locations for every group are assigned at the time of registration and are based, in part, on the size of every group.
WHAT SHOULD MY STUDENTS BRING?
Students should bring their Bible, a notepad or journal, a pen, beach towels, sunscreen, spending money, and anything else they would normally bring to a Student Summer Camp.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR ENCOUNTER CAMP?
Yes! once your deposit is received the ENCOUNTER CAMP Registration Guide will be provided to you. This will include information on payment deadlines, a link to this year’s promotional pack of videos & print material, and more!
WHAT CAN MY STUDENTS DO DURING FREE TIME?
There are many exciting things to do onsite including Lake access with “The Blob”, canoeing, the pool, and a zip-line. There will also be several scheduled activities that will be available during free time. Please see the Encounter App for more details.
*there is an additional cost, per group, for access to the zip-line, and this can be bought during your registration. Canoes will be available at no additional cost but will be on a first come first serve basis. you can sign up for canoes every morning at EHQ (Encounter Headquarters). Finally, please note that group leaders will be responsible for the supervision of their students during all free time.
WHERE SHOULD WE PARK UPON ARRIVAL?
When you arrive, there will be smiling faces ready to welcome you to ENCOUNTER CAMP and show you where to park! Once parked, Your group can unload but should remain together until your designated leader for check-in has received all the pertinent information. This information includes your assigned bunk house or cabin, wristbands, and ENCOUNTER CAMP BAGS. Once checked in, your group can head to their assigned bunk house or cabin.
WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE FOR ENCOUNTER CAMP?
We want all students to feel comfortable and welcome at ENCOUNTER CAMP while ensuring there are as few distractions as possible. All group leaders will be responsible for making sure their students are dressed appropriately during the week. Please be sure to ask your students to be modest and respectful with their attire. For the pool and lake specifically, we ask that female students and leaders wear a one-piece and, sorry guys, no speedos..
WHAT DOES ACCESS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD LOOK LIKE DURING CAMP WEEK?
We ask that once you are onsite, your group remains on property to be fully immersed in the “camp experience”. Having said that, we get it! Snacks run low, you need medicine, or something like that. There is shopping available off-site if needed. A list of possibilities can be found here.
Please limit the number of individuals that go off-site at any one time and reserve it for only necessary trips.
CAN PARENTS BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO ENCOUNTER CAMP AS A GROUP?
ENCOUNTER CAMP is designed for student leaders and their groups of rising 7th graders through graduating high school seniors. We do not require all groups to be official church groups, however, we do require that students be with their leaders or parents at all times. Should you decide to register, a church name is required for registration, so please use the church you attend as the Church Name. This is how you will be referenced in our registration system for ENCOUNTER CAMP. You will then use your personal information for the Student Pastor and Group Contact sections.
CAN I SEND MY KIDS TO ENCOUNTER CAMP WITHOUT A GROUP OR LEADER?
We require that all students attend ENCOUNTER CAMP with a leader. A minimum of 1 adult leader for every 8 students is required.
REgistration FAQS
DO WE HAVE TO PAY THE FULL PRICE TO REGISTER?
A deposit of $50 per person is all that's required to secure spots at ENCOUNTER CAMP. If you pay by credit card, deposits will be due upon registration. If you pay by check, deposits are due within 2 weeks of registering and spots are not guaranteed until payment of deposit is received.
IS MY DEPOSIT REFUNDABLE?
ENCOUNTER CAMP deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable to your remaining balance due until January 31. If you choose to lower your number of ENCOUNTER CAMP registrations before January 31, any deposits paid will be applied to your outstanding balance. After January 31, deposits will no longer be transferable or refundable.
WHAT DOES THE COST OF ENCOUNTER CAMP INCLUDE?
An encounter camp ticket includes:
- Admission to all sessions
- Lodging for 4 nights (Monday night through Friday morning)
- Monday night: Dinner
Tuesday - Thursday: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Friday: Breakfast
- ENCOUNTER CAMP materials
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT DEADLINES?
