We understand that being able to stay in the same room as a friend can make or break a camper’s experience. That is why we do our best to ensure that each camper is in a room  with at least one friend during their camp session. This is accomplished in a few different ways: 

1. Request on Registration // On the registration form, there will be a text box where you can fill in the names of friends that you would like you camper to room with. You may also list a Counselor’s name if there is a specific volunteer that you would like to camper to be with. Camp staff will see these names and they will be used to help in the rooming process.

2. Call or Email // If you missed adding friends to your camper’s registration, don’t fret! You can contact our office and we will get the names added. You can contact us at hello@campilliana.org or at (812) 254-3322. 

3. Multiple Friends // As stated above, we do our best to accommodate all roommate requests. However, due to the capacity of our rooms and the large volume of requests that we receive, we are only able to guarantee that your camper will be with at least one friend. If you have a large group of campers that would like to room together, please contact our office and we will work to find possible solutions. 

Our volunteers generally do not have the special skills needed to work with special needs campers. However, we are open to discussing a parent attending camp with their special needs campers. We desire to see every camper that comes to Camp Illiana have the best experience possible. The situation may also require a Doctor's Note clearing them for a full camp session and the activities they will be involved in while here. Please give us a email/call if your special needs child is interested in attending camp before signing up him/her.

It is the policy of Camp Illiana that staff members and volunteer faculty are prohibited from using physical discipline in any way for behavior management of campers. No form of physical discipline is acceptable. This prohibition includes spanking, slapping, pinching, hitting, or any other physical force as retaliation or correction for inappropriate behaviors by campers.

If a camper is unruly or fails to comply with verbal warnings or instructions from a staff member or volunteer faculty, the Camp Illiana Executive Director will contact the camper’s Parent. If the behavior persists, the camper’s Parent will be contacted to pick up the camper.

Experience has shown us that most campers are happier with others at their own peer level. For this reason, we break the sessions up by age and host several different sessions of camp to accommodate all ages. While we may be flexible (after a conversation with a parent) with the age groups, we encourage you to seek a session that is age appropriate for your camper. Those age are listed below:

Day Camp: Kindergarten - 1st grade

Overnighter: 2nd - 3rd grade

Kids Camp: 4th - 6th grade

Epic Camp: 6th - 8th grade

HS Camp: 9th - 12th grade

Camp Illiana’s room groups typically consist of approximately 14 campers, overseen by volunteer counselors. The total number of volunteers, including program and non-program staff, is approximately 50 for approximately 320 campers. In addition, approximately 40 summer staff members work at camp all summer.

At Check-in, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a room; at that time, the Counselor for each room will be listed. The men and women who make up our Counselors are often former campers, while others are recruited from local churches (usually yours) and colleges. Our Counselors undergo extensive training regarding their responsibilities and camp policies and procedures. Each faculty is background checked and is required to follow the camp safety policy.

Camp Rules / Code of Conduct

• Everyone is expected to conduct themselves with a Christ-like character.

• Campers must adhere to the week’s schedule unless excused by the camp first-aid team or dean.

• Girls are not allowed in the boy’s dorms, and boys are not allowed in the girl’s dorms.

• No “purple” (inappropriate or excessive touching between campers of the opposite sex - this includes PDA).

• Campers should be in groups of three when away from public view.

• Campers may not leave their dorms after “lights out”.

• Parental or guardian permission is needed to leave camp before scheduled dismissal. The camp office should be notified by a parent or guardian.

• Each camper is responsible for their belongings.

• Illness and injuries must be reported to the camp nurse or first-aid staff.

• No food or drinks are allowed in the dorms. The presence of snacks equals sleeping with bugs and rodents.

• Camper Cell phones are not allowed.

• Driving campers must park cars in designated areas and turn keys in the Camp Office.

• Camp Illiana has a zero-tolerance policy for tobacco, drugs, marijuana, vaping, and alcohol of any kind.

• Weapons of any kind are prohibited, as well as fireworks, firearms, and combustibles.

• All campers are expected to follow the camp rules. Camp Illiana Staff reserves the right to send any camper home that chooses not to abide by Camp Illiana’s rules.

