FAQ
Horton Center is committed to being an Anti-Racist and Open and Affirming camp to better welcome everyone. We are intentional about building safe community for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+ folks, and for others who have historically been marginalized by our society.
Realizing that families have different abilities to pay, Horton Center has a voluntary three-tier fee program. Tier 1 reflects the actual cost of providing a week of Camp (with minimal fundraising). Tier 2 approaches the cost of camp, but is somewhat subsidized. Tier 3 is our historically subsidized range and does not reflect all costs of operating our summer camp programs and site. Please choose the tier that is most suitable for your family. We encourage you to choose Tier 1 if you can, which will help us assure that Horton Center is sustainable for future campers! Regardless of what tier is chosen, all campers receive the same great Horton Center experience. For families that cannot afford Tier 3, additional scholarships are available. For the scholarship application go to www.HortonCenter.org, or contact Tivvi at TPare@nhcucc.org, 603-545-9660.
Yes, for those families that cannot afford Tier 1 additional financial assistance is available. The deadline for scholarship applications is May 15. Please ask your pastor if additional support is available from your church. Scholarship applications are available online at www.hortoncenter.org or by contacting Tivvi at TPare@nhcucc.org , 603-545-9660. We at Horton Center don’t want any child or youth to miss coming to camp due to financial need, so please ask for an application if you need it.
The quickest and easiest way is on our website: www.hortoncenter.org. Just click “Register” and follow the prompts. A $100 deposit is required to secure your registration. The balance is due by June 10. A $25 fee will be charged to switch sessions. A few weeks before your session, you and your child will receive an emailed letter from your dean (deans are volunteer program leaders from UCC churches) with details about your session.
Please contact Karen Steelhammer at 207-724-3200 for an alternative registration process.
Health forms are required for everyone who participates in a Horton Center program, on-site or off. For youth, there are two mandatory health forms: Health Form #1 completed by a parent/guardian and Health Form #2 completed and signed by a doctor within one year of the camp’s start date. You can find both health forms on our website at www.hortoncenter.org.
Everyone is differently abled. In order for us to help your child have the best experience possible, the Directors and your dean need to be aware in advance of any physical, emotional, or behavioral needs a child may have. While we are not equipped to handle every differently abled camper, we will do our best to offer special support to as many children as we can. Please contact Executive Director Tivvi Pare TPare@nhcucc.org, 603-545-9660 before registration. All information shared with camp staff will be kept confidential. When registering, please include all specific, relevant information.
Each day and session is a little different at Horton Center. Most sessions follow a basic flow of wake up and breakfast, followed by contributions (chores) and morning chapel. Next comes Faith Discovery time with games and challenges. Then we all eat lunch and take a break afterwards called “siesta”. The afternoon is filled with two activity blocks, where campers choose from possibilities such as arts and crafts, hiking, caving, rock climbing, archery, swimming, silly and fun games, music, and more! Dinner is served, followed by evening chapel and an evening program. We end our day by singing together around the Peace Pole. Then it’s off to cabins for stories and sleep! Horton Center promotes the unplugged, in-person & present, community outdoor ministry experience.
One of Horton Center’s core purposes is to build community. For this reason, we arrange cabins in a way so that campers from different towns all across New Hampshire and beyond will get to know one another. We also recognize coming to camp for the first time can be full of uncertainty. Therefore, elementary (entering grades 3-6) and middler (entering grades 7-9) campers can request to be in the same cabin as one and only one friend on the registration form. The friend you request must also request you. Requesting bunkmates is not available for Senior High (entering 10-post grad) campers.
Check-in is Sunday, 2:00-4:00 p.m. unless you are notified differently in a dean’s letter. No earlier than 2:00 p.m., no later than 4:00 p.m., please. Pickup is Saturday at 9:00 a.m. from the cabin/building area. Transportation to and from Horton Center is the responsibility of the parents/guardians.
We want campers to have a fun, safe, meaningful week at Horton Center. Certain behaviors deemed inappropriate (including but not limited to: fighting, bullying, hitting, stealing, destruction of or intrusion into another’s property, threatening another, refusal to eat, sexual activity, or possession or use of a alcohol, illegal or misused drugs, or weapons) can result in the camper being sent home and their minister being notified.
