Pittsburgh Christian Hockey Camp
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who can attend?

Male and female players ages 6 to 14. In general, the players should have competitive hockey experience. That means they should have played at least one year on an organized hockey team, or spent at least one year in a hockey development program.

Q. Does my player have to spend the night?

No. If your player is an overnight camper, he may sleep at home. You should plan to pick him up each evening at around 9 pm. There is no change in price.

If your camper is a day camper who does not want to spend the one overnight, you should plan on picking him up that evening around 9 pm.

Please ensure that you inform the registrar at registration, and on the day that your player will be an exception of your plan, and that you sign that player out of the camp before leaving!

Q. What if my player wants to leave for a 3 on 3 game, tournament baseball game, orthodontic appointment, or just a night at home? (etc, etc. etc.!).

We do not encourage absences from the camp, but we understand that sometimes they are unavoidable. Tell the Registrar at registration on the first day – and again on the day of the exception – and ensure that you sign your player out before they leave! Also, let us know well in advance if you need the player’s equipment!

Q. Who will dress my Mite?

We have many, many adult volunteers who dress Mites and tie skates (through Squirt – and on occasion for a peewee). Don’t worry about your child once he is dropped off, we take care of him (or her)!

Q. What time to I need to drop off and pick up?

For Day Campers, drop off is every morning at the rink between 7 and 7:15 am. Pick up is between 5:30 and 6 pm at the camp.

For Overnight Campers, Sunday afternoon has traditionally started around 4:00 pm. But please watch the registration materials we send you to see the exact time for this year.

Day campers have traditionally be required to be at the rink by 7 am on Monday, to ensure their registration process flows smoothly in time for the first ice session (8 am). Again, read the registration materials we send you carefully to see the exact starting time for this year’s camp.

On Friday, we have a closing ceremony at a local church for campers and their families.  The ceremony begins at 6 pm and lasts about 45 minutes.  It is usually followed by a complimentary buffet dinner.

Q. Are female campers welcome? How are they incorporated into the structure?

Absolutely! Female campers are more than welcome. We have had several to date.

On ice, we provide separate locker rooms. They skate with boys of their own age level and participate fully in the boy’s curriculum. Off ice, they are assigned to an off ice group that is mostly boys (though where we have more than one girl, we group them together). We also assign a female counselor or junior counselor to any groups with girls. For overnight girl campers, separate accommodations are provided. We usually have the overnight nurse or another female adult in these accommodations as well.

Q. What is the location of the camp?

The camp is located in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. Warrendale is about 20 minutes north of Pittsburgh. The ice time will be at the Warrendale Bladerunners Ice Complex. The remainder of the activities will take place at the Family Retreat Center, a 260 acre camp 1 to 2 miles from the rink, with cabins, hiking trails, athletic fields, a lake, food services, etc. A school bus will transport the campers between the rink and the camp. See http://www.familyresourcesofpa.org/family retreat center3.html for more detail on the Family Retreat Center.

Q. What if my camper has never played paintball?

Many of our campers have not played paintball prior to camp. The facility we use, Three Rivers Paintball, provides full equipment, instruction and game control. Teams are divided in a way that new players are not marginalized or disadvantaged. Being hit by a paintball feels like a quick sting. On occasion, a player may experience a small swollen spot, similar to a mosquito bite. Appropriate clothing (old shirts and jeans with long sleeves and legs) makes the game more enjoyable for the new player.