Heartland Camps & Retreat Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Heartland Camps & Retreat Center offers a unique blend of nature-focused outdoor activities and structured programs (like horse camp) with excellent, accommodating staff and convenient on-site food. It stands out for its beautiful, spacious grounds, diverse recreational facilities (including a pool, basketball, 9-square, and even a fun hill slide), and a supportive, faith-based environment that fosters social connections and personal growth, particularly for pre-teens and teenagers.
Key Highlights
- ✓Engaging activities like horse riding, swimming, basketball, and 9-square.
- ✓A unique and exciting hill slide connecting different parts of the grounds.
- ✓Highly praised staff and counselors (e.g., Jenna, Britteny, Cam) who are friendly, accommodating, and fantastic.
- ✓Beautiful and peaceful natural environment with well-maintained grounds.
- ✓Convenient, good quality on-site food described as 'fantastic' and comparable to DoorDash.
- ✓Spacious and flexible accommodations (including A-frames) and community rooms suitable for various group sizes.
- ✓Proactive safety measures, such as staff clearing icy parking lots and sidewalks.
- ✓Opportunities for spiritual learning and making new friends in a supportive setting.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated and highly-rated counselors who enhance the camp experience.
- ⭐Variety of recreational amenities including a pool, basketball court, 9-square, and a unique 'slide that gets you from the top of the hill down to Pete's Cabin'.
- ⭐On-site catering providing convenient and 'fantastic' meals.
- ⭐Beautiful and expansive natural grounds perfect for outdoor exploration and group activities.
- ⭐Flexible 'halls' and 'community rooms' for various group sizes and purposes.
- ⭐Faith-based programming for spiritual development.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If your child is interested in animals or specific outdoor skills, inquire about specialized camps like 'horse camp'.
- →Expect a strong emphasis on community and social interaction, making it a good choice for children looking to make new friends.
- →Be aware that A-frame cabin accommodations are functional but may be basic ('not that bad').
- →The center has a faith-based component, which includes learning about God, so parents should consider if this aligns with their preferences.
- →Take advantage of the on-site food service, which is noted for being convenient and high quality.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No specific concerns were reported in the provided reviews; all were 5-star ratings.
Price & Value
No specific pricing was mentioned, but reviews indicate strong value with 'exceeded expectations' and positive comments about the quality of food and accommodations included in the overall experience.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Staff proactively cleared parking lots and sidewalks during icy conditions, suggesting attention to maintaining safe pathways.
- •No specific accommodations for mobility or sensory needs were explicitly mentioned, but 'lots of land to spread out' implies varied terrain.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •On-site food service is available, highly praised as 'fantastic', 'convenient', and 'comparable' to DoorDash in quality. No information on whether outside food is permitted for camp attendees.
🚗Parking Info
- •Dedicated parking lots are available and are well-maintained, with staff ensuring they are clear even in challenging weather conditions like ice.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Reviews mention 'lots of land to spread out for small groups', suggesting the venue can accommodate multiple activities and groups without feeling overly crowded.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Highly attentive staff who go above and beyond, such as clearing icy parking lots and sidewalks to ensure visitor safety.
- •Friendly and accommodating staff contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for children and groups.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations to avoid were mentioned in the reviews, given the universally positive feedback.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
A Night Under the Stars Benefit Concert
September 11, 2025
Disc Golf Tournament
November 1, 2025
Day of Caring
November 6, 2025
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Provides a safe and nurturing environment for campers.
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Dylan St. Clair
a year agoAn incredible place for a gathering. The food was so convenient as opposed to Door Dashing, while being as comparable. We moved Halls due to priority, but both were great in size and commodities. And the nature is beautiful and create a peaceful environment.
Rachel Owsley
5 years agoThe staff were friendly and accommodating! It was an cold and icy weekend and the staff made sure the parking lots and sidewalks were clear for us. It was a great location for our retreat!
Matt Peppes
7 years agoGreat place for a retreat! The grounds are beautiful and offer very nice accommodations and community rooms!
Jasmine Samuels
7 years agoI did horse camp this summer and it was amazing, we got to stay in the A-frames and they weren't that bad, the staff, food, and grounds are fantastic! I made so many new friends this year, I had amazing consulars, Jenna, Britteny, and Cam are the best. Thank you heartland you filled me with a lot of new memories and I learned more about God.
Ethan Shoe
3 years agoCame here for a retreat with my campus ministry. Definitely exceeded my expectations. There's lots of land to spread out for small groups and there are lots of spaces for activities like 9-square, basketball, and a pool for swimming. They accommodated us really well and I couldn't have asked for more. Shout out to the slide that gets you from the top of the hill down to Pete's Cabin.