CampFactor methodology

Version 1.0 · dated 2026-09-06

CampFactor counts information a parent can confirm on official camp sources. It does not grade safety, spiritual quality, staff quality, camper happiness, or whether a camp is a good value. Website polish, photos, paid placement, and broad marketing claims earn no points.

Each of 20 criteria is supported, contradicted, or unknown. Supported earns 5 confirmed points. Contradicted earns zero and requires an official source that expressly says the feature is absent or does not apply. Unknown earns zero confirmed points and adds 5 to the unresolved potential maximum. Missing research is never treated as proof that a feature is missing.

Read the scored program beside each total. A score can cover one named program rather than every camp a provider offers. Program ages, dates, activities, and support policies can differ. A directory filter does not change the program covered by that score.

Faith & community · 20 points

  1. Official Christian mission or faith basis (5 points when supported)
  2. Published worship, Bible, or devotional element (5 points when supported)
  3. Published cabin or small-group community structure (5 points when supported)
  4. Published faith/program leadership context or church relationship (5 points when supported)

Activities & outdoors · 20 points

  1. Named activity family (5 points when supported)
  2. Second distinct activity family (5 points when supported)
  3. Named outdoor or nature program or setting used by campers (5 points when supported)
  4. Published choice, elective, or age-tailored activity structure (5 points when supported)

Age/program fit · 20 points

  1. Exact eligible ages or grades (5 points when supported)
  2. Dates or session lengths (5 points when supported)
  3. Day or overnight format (5 points when supported)
  4. Registration path and group-versus-individual model (5 points when supported)

Camper support information · 20 points

  1. Published health or medication process (5 points when supported)
  2. Published dietary or allergy accommodation process (5 points when supported)
  3. Accessibility or additional-needs guidance (5 points when supported)
  4. Parent communication, packing, or arrival guidance (5 points when supported)

Planning & value information · 20 points

  1. Current price or fee (5 points when supported)
  2. Published inclusions or extra costs (5 points when supported)
  3. Aid, scholarship, payment, or discount information (5 points when supported)
  4. Cancellation or refund policy (5 points when supported)

Publication threshold

A total appears only after at least 12 of 20 criteria are assessed and every dimension has at least one supported or contradicted criterion. Below that threshold, the camp reads “Research in progress.” Malformed evidence produces no total.

Sources and freshness

A reviewed evidence file controls publication. Every supported or contradicted criterion needs an official HTTPS source, a short evidence note, and a checked date. Candidate source caches help reviewers find pages, but keywords never certify a criterion. Evidence older than 18 months is stale and suppresses the total until reviewed again. A current fetch date does not make an old season’s price current.

The American Camp Association parent question guide informed the kinds of planning details parents may want to verify. It does not endorse CampFactor or its weights.

Ordering and paid listings

Qualifying camps are ordered by confirmed documented points, then by name. Research-in-progress camps follow alphabetically and have no overall rank. Paid featured status is ignored by the score and organic order.

Related

Overnight church camps

Camp quiz