Camp Illiana holds certain age requirements for the adventure elements for all our campers’ safety and in line with our insurer’s best practices. Based on these age requirements, some elements may not be available for certain camp sessions.

Zipline: 4th grade & up

Kids Zipline: Preschool - 3rd grade

High Ropes: 4th - 5th grade (partial course); 6th & up (full course)

Giant Swing: 4th grade & up

Paintball: 6th grade & up - Available for Middle and High School camps

Pool: All ages! (Shallow-End for non-swimmers)

Boats: All ages! (Life jackets required at ALL TIMES)

Blob: 6th grade & up - Available for Middle and High School camps (Life jackets required at ALL TIMES)

While each camper is encouraged to pack according to their own needs, we understand that knowing what to bring for a session away from home can be stressful. We suggest checking out the packing lists on our website (campilliana.org) for some ideas, as well as make sure you bring these essentials:

• Bedding // Camp Illiana does not provide any sort of bedding or blankets. We suggest bringing either a sheet set and blankets or a sleeping bag.

• Towels // Campers will most likely be swimming in the pool, boating in the lake, and showering. For this reason, campers are encouraged to bring at least 2 towels.

• Shoes for activities // sometimes, a camp session will include messy games, rainy weather, and long days of outdoor activities. Make sure your camper has shoes that can get dirty!

• Sunscreen // Summer days at Camp Illiana tend to be bright and sunny. Please make sure your camper brings sun protection!

• Bible // Camp Illiana is a treasured place where people come to take their next step following Jesus. We saturate every camp session with the word of God. We highly encourage campers to bring their Bibles with them so they can follow along and continue to grow their relationship with the word.

What NOT to bring

While there are plenty of essentials to bring to camp, there are also plenty of things NOT to bring. Please ensure these things are not in your camper’s bag before arriving at Camp Illiana.

• Food & Snacks // While our lodges are completely enclosed, we are still in the middle of the woods. Food and sugar, unfortunately, attract all sorts of bugs and critters, creating a very uncomfortable experience for everyone involved. Please do not let your camper pack snacks nor send snacks with them so that we may maintain a clean and comfortable environment for all our campers.

• Game Systems or Electronic Devices // Camp Illiana is a place where campers can come to unplug, take a break, and dive deeper into their relationship with Christ. For this reason, we aim to limit outside distractions by prohibiting game systems and other electronic devices, including cell phones.

• Weapons, drugs, alcohol, and vapes // These items are strictly prohibited. If they are found on a camper, they may result in immediate removal from Camp Illiana.

We teach that believing in Jesus means trusting and following Him as both Savior and Lord. When we commit to trust and follow Jesus, we express this faith by repenting from sin, confessing His name, and receiving baptism by immersion in water. Baptism is an expression of faith and is for the remission of sins. We uphold baptism as the normative means of entry into the life of discipleship. It marks our commitment to regularly die to ourselves and rise to live for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Each camp session includes an optional class on what is means to baptized. It is a time set apart for those interested in taking the step of baptism to talk in-depth about what it means to follow Christ wholly. If a camper decides to follow Jesus and be baptized, the parents or primary guardian will be contacted to discuss details and give permission. Baptisms typically happen at the end of each camp session, but it is not required that they happen on Camp Illiana’s property. To encourage our campers and support them in their walk with Christ, all campers who have decided to be baptized will receive a t-shirt, a baptism certificate, a next-step book, and a Bible reading plan.

While at Camp Illiana, we ask that our female campers wear one-piece bathing suits, covering swimwear with t-shirts and shorts while not participating in water activities. We ask that our male campers wear t-shirts when not participating in water activities and to avoid Speedo-style swimsuits.

Our goal is to serve each camper, volunteer, staff member, and guest, by making their dining experience the best it can be to enhance their camp experience. We aim to achieve this by maintaining a neat, clean, and safe facility while cooking and serving healthy and appetizing food. At each meal, we offer various nutritious options that keep campers satisfied throughout their camp session. Camp menus are available on our website (campilliana.org/camperguide) before the camp session begins.