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Registration for the 2026 Season Opens December 15th, 2025
2026 Registration Changes
Please read carefully: There are some exciting changes and new session options based on the requests and feedback we’ve received from campers and families in recent years.
- Our one-week Kindling Sessions for 9-10 year olds at Catoctin and Shiloh will happen during the last two weeks of the camp season.
- At Opequon, we are also offering one-week sessions, but they will NOT be limited to the youngest campers. Campers of any age (9-14) who want a one-week option can register for our OATS Weeks A or B.
What’s OATS?
In a cheeky nod to the most famous Quaker in the United States, we are very excited to offer our new OATS Weeks at Opequon during our Third Session! OATS is Opequon Arts Third Session. This is a way for campers of all ages to:
- come to Opequon for a one-week Session OR a two-week Session
- focus on the magic of Workshops and Arts at Opequon; Each week will have a three-day workshop block
- there will be no required trips during OATS sessions
- enjoy a week in the woods of Rolling Ridge singing, making new art and new friends!
For Returning Opequon Campers
What’s staying the same?
- Sessions 1 and 2 will be the same: a week of CIs and a week of workshops
What’s changing?
- During OATS Third Session, Opequon will have workshops each week, and no mandatory trips. Instead, a “trip workshop” will be offered as part of a workshop block….and only campers who pick it as one of their choices will go!
If you have any questions about the summer calendar, deposits, tuition, or financial aid, please do not hesitate to contact us.
2026 Summer Camp Dates
- Catoctin
Session One:
June 27 – July 11Session Two:
July 12 – July 25Session Three:
July 26 – August 9Kindling Session A:
July 26 – August 1Kindling Session B:
August 2 – August 9
- Shiloh
Session One:
June 27 – July 11Session Two:
July 12 – July 25Session Three:
July 26 – August 9Kindling Session A:
July 26 – August 2Kindling Session B:
August 2 – August 9
- Opequon
Session One:
June 27 – July 11Session Two:
July 12 – July 25Session Three OATS:
July 26 – August 9 (two weeks)OATS Week A:
July 26 – August 2 (one week)OATS Week B:
August 2 – August 9 (one week)
*Kindling Sessions are offered for 9 or 10 year old campers at Catoctin and Shiloh. They’re very much still full blown overnight camp programs, geared toward letting your family see if our programs are the right fit for your camper. Campers 11 years or older are not eligible for Kindling Sessions.
- Teen Adventure (Year 1) &
TA Leadership Training (Year 2) Main Session:
June 27 – July 19
Recruitment Discount
Any family who recruits a new camper to Shiloh, Opequon or Teen Adventure will receive a $200 tuition discount off of their own tuition. To get this discount, have your new camp family fill out this referral form. This discount will be applied to your account after the new family registers and pays for camp.
Deposits, Cancellations, & Refund Policies
Before May 15: $250 deposit is required upon registration.
After May 15: full tuition is required upon registration.
- Deposits are non-refundable, unless you are requesting reduced tuition through the Sliding Scale or other means.
- Unpaid balances for any and all family members must be reconciled in order for a camper to be registered.
- No tuition reduction will be made for a late arrival or an early departure.
- Payment can be made by credit card through our online registration system, or by check through the mail.
Registration cancellations made before April 1 are eligible for a tuition refund, except for the non-refundable deposit.
Families are responsible for the full amount of tuition if a cancellation is made after April 1, except in cases of severe illness, injury, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstance.
- Families who request reduced tuition through the Sliding Scale have two weeks from confirmation of their rate to accept and confirm registration, or to withdraw their registration and receive a refund of the deposit.
- There will be no refund if a camper is asked to leave during the session for an infraction of a camp rule, for disruptive behavior, or if a camper is voluntarily withdrawn.
Sliding Scale FAQ
Why did you make this change to the sliding scale?
Last year we tried incorporating donations into our sliding scale in a new way. Ultimately, we received feedback that it was overly complex; this led to many errors and complications in terms of both peoples’ experience with registration, with our understanding our ability to analyze our own data, and with our ability to accurately budget.
This year, we have renamed the “Supporter” Level the “Stewardship Level” to convey that paying at this level guarantees both support for campers lower on the scale and the ability to sustain our camping program and properties into the future. We have also added a new level “Scholarship” to better clarify and keep track of who is being supported by which funds.
