TNT Discipleship Program

Drop off and pick up for TNT happens at RVR's "Buffalo Lodge" building. Follow signs for TNT check-in each Sunday when you drop off your child. Do NOT follow signs for Frontier Town check-in.

The initial Sunday check-in begins at 1:30PM, then check-in for weeks two and three will take place at 4 PM for Dining and Kitchen crews, and 7PM for Store-keeping and Field Crews.

Pick-up will be from 3-3:30pm every Friday. TNT members must sign-out with their Crew Chief and pick up any medications needed for the weekend from the nurse before leaving. Parents, you may not even need to leave your car for pickup!

Schedules vary by crew, and some crews work in shifts. In general, though, crews will work throughout the day time (stopping for meals) then in the evenings will enjoy fun and engaging activities, games, or services together, so the program is blend of work and play.

Dining Crew arrives about an hour before and finish about 30 minutes after each meal. They may have either free time or crew devotional times between meals.

Kitchen Crew arrives 15 minutes before and finish about an hour and a half after each meal. They may have either free time or crew devotional times between meals.

Field Crew has a crew devotion time after breakfast, then work between meals.

Store/Housekeeping Crew cleans the camp stores, dorms, and public spaces in the mornings, has a crew devotion time, then works in shifts during the afternoon store/snowball stand hours and evening camper free times.

A key to a successful camp experience for your TNTer is to make sure they come to camp prepared. Please be sure to read our summer camp packing list, which includes an overview of our dress code as well.

One additional note for Field Crew: a folding pocket knife or multitool may be permitted for work purposes only but MUST meet Maryland State guidelines for folding knives.

Since camp closes each week from Friday night through Sunday afternoon to give our staff time off we do not allow those in the TNT program to stay on property unsupervised during that time. If you live far from RVR and the weekly travel to pick up and drop off your child is a concern, one option would be to see if you have any trusted friends or family that live closer to RVR whom you could authorize to pick up your child, or whom they could stay with on weekends. Some families even take turns carpooling and driving each others kids to and from RVR each week to share the travel time!

Participation in multiple sessions hinges on availability. We start by only offering one session to each selected applicant, but may later offer a position for another session to those who are a good fit and are interested in staying longer if the need is there.

Our Health Services staff will collect and dispense the medications your child brings to camp as directed. It is very important that you follow these basic healthcare guidelines:

• Be sure to bring your childs completed Medication Administration Authorization form to camp check-in.
• Please send all medication in the pharmacy labeled bottles. DO NOT USE DAILY PILL BOXES. Be sure there is only enough medication for the week your child is at camp. All prescription and over the counter medications must have a Medication Authorization form filled out by your doctor.
• Scheduled medication administration times are typically after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and before bed, unless a different specific time is required.
• All medications must be turned into the nurse with the exception of fast-acting inhalers and epi-pens
• You must have a written physician order attached for the nurses to give injectable medications. This includes insulins (with sliding scale dosing if used) and growth hormone replacements.
• Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Benadryl are supplied by the health center. Please do not send extras to camp. We do not stock aspirin or aspirin containing products.

1. Severe Homesickness - If your child becomes homesick, we will do our best to try and keep them at camp. Most cases of homesickness pass within a day or two. However, if they become unduly homesick, we will contact you. We encourage you to remain enthusiastic about your child being at camp, even if we have to call you. Most children can remain at camp and have a great time with proper support from their parents.
2. Health Reasons - If your child becomes injured or has an extended time of illness you will be contacted as soon as possible.
3. Inappropriate Behavior - Each year a few campers become so disruptive to the camping program that we have to ask their parents to come and pick them up early. Please inform your child that even though they are going on vacation this does not mean they are taking a vacation from appropriate behavior. IMPORTANT- If your child is sent home early for Inappropriate Behavior, they may not be allowed to attend camp again. In addition, if they are signed up for another week later in the summer, you will lose the non-refundable deposit for that week as well. Please inform them of this before they come.

Yes. We reserve the right to search campers’ belongings for signs of pests (including, but not limited to, lice and bed bugs), as well as illegal substances, weapons, or any other items that are not permitted at camp. These searches may be conducted at our discretion for the safety of all participants & staff. These searches may be preventive, and done at check-in; or they may be done during the campers’ stay if a safety concern should arise. We reserve the right to take action to protect our campers & staff; these measures may include sending the camper home, asking the parents to remove infested luggage & other property, or confiscating any banned items.

We also utilize security cameras throughout our campus and cover many safety topics throughout our staff training measures.

If some of the items you packed for your child have taken a hike please fill out our Summer Lost & Found form, or call us at 443-712-1010 and let us know what you have lost. We will do our best to find the item, at which time you may come and pick it up, but please know that our policy is to donate unclaimed items to charity after two weeks.

Campers will be checked for head lice at check-in, prior to admission to camp. We do not follow public school policy for return once nits/lice are discovered.  We strictly adhere to a "no nit" policy.  If live head lice or nits are found on a participant's head, the parent/guardian will be notified immediately and the participant must leave camp for treatment at home, or by a professional head lice removal company. This is for the safety and consideration of all campers and staff at River Valley Ranch.  If nits or live lice are discovered on participant’s head:

• The participant may return to camp 24 hours following the treatment (immediate post-treatment return with proof of treatment by professional), provided camp staff does not find any nits remaining in the hair. If lice or nits are found again by our staff, the camper may not be permitted to attend camp.
• All clothing, bedding and personal items must be properly treated before returning to camp. Refer to the CDC website for further information regarding head lice and its treatment.

