Christian Berets Summer Camp

Christian Berets Summer Camps offers a variety of activities including archery, ping-pong, basketball on a Sport Court with adjustable hoops, horseshoes, water games, whiffle ball, foosball, volleyball, frisbee toss, shuffle board, hiking, nature hikes, and picnics. Campers take part in roasting marshmallows and singing around the campfire, putt putt golf, go-cart rides, puppets, role playing with costumes, skits, crafts, drawing, painting, and chalk talks. The program also includes camp visits by forest rangers, fire trucks, and therapy dogs, occasional hot air balloon rides, photo opportunities sitting on motorcycles, and lively chapels.

• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: 5-day, 4-night summer camp sessions with multiple week-long options
• Price: $1,400 for High Functioning Campers; $1,700 for High Needs Campers

Campers attend 5 days and 4 nights during each session, with 2026 sessions scheduled as follows: Session 1 (June 8–12), Session 2 (June 15–19), Session 3 (June 22–26), Session 4 (July 6–10), Session 5 Youth/Young Adult Week for ages 10–20 (July 13–17), and Session 6 (July 20–24). Transportation is included in the pricing and is provided by charter bus (Storer Transport) from a bus stop in Modesto at Life Connection Church on Mondays, returning on Fridays. High Needs campers receive a 1:1 camper-to-counselor ratio for 24-hour care, and the facility is described as fully functional and ADA compliant, with Meadowview Lodge and Wirth Lodge providing a total of 90 beds.

Christian Berets, Inc. was founded in 1970, with the camp in Long Barn ready for guests in June 1973, and later developments including Meadowview Lodge dedicated in May 1996 and Wirth Lodge completed and dedicated in May 2000. The facility was renamed Whispering Pines Conference and Retreat Center in 2007 and renamed back to Christian Berets Conference and Retreat Center in 2012. Christian Berets is a non-denominational, non-profit ministry for people with special needs and is described as a Special Needs Camps and Group Retreat Center. The mission statement says that, motivated by compassion and love, Christian Berets reaches out and cares for those with special needs and their families by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through camping, retreats, and a variety of activities.

Medical staff are on site at all camp sessions to distribute medications and attend to medical needs. For 2026, there is a required Christian Berets Medical Form, and camper medical evaluations must be performed in 2026 by the camper’s current physician to register, with parents or caregivers responsible for reporting any medical or health changes between registration and camp attendance. High Functioning and High Needs camper categories have defined care levels, and partial scholarships are possible for campers not receiving funding from a regional center. Christian Berets is a member of the American Camp Association.

The leadership team includes Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin VanDonselaar and Board President Mark Burns, with a 2026 Board of Directors consisting of Michelle Mott (Vice-Chairperson), Wayne Mott (Secretary), Kelly Luth (Treasurer), Brian Balsbaugh, Rich Brown, Russell Crooker, Tom Crooker, Carletta Evans Steele, and James “Woody” Woodhead. On-site Camp Facility Hosts are Dan and Lisa Sedlmeyer, and the Camp Chef is Casey Paulino. Christian Berets is a non-profit, donor-supported organization whose outreach is connected with volunteers and a Circle of Influence that includes the Greater Modesto Area and the counties of Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Fresno, Sacramento, Tuolumne, and beyond.

Last updated June 20, 2026.