High School

June 7-12 — 9-12 Grades

High School at Bond isn’t just bigger games and later bedtimes. It’s a week designed for students who are asking real questions about faith, identity, relationships, and purpose.

This summer’s theme — CRAVE — invites students to examine what they’re really chasing and discover the only One who truly satisfies. Through worship, teaching, discussion, and unforgettable moments by the lake, students are challenged to own their faith and live it boldly.

This isn’t babysitting... This is discipleship!

What Goes on at High School

Morning: Starting the Day Out

Morning Flag Raising & Prayer

Each day begins with flag raising and a quiet time designed specifically for high school students. Messages are practical, honest, and rooted in Scripture — calling students to move beyond surface-level faith and respond personally to Jesus.

This is where truth is proclaimed.
This is where hearts begin to soften.

Breakfast & Camp Cleanup

Campers enjoy a hearty breakfast together to fuel up for the day ahead. Campers take a short amount of time to tidy cabins and shared spaces. This helps build responsibility and care for the camp community.

Mid-Morning: Growing in Faith & Connection

Family/Group Time

After Breakfast, campers gather in family groups with trained adult leaders for real conversations. No lectures. No pretending. Just space to process what they’re learning, ask hard questions, and apply truth to real life.

At Bond we believe that faith grows best in circles, not rows.

Growing in your Faith

Each morning throughout the week, campers may participate in short classes, Bible-based activities, or group discussions that reinforce the devotional theme and help campers build healthy faith-filled friendships.

Afternoon: Learning, Play & Rest

Lunch

A shared meal gives campers time to relax, laugh, and connect with friends and counselors

Afternoon Classes or Activities

Campers rotate through scheduled activities that may include hands-on learning, creative classes, or skill-based sessions.

Free Time/Recreation/Swim Time

Afternoons also include plenty of time for fun—organized games, open recreation, swimming, and rest. Campers are always supervised during all activities.

Evening: Community & Worship

Dinner

Campers gather again as a camp family to enjoy dinner and reflect on the day.

Evening Worship & Speaker

Each evening includes a worship service with music and a speaker who shares a message designed to encourage, challenge, and inspire campers in their faith, building on the theme of the week and what campers are learning.

Night Fun & Wind-Down

Each evening wraps up with fun group games and activities, often followed by a campfire, before campers return to their cabins for a short devotion, prayer, and a calm wind-down to prepare for a good night’s rest.

Meet the Deans

Grace Shaw

Grace serves as the Jr./Sr. High Student Minister at Greenville First Christian Church. A graduate of Ozark Christian College and originally from Belleville, IL, Grace grew up attending Bond Camp and has a deep love for what God does here each summer. She is incredibly creative, full of energy, and most of all passionate about helping students know and love Jesus. Oh yeah, she has a large and in charge cat named Tofu (he will not be at camp).

Ricky Ortiz

Ricky serves as the Associate Pastor at New Heights Christian Church in Bridgeton, MO. In addition to his pastoral role, Ricky is a gifted graphic designer, talented musician, and tech specialist who helps lead lights, sound, and media both at his church and at Bond Camp. Throughout the year, he works behind the scenes to improve camp’s sound, video, lighting, WiFi, and website. From his very first week serving as faculty, Ricky recognized the eternal impact camp can have on young people — and he loves helping create spaces where students encounter Jesus.

Brandon Atkinson

Brandon serves as High School Camp Dean with a deep passion for students and a lifelong love for Bond Camp. As a firefighter, Brandon lives out a calling of service and courage every day — and he brings that same heart into his ministry with students.

He and his wife Heidi are raising their daughter Grace and faithfully volunteer in the youth ministry at Greenville First Christian Church. Brandon grew up attending Bond Camp and has now served as Dean for several years, coming full circle in a place that helped shape his own faith. He loves creating a week where high school students can encounter Jesus in a real and lasting way.