Do You Need to Be Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church to Stay at Holmes Camp & Retreat Center?

Updated

No. Holmes Camp & Retreat Center states that your group does not need to be associated with the Presbyterian church, or identify with a faith, to attend. The camp is a ministry of the Presbyterian Conference Association and is affiliated with three Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but that affiliation describes who runs and sponsors the site — not a requirement placed on guests.

Who Holmes Camp & Retreat Center is affiliated with

The camp describes itself as a ministry of the Presbyterian Conference Association, affiliated with the Presbyteries of Long Island, Hudson River, and New York City of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This matters mainly for understanding the camp's identity and mission, not for booking eligibility.

Who can actually attend

According to the camp's own description, it serves a deliberately broad range of groups:

  • Individuals
  • Churches
  • Nonprofits
  • Community organizations
  • Scouting groups
  • Social groups
  • Corporate clients

The stated condition is compatibility with the camp's mission and values — not religious affiliation. Faith-affiliated groups are one category among several, not the entry requirement.

What the camp says about faith requirements

The relevant sentence is direct: "Your group does not need to be associated with the Presbyterian church, or identify with a faith to attend." So a secular nonprofit, a scouting troop, a family reunion, or a company retreat can use the facility on the same footing as a church group, provided the purpose fits the camp's mission.

What the camp's mission and values are

The camp summarizes its mission as Educate | Empower | Renew, and lists these core values:

  • Faith
  • Education
  • Conservation
  • Community
  • Recreation
  • Hospitality
  • Renewal

These values are the filter the camp applies when deciding whether a group is "compatible" — they are broader than any single denomination, which is consistent with the camp's statement that faith identification is not required.

What the site offers

Holmes Camp & Retreat Center sits on over 500 acres of hills, forest, and wetlands in the Hudson Valley, less than two hours from New York City. Facilities include:

  • A small conference center with lodging
  • Dorms
  • Cabins
  • Outdoor and indoor meeting spaces
  • Rustic youth summer camp facilities
  • Four lakes and ten miles of trails on site

Nearby landmarks and state parks add further options for recreation.

Practical takeaway

If you are planning a retreat, camp, or group stay and your only hesitation is that you are not Presbyterian — or not religious at all — that hesitation is not supported by the camp's own policy. The practical question to ask instead is whether your group's purpose fits the camp's mission and values. For availability, rental terms, and program details, contact the camp directly:

  • Address: 60 Denton Lake Road, Holmes, NY 12531
  • Phone: 845-878-6383
  • Email and newsletter signup: available through the camp's Contact page