What should I pay?
We ask that each family will use our community’s core values of Integrity, Community, Equity, and Stewardship when they choose how much to pay. Our trust in our families enables us to accept camp registrations and sliding scale decisions on the honor system, as we work together to make camp possible for everyone. We know that overnight camp is expensive, but we think it is worth it, and we want it to be an experience that’s accessible for as many campers and families as possible.
Please use our “How Much Should You Pay?” guide to help decide which bracket is a good fit for your family. Keep in mind that we offer convenient interest-free payment plans as well. We also ask that returning families pay the same or more as previous years, unless you have a significant change in circumstances. If you need further guidance, please contact us via phone or email (info@bym-rsf.org). We are happy to help you think through the Silding Scale.
Are spaces in the Supported Levels limited?
Spaces for campers paying less than the Operating Cost Rate ($1395 per week) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If spaces are no longer available in the bracket you’ve chosen, your camper will be placed on a wait list. Families paying at the Stewardship Level will expand our ability to register families paying less than the Operating Cost Rate, and we will create additional spaces in Supported Level I and Supported Level II. Thanks to the generosity of our families and our community, we’ve historically been able to make sure no-one is turned away for financial reasons.
What if I pay more than the “Operating Cost” rate?
Tuition paid above the “Operating Cost” rate of $1395 per week will be officially documented as a non-refundable tax deductible donation to the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camping Program. We track these donations to offset campers paying less than the Operating Cost. You will receive a receipt with your registration confirmation email to use for tax purposes. Around 30% of families are able to contribute more than the Operating Cost rate, which allows us to extend our scholarship budget to support more families with greater financial needs.
What is the new “Scholarship Level”?
The “Scholarship Level” is a new addition to the Sliding Scale. Folks that pay at this rate receive funding that is NOT covered by the Sliding Scale. This funding is paid for by the Barry Morley Scholarship Fund. We created this so we could better understand how well our Sliding Scale is working. These spots are limited and are available first-come, first-serve. In some instances, you may be wait-listed or given a spot in a camp session that was not your first preference.
Why do you have a sliding scale?
Around 40% of campers at BYM Camps pay less than the Operating Cost of camp. But some families are able to help others come to camp. Because we have a commitment to building diversity in all respects, it is our hope to build a tuition model for our program that helps us live our values. Some families just need a little assistance to make camp feasible, while others require full scholarships. BYM Camps does its best to work with Quaker Meetings and individual families to register youth who are in foster care, youth who are refugees or New Americans, youth from historically marginalized communities, and other kids who may have less access to summer camp. This is still an experiment, and it remains imperfect, but we are committed to trying to make it work.
How do you use my tuition dollars?
We’re so glad you asked! The majority of tuition dollars are for the salaries and benefits of our staff. The second largest line item is upkeep for our four camp properties, including the land, and the buildings and equipment that are on the land. The third largest item is food and food service, and the fourth is supplies and equipment for our programs. More years than not, BYM Camps does not make a profit. When it does, all money is spent on property upkeep and future needs.
Will what I pay impact my child’s camp experience?
No. Tuition amounts are confidential and will not impact your child’s experience.
I can’t pay the minimum amount. What are my options?
Please give us a call or email. If there are adequate funds available, we will do our best to get your child to camp! Keep in mind that we offer interest-free payment plans.
Are there other ways to get help paying for camp?
Many churches, Quaker meetings, schools, community groups, and clubs offer scholarships for campers. Often school guidance counselors can give advice about where to find other help paying for camp. BYM Camps is happy to work with social service agencies to make camp a possibility.
Is there still a Sliding Scale Family Worksheet?
No, but we trust that families will use our community’s core values of Integrity, Community, Equity, and Stewardship when they choose how much to pay. We will follow up with a family if we have any questions about their registration.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes! After selecting your tuition level and completing the other parts of the registration process, you will be able to select among several different payment schedules, including “Pay in Full” or “Monthly Payment Plan”. All balances must be fully paid by May 15th, unless a Payment Plan has been made with the Program Manager, Zora Tucker or the Program Associate, Randy Mattern
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