find peace like a river, on the river
One of our flagship youth opportunities, our Youth Blast programs focus on building community with each other here at Gretna Glen before taking on an adventure off site. Youth Blast campers spend their week eating meals together in the Dining Hall, learning new skills at program activities, playing night games, and feeling the good vibes of Christian camp community as one body.
Kayak Adventure campers will spend their week making new friends on the challenge course, adventuring through high ropes elements, and doing special activities no other campers get to do—like hanging out in the new Youth Blast Lounge! Then, we will head to Swatara State Park in Pine Grove, PA for a full day of kayaking down the Swatara Creek and exploring the local nature and wildlife. Trained Gretna Glen leadership staff and counselors will be alongside campers throughout this entire off-site experience to enforce safety policies and make sure it is a safe and fun day for everyone. And to cap off our week, we will have meaningful worship experiences and a service project here at Gretna Glen.
Our Goals for every camper
Our goal for all overnight campers is to create an environment where they can THRIVE:
Try new experiences
Camp is great exposure to new people, news skills, and new challenges.
Hear Good News
We are here to share in the joy of knowing and following Jesus Christ!
Reset and Renew
We work hard to create a place where campers can be themselves, unplug from devices, and rest.
Inspire One Another
Community experiences and culture creation are intentional, key aspects of every week.
Value Themselves
Campers learn they can do more than they thought possible by learning and growing all week long.
Explore Possibilites
Campers are encouraged to ask questions about their faith, their future, and their world.
Built for the Teen Who Wants More
Youth Blast is a flagship Gretna Glen program because teens who attend tell us what they needed was a week that respected them. Not a program that talked down to them. Not a week that ran on the same rhythm as the 8 year olds. Something older, something harder, something that mattered.
The AT day is the core of that. It is real hiking on real trail, done with real teammates. The skills and faith conversations fit around it. The friendships are the thing campers take home. And the AT is the story they tell.
WHERE YOU'LL STAY
Campers stay in cabins on Gretna Glen's main campus. Cabins feature bunk beds, a changing area, and a modern shower house built in 2018. Youth Blast is a mainsite program. Meals are in the Dining Hall, and the cabin crew becomes the hiking crew for the week.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW
This session runs over the July 4th holiday weekend. Campers can arrive Sunday evening (5-7 PM) or Monday morning (7:30-9:00 AM). Pick-up is Friday, 5-6 PM.
Gretna Glen is ACA-accredited, meeting over 300 health, safety, and quality standards. Hike leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, and staff are certified in Ministry Safe and UMC Risk Management. No prior hiking experience is required, though campers should be prepared for a full day on the trail.
Off-Site Transportation
Gretna Glen staff transport campers to and from the Michaux State Forest trailhead on the AT day. All transportation is included in the program cost.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
- Teens 13 to 17 who want a program that respects their age
- First-time hikers ready for a guided, challenging day on the trail
- Returning Gretna Glen campers ready to graduate into the Youth Blast experience
- Youth group members looking for a week that builds real community