Summer Camp
Welcome to Summit Mountain Camp!
We are looking forward to having you join us!
2026 Dates: July 2-7, July 9-14, and July 16-21
Age: 14-18 | Co-Ed | Cost: $440
Where: Horses, campfires, hikes, and life-changing discussions await in the beautiful Burnt Timber Valley. Our staging area is about 1 hour south-west of Sundre, AB, at the head of the trail into Burnt Timber Valley. Once your gear is packed on a horse we will ride for about an hour before finding ourselves in a picturesque location on the bank of Burnt Timber Creek. We will enjoy a new ride each day from our base camp positioned in a beautiful grove of spruce.
Experience Level: SMC 1 & 2 are suitable for ntermediate-level riders. This means that you have some basic experience with horses, are confident with saddling/unsaddling, mounting/dismounting, and are comfortable and somewhat confident around horses.
While not suitable for brand new beginners who have never yet ridden a horse, we do not require you to be an avid rider, own horses, or have taken lots of lessons.
Before each camp starts, we take time to review basic horsemanship, trail safety, and saddling/unsaddling procedures.
We have good horses and will provide riding instruction along the way to help you have the best riding experience possible!
***Note: In 2026, SMC #3 is introducing our Advanced Mountain Adventure! This will include an overnight pack trip towards the higher basins at the far end of the valley. In order to qualify for this camp, campers will need to provide proof of their riding ability and confidence with horses. This can be done by sending an email with a video or detailed description of your horse experience. The riding in SMC 3 will not be suitable for beginner riders.
The overnight trip will leave camp on Day 4 and return on Day 5. Gear and food will be carried on pack horses.
If you want to register for this camp, please make sure to choose this option when registering.
What to Bring: See our list HERE. Note that packed gear weight is limited to 25lbs per camper, not counting what you are wearing or carrying on your horse. We will have a weigh scale at the staging area to check each bag.
**It is essential that you review the “What to Bring” list in detail and ensure that you follow it! Weather changes are real, sudden, and drastic in the mountains. It can be +20c in the morning and +2c with a freezing wind and a hailstorm in the afternoon, only to be +25c the following day! Nights are cold, sometimes below freezing, so a good sleeping bag rated for -10 to -15c is a necessity! Please read through the “What to Bring”, and ensure your youth understands the importance of the items listed.
Activities: Riding, games, life discussions centered around the Bible, awesome food, and exploring remote wilderness areas few people ever get the chance to see!
More Info: Once registered, you will receive an email with the following information package:
– What to bring
– Maps to Mountain Air Lodge parking lot where our staff will meet the campers and then take them the rest of the way to the staging area.
– Drop-off/Pick-up times and locations
– Camp Emergency Contact Information
So….what does a day at SMC look like?
Imagine…..waking up to the sounds of a gently bubbling stream, the sun just coming over the ridge to the east. Join everyone around the fire for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. After breakfast, saddle your horse and mount up to explore a new ridge, a pass to another valley, or see if you can read the end of one of the several branch valleys to the south. Maybe find the start of the Burnt Timber creek!
After lunch on the trail, head back to camp. Hobble the horses so they can graze, help get supper ready, and clean up after a fantastic meal cooked over the open fire. After supper, spend some time discussing various life topics and learning more about what God’s Word says about life. At the end of the day, crawl into your warm sleeping bag for a deep, peaceful sleep.
You won’t want to go back to normal life!