For Overnight Camp, we begin with Mini Camp at age 6 as we feel that younger campers may struggle with being away from home for the first time. Mini Camp is a half-week program. Full-week programs begin at age 9, and include our General Session Camps, Outpost Camps, Ranch Camp and some specialty camps.
For Day Camp, we begin with My First Day Camp Adventure starting at age 4. Camp Wesley Woods Day Camp is for ages 6-12 years old.
Wesley Woods is happy to accommodate any dietary restriction, so long as it is brought to our attention in advance of arrival on camp. We can provide alternative meal options for restrictions. During summer camp, we are peanut, and major tree nut free, (Products containing coconut are occasionally served)
If you have a need that Wesley Woods can meet, please communicate with the staff coordinating with your group or school at least two weeks before your trip to camp. For overnight and day camp, please refer to restrictions on the Camper Confidential Form turned in before arrival and at check-in on the first day of camp.
Should you have specific questions regarding food service, please contact our Food Service Coordinator, Rick Peake at [email protected].
We want to ensure that all of our guests be comfortable and safe while at camp. To do this, we first ask that you, the group leader or school organizer communicate all allergies clearly to Wesley Woods staff prior to your visit. For overnight or day camp, these can be documented on the Camper Information Form filled out during registration. We will work to protect all affected from the allergen when they are at camp. If you or your camper has a personal epi-pen, we highly encourage you to bring it with you.
For overnight and day camp, we request that you check all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) in with our staff at check-in. These medications need to be brought in their original containers or we will not be able to accept them. During overnight camp sessions, our Health Center Coodinator signs-off on all medication administration at the end of each day. Unless necessitated, all medications are delivered at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed time. All staff are First Aid and CPR certified and only approved staff will administer any medications. All medications are kept in a locked storeroom on camp.
For groups and schools, we request that an adult on-site is selected and approved to administer medications. We also request that medications are kept in a locked, safe location to prevent misadministration or loss. For more information, please speak with your Camp Wesley Woods staff liaison or call our offices.
While staying at Camp Wesley Woods, depending on the program that you register for, you may be in one of our many heated and air conditioned cabins or in a more traditional camping experience at one of our outpost sites.
Many of our cabin spaces have restrooms and shower facilities within, with the exception of our rustic cabins who use a central showerhouse. All of our cabins are heated and air conditioned and have electricity.
Our Outpost Camps offer a more rustic experience with access to a KYBO near the camp site area and use the Outpost Center for showers. Outpost sites do not have electricity, but have access to drinking water. Also located at each outpost area is a storm shelter.
In case of thunderstorm or heavy rain, all Wesley Woods program participants and campers move indoors. They will remain under cover until 30 minutes after the last roll of thunder and rain has diminished. If a tornado warning is raised for Warren County, all campers will take cover in one of the shelters on-site. All Wesley Woods Camp staff monitor weather via radar and forecasts throughout the day to ensure that they are prepared in case of inclement weather. Updates will be posted to social media during or after any severe weather situations.
Being in Iowa, the seasons present different conditions at Camp Wesley Woods. In spring, it’s always a good idea to pack a rain coat, boots and warm clothes for the possibility of cold mornings and evenings, for example. The best packing list to start with contains the following: pants or shorts depending on weather (long pants are required to ride horses, if that is part of your camp experience), shirts, a sweatshirt pullover for cooler weather, rainwear, shoes that you are comfortable getting dirty or wearing outdoors, toiletries, towels, swimsuit (during summer), bedding (camp does not provide blankets, sheets or pillows), water bottle, sunscreen and bug spray. In winter it’s important to remember clothing for cold temperatures and potential snow as well. Wesley Woods is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen items, so it’s not a great place to bring expensive or valuable items if they are not necessary.
Alcohol, tobacco and any other drug that is not a medication will not be permitted on Wesley Woods property, in accordance with the Iowa United Methodist Conference regulations. Additionally, personal weapons are not permitted on camp property, including guns and knives. Personal pets or animals are not allowed on camp without the consent of the Site Director. As a reminder, Wesley Woods is not responsible for any personal equipment that is broken, stolen or damaged. If you have any questions about something you’d like to bring to camp, be sure to call our camp office at (515) 961-4523 to learn more.
We encourage all camper parents and guardians to remember that part of the camp experience is fully immersing oneself into the program. For that reason, we do not recommend calling a camper, unless in case of emergency, while they are at camp. Instead writing letters or sending an email through our email service is a better alternative. If you’re concerned about your camper, please contact our camp office and we can look into it on site. If we feel it is a situation that is best resolved with a phone call, we will make that decision, but encourage all parents and guardians to remember that phone calls can sometimes have a more negative effect on a camp experience than intended.
At Camp Wesley Woods we aim for a staff to camper ratio of 1:6. All campers on-site through Camp Wesley Woods programs will be supervised by a staff who is certified in First Aid and CPR as well as trained in any program they lead. During Overnight Camp, at least one staff member will be in every cabin and no staff younger than 18 will be alone with campers.
If you would like for your camper to be in a cabin with a friend or relative during their week at camp, you will need to complete the Cabin Mate Request form on the Campwise Registration site.
We will easily accommodate any requests for campers within one year of age and attending the same session. Please reach out to [email protected] for help with larger age disparities.
Camp Wesley Woods strives to make camp affordable for all. Through the generous donations of community members and local businesses we are able to offer Financial Assistance to individuals and families at all income levels to make our programs accessible to all. For assistance with or questions regarding financial aid, contact the Camp Registrar at [email protected], 800-765-1651 (toll-free), or 515-974-8946.