Parent Info

Camp NEOSA is a unique setting operated by The Salvation Army. We are located approximately 1.5 hours southeast of Cleveland, 45 minutes southeast of Canton and 1.5 hours west of Youngstown. It consists of a 200 acre peninsula located on Leesville Lake. Our programs use these resources of natural surroundings to contribute to the spiritual, educational, social, and recreational needs of every camper.

All About
Camp NEOSA

  • Camp Fee will be determined by contacting your local Salvation Army.

  • Camp NEOSA is accredited by the American Camp Association on a 5 year cycle. Our camp was last inspected during the summer of 2022 and we received a 100% on the inspection. You can learn more about what it means to be ACA accredited by visiting the ACA Website.

  • We have multiple areas and activities that campers take part in when they attend camp. These include a lake for swimming and kayaking, a nature center, archery, two play grounds, two basketball courts, two athletic fields, two zip lines, a ropes course, hiking trails, a sand volleyball court, outdoor amphitheater and more! All activities are supervised by trained staff members. Campers take part in all of these activities throughout the week.

    Campers have the opportunity to swim and kayak in Leesville Lake. All waterfront staff members are trained and certified by Legendary Lifeguards through the American Red Cross, or other nationally recognized training and certification program. Archery Coordinators are BAI Certified by Centershot Ministries. Challenge Course Coordinators are trained by Experiential Systems by ACCT accredited trainers.

  • When discussing camp, we break it into two parts, upper camp and lower camp. Upper camp houses our program areas such as a nature shelter, arts and crafts shelter, archery shelter, ropes course, and athletic fields. Lower camp is where our health center, dining hall, large meeting facility, offices, waterfront, and cabins are located.

    Camp NEOSA has 5 cabins that house campers and staff. Campers are placed in cabins based upon gender and age. Each camper has their own bed. There are bathrooms and showers within the same building for campers. Staff are housed within the same cabin however they have their own sleeping area and bathrooms.

  • A vital part of our programming at Camp NEOSA is for campers to realize how much God loves them and to grow in that knowledge. Each day, campers participate in high energy camp-wide devotions and cabin devotions each night. The night before campers leave, they see a presentation about the life of Jesus. The last day of camp starts with a high energy church service to conclude the camp session.

  • June

    23-27 Youth Camp 1

    30-July 4 Youth Camp 2

    July

    7-12 Music & Arts Camp

    14-18 Youth Camp 4

    21-25 Youth Camp 5

    28-August 1 Youth Camp 6

    Youth Camps are for ages 6-12.

    Music & Arts Camp is for ages 6-14.

Preparing
for camp

Whether this is your child's first visit to camp or they are a veteran camper, the experience can be an adventure and a memory of a lifetime. Any trip away from home can be a little scary for a child. Below are a few suggestions that may help get your child ready for camp.

  • There are so many fun things to do at Camp NEOSA! Look at pictures online and talk about the activities that they will be participating in like swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, fishing, boating, and sleeping out, just to name a few. Let them know there are adults who will be with them helping to make the most out of each activity.

  • CLOTHING NEEDS
    jacket and rainwear
    sweater and/or sweatshirt (2)
    long pants (for hikes in the woods) (2 pair)
    shorts (4-6 pair)
    shirts or t-shirts (at least 6)
    swimsuit (1 piece for girls)
    dress clothes for Sunday church (optional)
    sneakers or other play shoes (REQUIRED)
    sandals or flipflops (for beach wear)
    underwear and socks (at least 6 sets)
    sleepwear
    plastic bags for wet clothing

    OTHER NECESSITIES
    bath and swim towels (at least 2)
    soap and shampoo
    deodorant
    toothpaste/toothbrush
    brush and comb
    bedding and pillow
    Bible

    DO NOT BRING!
    any electronics (such as cell phones, walkie talkies, handheld game devices, cameras, etc.)
    drugs (including marijuana), alcohol and weapons
    live animals
    money (everything is provided for campers)
    over the counter medication (camp provides basic over the counter medications as needed)

    It would be very helpful to the younger children if you would pack their clothing together as sets so they know what to wear each day (example: shirt, shorts, socks and underwear stacked or bagged together for each day).

    It is a good idea to mark your child's name on personal items for quick and easy identification. The camp will not be responsible for lost items or clothing, so we recommend old clothing be brought to camp by campers.

