Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost
Wellswood Park Summer Camp offers an affordable, traditional summer camp experience with a variety of activities.
▌ Editor's read Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, operating since 1929, is an ACA accredited overnight camp in North Carolina, with accreditation valid through 2025. The camp is owned by Lifeway Christian Resources, indicating a church-affiliated ownership. They explicitly state a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:5 and mention that all staff undergo background checks. The camp offers a wide array of activities including archery, climbing, watersports, and various team sports, emphasizing spiritual growth alongside physical activity. Google reviews for 'Ridgecrest Camps' show a strong rating of 4.9 stars from over 300 reviews, with many parents praising the positive impact on their sons' character and faith. The website provides detailed information on programs, staff, and safety protocols.
Who thrives here Ages 14–17
Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in overnight/sleepaway, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 97 (1929 years)
- Operator
- Faith-based organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 14–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 290 Yates Ave, Ridgecrest, NC 28770
- Phone: (813) 274-3345
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $80 for the entire summer (10 weeks)
Runs 24-hour residential, 4 sessions (0 one-week, 4 multi-week blocks), from Jun 7 to Jul 31.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 7 – 19, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,550
- Session 2 Jun 21 – Jul 3, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,550
- Session 3 Jul 5 – 17, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,550
- Session 4 Jul 19 – 31, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,550
↗ What parents like
- Very affordable
- Variety of activities
↘ Watch for
- Limited information on website
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost
- What ages does Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost accept?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost cost?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost publishes $8/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost's hours?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost accredited?
- Yes — Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 1929 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost is operated by a faith-based organization, with 1929 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost provide lunch?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- Does Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost offer extended care?
- Yes — Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost offers extended care alongside the main program day. Extended care is usually billed separately from the core session; ask whether single-day drop-in is allowed or if it requires a full-week commitment.
- How does Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Ridgecrest?
- Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost is one of 11 overnight/sleepaway camps in Ridgecrest that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Camp Ridgecrest - Highland Outpost.
- Camp Crestridge for Girls · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 7–16 · $1,775/week
- Camp Ridgecrest · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 6–17 · $1,775/week
- Camp Ridgecrest - Pisgah Trailblazers · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 14–17 · $100/week
- Camp Ridgecrest - Roan · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 13–14 · $250/week
- Camp Ridgecrest for Boys · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 7–16 · $1,775/week
- Camp Ridgecrest - Bluerock (In-Camp) · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 14–17 · $410/week
- FUGE Camps at Ridgecrest · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 12–18 · $439/week
- Camp Ridgecrest - Bear Paw · Ridgecrest, NC · Ages 6–8 · $1,775/week