REGISTRATION TIPS & FAQS
Registration is OPEN – woohoo! Here are a few of our best tips along with answers to some of our frequently asked questions. We love talking about camp – so don’t hesitate to email us at info@spiritinthepinescamp.org with all of your other questions.
SCHEDULE CHANGES 🗯️
We know this time of year is busy and summer plans are still taking shape. While Nov–Dec registration is standard for Minnesota camps, we make schedule changes as easy as possible later on! Last season we were able to accommodate 92% of session switch requests and waitlisted campers. All session openings will be posted on our website and updated weekly.
FRIEND GROUPS 🤩
We love helping friends attend camp together! We work hard each summer to place kids in the same weeks and cabins whenever possible, including LITs and CITs/Counselors. Very large friend groups may be split into two adjacent cabins. You’re welcome to list as many friends as you’d like—just put them in order of priority.
FULL WEEK & HALF WEEK FRIENDS 🧑🤝🧑
Many of our camp weeks have both full and partial week sessions. We often get asked if kids who are either leaving Wednesday or arriving Wednesday can be placed with friends who are up at camp the full week. The answer to this question is YES! Half week campers can be placed in full week cabins. For example, in a cabin that sleeps 12 campers, we might have 10 full week campers and 2 campers who are departing on Wednesday. When those 2 beds open up, sometimes kids who are arriving on Wednesday will get placed there if they have friends in that cabin.
When friend requests don’t overlap sessions, we always endeavor to make the whole cabin be either full week or half week so that everyone arrives and departs together.
Please note that while a handful of half week campers can be placed in full week cabins, we do not recommend the opposite. We do not recommend asking for a single full week camper to be placed with alot of friends that are in a half week cabin. In this case, we recommend that the full friend group attend the half week session together.
SIBLINGS AT CAMP 💛
We get lots of siblings attending camp during the same week, and we know you’ll have questions! Here is a blog post about multi-session weeks that describes how Camp Aspire and Camp Adventure interact when both sessions are running concurrently.
CAMP GRADE RANGES 🏫
If your camper wants to attend a session with a friend or sibling who falls one grade outside the posted limits, please email us because we are able to accomodate this.
CAMP RATES 💵
Last summer we welcomed nearly 1,500 people through youth camps, family camps, and retreats! We continue to keep costs below the statewide average, and everyone is welcome to use our optional 10% reduction off the true cost of our expenses. This is made possible through donations and off-season bookings. Paying with a debit card or checking account can lower costs even more. Additional scholarship requests can be made before or after registering for camp.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS 🔄
You can review our Cancellation & Refund Policies for 2026 here. We are happy to help campers switch sessions anytime, transferring all deposits and fees as long as space allows.
SUMMER STAFF 🏕️
Each summer we hire 15–18 amazing young adults to live and work at camp. This team forms a close, energetic, and hardworking community, and we strive to support them well while helping them grow in their unique career goals. We hire both new and returning staff. The application goes live on Dec. 12th, and interviews will take place in mid-January. Click here to learn more about joining our staff!
WELCOME TO CAMP EVENTS 🎉
Our Spirit in the Pines counselors volunteer at events for kids all year long—a great way for new or younger campers to meet counselors and build supportive relationships before summer even begins. Email Shawna Berg for more information.
- Parent’s Nights Out: 11/7, 1/9, 2/6, 3/6 (5-8PM)
- Serve and Play Release Days: 11/7, 2/27, 5/8 (8:30-12:30PM or 12:30-4:30PM)
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