Total cost for the week of school is now $160.00, that is due upon arrival at the camp.  This amount includes your room, meals, tuition, and supplies.

Other Costs:

Snacks and Soft Drinks($10-20 recommended for week)

T-Shirt ($10.00)

CD of the final program ($8)

Pitch Pipe ($22.50)

Our new location allows everyone who wishes to stay in air-conditioned cabins.  If you wish to bring an RV, please speak with Steve Neville for reservations.

You will eat often and well.  Wayne and Pat Moses from Atlanta, Texas oversee a kitchen staff that produces what we believe to be the best camp fare anywhere.  We have yet to receive complaints about the food!

Our school was founded in 1983.  It was the fulfillment of a dream of brother Arvle Dodson of Texarkana, Texas.  A songleader since his youth, he had attended some of the many Praise Camps that were available then and determined to create a school that would accomplish the same goals in our time.

By the time of his death in 1997, brother Dodson had seen the school fulfill his dream and fill to capacity every year.  An award is given in his name each year to a student who exemplifies his spirit of love for singing and love for God’s people.

After breakfast the whole school meets for an outdoor devotional in the cool of the morning.  Following a brief group voice lesson, we divide into music theory or song writing classes, grouped by knowledge and experience. The morning ends with a full group rehearsal of songs of praise and encouragement.  Most of these are more challenging than you usually find in a hymnal.

After lunch the women and girls join together for a ladies’ chorus rehearsal, while the men and boys go to song leading classes grouped by experience and ability.  Next we divide up into our theory classes again, this time to practice ear training and sight singing skills.

Last on the afternoon schedule is a group rehearsal for the more advanced singers.  While they are rehearsing, the younger students are learning more music fundamentals, such as the history of some of our hymns and the basic process of writing a song.  Every year our younger students write a song based on scripture as a cooperative effort, which is usually presented on the final program.

Two hours of free time precedes supper.  After supper we have another full group rehearsal, followed by free time until lights out.

This year's free time will have many more choices, including swimming, volleyball, tennis, and a softball field.

Although the majority of our students are aged 10-18, 30-40% of our students each year are adults.  One of the unique appeals of our school is the way that students of all ages form lasting bonds of friendship.

The Four States Praise Camp is, among other things, a school.  Therefore, students should bring clothes appropriate for a Christian school.  Specifically, the clothes should be modest and should not have any risque or unchristian writing, captions, or pictures.  Shorts may be worn during recreation times, but they must be knee length.  Please do not wear shorts to Praise Camp classes.  The rooms are air-conditioned!

All of our instructors are faithful members of churches of Christ.  All of them also hold at least a bachelor’s degree in music.

Brother Tom Chapin, who has taught at our school since its beginning, is the lead instructor.  He is very ably assisted by brothers Charles Davis, Randy Daw, Joe Chase, Missy Weaver, and Thomas Chapin.  Other qualified men and women are also used in teaching roles from year to year.

Certificates of instruction are available that are accepted by many schools and home schooling organizations toward fulfilling music requirements.

The Four States Praise Camp exists to train God’s people to lead, sing, and write songs of praise to God and encouragement to each other.

We seek to fulfill this purpose with the highest standards of excellence.  Most of our instructors have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in music.  We teach music from its fundamentals through advanced harmony and four-part composition and arranging.  Our emphasis is on singing, so we also teach sight-singing and ear training using the solfegge (do-re-mi) method..

The Four States Praise Camp is overseen by the elders of the Broad Street church of Christ in Mineola, Texas. 

From 1994 through 2003, our camp was hosted by the Sojourners, owners of Camp Bee in Marshall, Texas.  Without their constant help and support, we could never have grown to the point that we had to move!  To learn more about the Sojourners, visit the Sojourner's website.