  • Making sure that all of the forms are filled out completely and correctly will help your child have a smooth enrollment process. Forms not filled out completely or correctly can cause delays in enrollment and check-in. Click here to access your CampMinder account and check if your forms have been completed.

  • Focus on the stories they will be able to tell when they arrive home! Provided we have sufficient internet connection, you can see pictures of the campers on the Camp NEOSA Facebook page daily so you can ask questions about camp when they return home! We also send a parent letter that tells you about their week along with some suggested questions to ask them to spark conversation!

    All staff members are trained and prepared to deal with homesickness. While preparing your child for camp, do not suggest to your child that he/she can call home if they get homesick. Telephones are not available for campers. Usually the child is over any homesickness after the first day.

  • Plan a special dinner for the evening he/she returns and make a welcome home sign! Check out the photos of what activities have taken place during the week so you can ask your child all about their camp experience! Be sure to check out the parent letter in their take-home bag which has some suggested questions to get your camper talking about their week at Camp NEOSA!

While your child is at camp

You love your child and want the best for them. So of course you want to make sure they are safe and having fun. Even though you aren’t with them, you can be sure your child is growing, learning, behaving, and making the most of their time at camp. If you don’t hear from us, no news is good news! But if anything comes up, we will be sure to call immediately!

  • The well-being and safety of campers is our number one concern at Camp NEOSA. Our staff go through a week long orientation at the beginning of the summer to go over rules and to prepare our staff for working with children. They go through an interview process, criminal background check and fingerprint check. Campers are supervised at all times by our trained staff. They are hired from both the United States and overseas and are made up of high school students, college students and professionals. Our staff is comprised of individuals who love God and are excited to spend the summer working with kids!

  • Should an emergency arise and you need to contact us or need us to deliver a message to your child, please do not hesitate to contact us at 330-735-2671. Our office hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday-Friday.

  • Our staff is certain to contact a parent if there are health or behavior concerns. So as long as you don't hear from us, your child is doing great! Each morning, we pass out camper mail to the campers. Everyone likes to get mail so consider sending an email to your child at campneosa@icloud.com! Please put your child's name in the subject line. Campers will not be able to respond to your email.

  • In rare cases, Camp NEOSA may call home or send a child home if their behavior is disruptive or harmful to themselves or other campers or staff. We make every effort to keep all campers at camp but the safety of all campers is our main concern. Camp NEOSA has a zero-fighting policy and second chances are not given. If a camper has to be sent home, parents or guardians are required to arrange travel in a timely manner.

  • In the event that it is necessary for you to pick up your child early from the camping session for a pre-planned reason, please send a note with your child. We are only able to release a camper to individuals listed on the camper’s application. Photo ID will be required upon pick-up.

  • At Camp NEOSA, we have a Health Center and nursing staff that dispense medication and take care of injuries and illness. The American Camp Association requires that we have a registered nurse on staff who is at camp each day that we are in session and we abide by this rule. There is also an assistant nurse who has medical training. All of our staff go through First Aid and CPR training during orientation.

    Be sure to complete all areas of the health history form. Your child will need to be examined by a physician within the last 15 months. It is important that the parental release is signed so your child may be treated by a physician or hospital in the case of an emergency. No child will be allowed to stay on the camp grounds with out the release being signed. Any special diet or activity restrictions should be identified on the form. If your child has ever had asthma, the asthma waiver form must be signed.

    In case of illness, injury, or emergency, parents are notified as soon as possible. It is very important that emergency contacts be listed on the medical form so that we are able to reach you. Any cost incurred by a camper needing additional medical treatment outside of camp is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. If your child is on any type of medication (over the counter or prescription), please be sure it is brought with them to camp. It will be stored under lock and key with our nurse. In the case of illness or injury, it may become necessary for a child to leave camp early. Please be sure that the names and phone numbers for your emergency contacts are correct and working properly. In the event that we can not reach the parent or guardian, this information becomes extremely important. If you will be unavailable while your child is at camp, please provide the camp with a phone number where you can be reached.

  • Three meals a day are provided along with a snack in the afternoon and evening. All meals comply with the USDA and Summer Food Service Program, which means they are healthy and balanced.

  • The Salvation Army is committed to protecting minors and vulnerable adults in its care, in all of its many programs. All camp staff are required to complete The Salvation Army’s KeepSAfe training before working with children and vulnerable adults.

    All Salvation Army personnel are required to take all reasonable steps to avoid the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults and to institute reasonable preventative measures to protect the vulnerable populations in their care.