Frequently asked Questions
If you don’t see your question and answer here, just contact us and ask!
Why is it called Summer's Best Two Weeks?
Summer's Best Two Weeks is a long-standing camp program that originated in Pennsylvania and still operates there as a resident camp, serving over 3000 campers each summer (see their site for more). The program has spread to a number of different churches that run two-week day camps. Resurrection and Crosswater Presbyterian ran one-week versions of this camp in 2018 and 2019, and then in 2021, Resurrection began running the full two-week camp, as well as continuing to offer one-week camps in various locations, and the camp has continued to expand to more locations since then.
Why are some camps called ME3?
The one-week camps are designated ME3 to distinguish them from the two-week SB2W camps. The ME3 name comes from the long-time camp motto I’m Third (God First, Others Second, I’m Third) and counselors and staff strive to embody this motto and communicate it to campers through their words and actions.
What is the point of camp?
The primary goal at camp is to teach that I’m Third motto and bring it to life in all our campers. The primary activity at camp is sports. We seek to introduce campers to a wide variety of sports, develop basic skills, and then push them to achieve levels of accomplishment in each sport. Through these sports, we teach campers to live out the I’m Third motto and also teach lessons from the Bible about competition: how to win and lose, succeed and fail in a way that is honoring to God and respecting of others.
What is the difference between one and two-week camps?
Both one-week (ME3) and two-week (SB2W) camps have the same point and many of the same activities described below. Two-week camps give campers and counselors time to develop relationships and connect more deeply than in a one-week camp. Two weeks also allow more time to develop skills and make tangible progress in the various sports and activities, as well as mix in a variety of special activities like an optional overnight camping trip, track meet, and swim meet. Especially for campers who return year after year, camp becomes a truly life-changing experience.
What are the hours of camp?
Day Camp (ages 8-13, rising 3rd-8th) and Junior Camp (ages 5-7, rising K-2nd) run each day from 9 AM to 4 PM. Half Camp (ages 5-7, rising K-2nd) runs each day from 9 AM to 12 PM. Please plan to drop off between 8:45 and 9:00, so that we can start the day right at 9:00.
What is the difference between Day Camp and Junior Camp?
While Day Camp and Junior Camp follow the same principles and include many of the same activities, the program details are slightly different.
Junior Camp is focused on a basic introduction to the various sports, activities, and Bible lessons with an emphasis on fun, exploration, and relationship-building.
Day Camp maintains the emphasis on fun, exploration, and relationship-building, but adds in the challenge of specific skill development goals in each activity and the aspect of intense and Godly team competition. At two-week SB2W camps, Day campers swim most camp days and also have the opportunity to participate in an overnight camping trip, track meet, and swim meet.
Generally, younger campers (ages 5-7, rising K-2nd grade) should participate in Junior Camp and older campers (ages 8-13, rising 3rd-8th grade) should participate in Day Camp. However, since each child is different, there is some flexibility around the boundaries. On the registration form, you can select which camp you are registering for, but please feel free to contact us if you want to discuss the specific needs of your child and which program will be best.
In addition, younger campers can register for Half Camp. Half Campers follow the regular Junior Camp program, but end at noon, which is often better for many younger campers as the full camp day can be quite tiring. We make sure that Junior Camp squads rotate through all the core activities in the mornings, so Half Campers don’t miss out on anything.
While there is that option for younger campers, there is not really any half-day option for older campers. Campers who are a "youngish 8" can participate in Half Camp if they would like, but the general Day Camp program does not work well with leaving at noon and would leave most campers feeling frustrated and disappointed. If you have a special situation that makes half-day Day Camp seem like the best option, please do contact us and we’ll figure out what would be best.
How much does camp cost?
Tuition is $150/week or $75/week for Half Camp. The two-week SB2W camps are unified two-week experiences, so their cost is $300/$150 and for SB2W Red Mill, a rec center membership is required ($25 if you don’t already have one).
A deposit of $50/family (counts toward your total tuition) reserves your spot, with the balance due by June 1st. Scholarships are available for those with financial need, so please don't let money be a burden that keeps you from camp! Contact us if you need a scholarship. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund to help more families participate in camp, you can make a designated tax-deductible contribution to Resurrection Community Church along with your own tuition payment. The $50 deposit is refundable until May 1st and any other tuition payments are refundable if camper registration is withdrawn before June 1st. After June 1st, tuition will only be refunded if the spot can be filled with another camper.
Who are the counselors?
The counselors are college and high school students selected for their Christian faith, love for kids, responsibility, and maturity. College-age senior counselors work the whole circuit of camps and often travel to the Tidewater area specifically to work at camp. High school age junior counselors typically come from the host church of each individual site and just work that one location. All counselors are screened and trained by the overall camp leadership and the leadership of each indvidual church.
What does the camp day look like?
Each day is a highly structured mix of team competition and individual skill development in a variety of sports and activities, generally including football, basketball, soccer, hockey, ultimate Frisbee, kickball, wrestling, tumbling, crafts, trampoline, and (at two-week SB2W camps) swimming. There may be slight variations in activities from camp to camp. Each day also includes lunch (brought from home) and a Bible lesson focused on some aspect of what it means to live and compete in a way that honors God.
What's the difference between squads and teams?
The camp is fundamentally organized by "squads". These squads are made up of 5-10 campers of the same age and gender (some junior camp squads may be mixed boys/girls) with their own counselors for the whole of the camp. The squad moves together through each day's schedule of activities, Bible, lunch, etc.
In addition to their squad, each camper is assigned to a "team", either Romans (red) or Galatians (blue). This team assignment is made for life and is consistent across any SB2W camp that a child attends. Once a Roman, always a Roman. All siblings are also assigned to the same team. In competition time and in the meets, Day Campers compete Romans vs. Galatians and the lifelong assignment of these teams develop a great sense of team loyalty and camaraderie.
Can I sign up for just one week of a tw0-week SB2w CAmp?
Not really. The full SB2W is designed as a unified two-week program and campers who only participate in one week will often feel a little lost if they come in late or that they are missing out if they have to leave early. Fair and consistent team competition also depends on the same campers being there for both weeks. However, the one-week ME3 camps are a great option for just one week!
What is Resurrection Community Church?
Resurrection Community is a new church community in southern Virginia Beach, freed by God to love him and love others. Our mission is to connect the people of southern Virginia Beach to God and each other through His word, person to person, neighborhood by neighborhood. Resurrection Community Church began weekly Sunday worship in September 2019, but had been forming as a community for two years before that, under the name Princess Anne Mission.
What other churches are involved?
Crosswater Presbyterian helped start the program in 2018 and has continued to host a ME3 camp in Western Branch each year. In 2021, Grace Chesapeake (Great Bridge) began, followed by New Covenant (Kempsville) and Eastminster (Indian River) in 2022. In 2023, Westminster (Suffolk), Trinity (Ghent), Grace Covenant (Williamsburg), and Liberty Fellowship (Portsmouth) all joined the SB2W circuit. In 2024, Calvary (Newtown) and Shore (Shore) will host their first camps. Most (but not all) of these churches are part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and work together to share God’s love and truth throughout the Tidewater area.
More questions?
REady to register?
Return to SB2W Camper Registration page!