Within 2 weeks of registering: Deposit Due
$50 per person deposit is due within 2 weeks of registering. Spots are not confirmed until payment is received. After January 31, deposits paid are non-refundable and non-transferable. After April 3, each group is responsible for paying, in full, for their registration as it stands. Canceled spots will not be transferred to the overall balance.
January 31: Cancellation Deadline
All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable after January 31. If you lower your number of spots before January 31, any deposit paid will be applied to your remaining balance. If you lower your number of spots after January 31, the deposit paid for those spots is non-refundable and non-transferable. After January 31, additional spots may be requested, but additions will be based on availability.
June 6: Final Balance and Rooming List Due
Final balances must be received, and rooming lists must be completed in the ENCOUNTER CAMP portal by May 2 at 11:59pm EST. If your final balance and rooming list are not received by this date, a $5 per person late fee will be added to your final balance, and your check-in on-site may be delayed.
Groups are required to pay in full for canceled spots May 2 deadline.
*Groups who pay their final balance by check and it is received by us before May 2 will receive a $50 Concessions Gift Card to be used onsite! ENCOUNTER CAMP accepts payment by check or online through the ENCOUNTER CAMP portal via credit card.
Please note that payments must be received by the above deadlines to guarantee spots. Checks must be made to ‘ENCOUNTER CAMP’ and mailed to:
The Lakeside Church
Attn: Encounter Camp
16001 West Colonial Drive
Oakland, FL 34787
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
CAN I ADD SPOTS AFTER I REGISTER?
As long as space is available, you are welcome to add spots to your group at any time for ENCOUNTER CAMP. Please note, that we may not be able to accommodate additional beds in the same location that your group is located. Therefore, you may have to make plans for a leader or leaders to be placed with the additional student(s) in another bunk house or cabin. Your spots will not be secured until the additional deposit of $50 per person is received.
IS THERE A PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUDENTS & ADULT LEADERS?
ENCOUNTER CAMP has been priced to ensure that every group has the chance to be a part of the “Camp Experience, Elevated!”. With that, Adult Leaders (18+) are included in your total number of registrants and the price is the same as for students.
HOW MANY ADULT LEADERS IS MY GROUP REQUIRED TO BRING?
For the safety and well-being of all students, we require a minimum of 1 adult leader for every 8 students.
ARE CHILDREN OF ADULT LEADERS ALLOWED AT ENCOUNTER CAMP?
We love families! We have families! Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate children at ENCOUNTER CAMP. If you do bring children who are younger than a rising 7th grader, please make arrangements outside of ENCOUNTER CAMP for childcare.
WHICH MEALS ARE INCLUDED?
Our Camp Meal schedule is as follows: Dinner Monday Night, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Tuesday through Thursday, and a Continental Breakfast on Friday morning.
CAN ENCOUNTER CAMP ACCOMMODATE FOOD ALLERGIES AND DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
If you have students with allergies or special dietary needs, please list them in your ENCOUNTER CAMP portal account before May 19. We will be more than happy to accommodate any requests that are communicated prior to May 19.
WHERE WILL MY GROUP STAY?
ENCOUNTER CAMP is partnering with Camp Geneva in Fruitland Park located in Central Florida. Onsite there are multiple lodging areas including large bunk houses that sleep up to 60 on 2 different floors, to smaller cabins that sleep up to 12. Room assignments will be based on 2 factors: Availability and the number of campers in your group. Therefore, your campers may be in the same bunk house with other groups. Regardless of lodging location, your students will have at least one of your leaders with them.
WILL ADDITIONAL STORAGE BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR GROUP?
Storage space will not be provided by ENCOUNTER CAMP. Please make plans to store any additional items you have in your transportation or your sleeping quarters.
WILL THERE BE ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED FOR MY BUS DRIVER?
ENCOUNTER CAMP will not have additional beds available for hired bus drivers. A group will need to make plans for their hired bus driver to stay somewhere off-site. Please reach out if you need help with this. If your driver is one of your group leaders, please include them in your group registration with the rest of your team.
WHO DO I EMAIL IF I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
please reach out to us at events@thelakeside.church