Please Note: The best way to avoid this scenario is to check your child's head carefully 2-3 days prior to camp and treat if needed. We appreciate your cooperation in dealing with this sometimes difficult and frustrating issue. 

How do I check for lice or nits?

Here are 2 video demonstrations showing proper technique for checking for head lice:

• https://bit.ly/CheckLice1
• https://bit.ly/CheckLice2

*New for 2019*  RVR has partnered with MD Lice Control, a professional lice removal company.  MD Lice Control is offering a discount to RVR patrons for PRE-CAMP HEAD CHECKS!  You may call or text their hotline to schedule an appointment or with questions:  410-487-2899 or visit https://mdlice.com/ for more information.  The MD Lice Control Salon is located at 2065 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093 (use side entrance).

Mention that you are a patron of RVR and you will receive a pre-camp head check for $10/camper. (Regular price is $25 for long hair & $15 for short hair). IMPORTANT: Be sure medium and long hair is completely tangle-free before visiting MD Lice Control Salon.  Tangly/knotted hair may result in additional charge.

What do nits and lice look like?

Here are 2 videos that show what live lice and nits look like on a child’s head.

• https://bit.ly/LiveLice1
• https://bit.ly/LiveLice2

What should I do if I find nits or lice?

Your child should be treated to remove the lice and nits. Here are some options:

1. Call a head lice removal company.  Try mdlice.com as mentioned above (offers in-home treatment or you may visit their salon) OR licehappens.com
2. Get an OTC product from the drug store such as NIX, RID, or Sklice (order online) and follow the instructions carefully. (Combing every nit out is key to prevent re-infestation) 
3. Check out this video for an all natural at home option. Be sure to use a good nit comb such as this one from Amazon!
4. Also it is important to wash and heat dry any used clothing items and bedding, as well as sanitize brushes, combs, & hair accessories. Any toys or items that cannot be washed can be placed in a bag for 2 weeks.

REMEMBER: RVR has a NO NIT policy.  Campers who arrive at RVR with an active case of head lice will need to be properly treated before admission.

The safety of our campers and staff is our number one priority. Therefore, RVR reserves the right to dismiss campers immediately for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to the following:

• Threats of harm, or causing harm, to self or others
• Possession of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or vape products
• Weapons of any kind
• Sexual harassment
• Theft
• Property damage
• Fraternization
• Bullying
• Curfew violation
• Infractions of camp policies

If a camper is dismissed for inappropriate behavior, they may not be allowed to attend camp again. We will not issue refunds or prorate camp fees for campers who are dismissed for behavior violations. If RVR determines that the dismissed camper may not attend future weeks of camp for which they’re already registered, the non-refundable deposits will be forfeited.

In order to have the best week possible, we ask campers to commit to these Community Guidelines:  

1. Respect Others: I commit to respecting all campers and staff at RVR. 
   • I will do my part to create a wholesome environment. 
   • I will refrain from bullying speech and actions. 
   • I will refrain from any inappropriate or unwanted touching of others and their belongings. 
   • I will choose kindness, togetherness, and an open mind towards others. 
2. Respect RVR: I commit to respecting RVR’s property and program. 
   • I will follow camp guidelines and procedures. 
   • I will refrain from damaging property and equipment. 
   • I will clean up after myself and leave areas better than how I found them. 
3. Respect Yourself: I commit to respecting myself by making the most of this week. 
   • I will let a staff member know if I feel sick, scared, or need help with something. 
   • I will let a staff member know if there are issues with other campers or camp staff.  
   • I will embrace challenges and try new things to the best of my ability.

At RVR we believe in the value of disconnecting from technology. Because of this, we do not allow TNT to have possession of any electronics during the week. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving them at home, the crew leaders will collect and store all devices between check-in and pick-up. If your child has a specific need for their device (i.e. Medical monitoring devices), please talk to their Director when you arrive to discuss options.

Yes! You are certainly encouraged to write letters to your child in the TNT program, which are delivered every day during lunch. We also have an email service available through your online account for a small fee. You can always call our main office as well if you need to reach out to your TNT child more directly or immediately. See our contact page for more info.

Please see our camp FAQ page for a more complete answers under "How's the Food?" and "What are the limitations of the food menu", but essentially we are happy to discuss any necessary dietary concerns you may have!

For our camp programs, we welcome any camper regardless of their gender identity. Our staff is trained to share the love of Jesus with all campers and provide a safe space for them. In order to create this environment,  we have some guidelines that need to be respected in order for gender issues to not become a disruption at camp. We want to share these with you in advance, so that parents, along with their children, can make an informed decision about whether or not RVR is the right fit.  If your child identifies as LGBTQ, please discuss these guidelines with them prior to registering them for camp, to make sure they can feel comfortable in this setting.

1. Any camper identifying as LGBTQ must not use their camp experience as an opportunity to try and force other campers to accept their viewpoint on gender identity. If the expression of their gender becomes disruptive, we may decide to remove the camper, for the benefit of the camper and the other campers in the cabin.
2. Conversely, if any camper harasses or makes a significant issue with a camper who is identifying as LGBTQ, he/she may be asked to leave (Note: this would also be true for a camper who is harassing another camper for any reason).
3. For those identifying as transgender, they will be housed with their biological birth gender.  Our staff will use biological gender pronouns consistent with the housing in which the camper is staying or simply use their name. Transgender campers may request other campers use their preferred pronouns, but may not make an issue if another camper or staffer prefers not to use it.  A camper who is uncomfortable using the preferred pronoun may also simply use the transgender camper's name. If any camper anticipates this being a problem, it may be better to refrain from coming to camp. 

If you have further questions, please contact our office.