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CedarS Express

SAME DEPARTURE PROCESS AS 2023 - Please read carefully!

How CedarS Express Works

CedarS Express provides a complete transportation package for your "precious cargo." Campers fly into the St. Louis airport on Saturday. They’re met at their gate by CedarS Express parents and staff, shuttled to Principia School, provided with meals, and chaperoned overnight at Principia School.  On Sunday morning, they'll eat breakfast, have Sunday School, and then take a 3-hour supervised bus ride to CedarS.  At the end of the session, CedarS Express staff supervise campers overnight at Principia School on Friday, help campers check in at the St. Louis airport on Saturday, accompany them to their gate, and stay until their flight departs.  

Arriving & Departing By Airplane

Book flights into and out of the St. Louis International Airport (STL).  All arrivals and departures are on Saturdays.

Schedule incoming flights for the Saturday before the session begins, with an arrival window between 11:00am and 6:00pm.

Schedule outgoing flights:

  • For end-of-session departures (1st through 4th Sessions), schedule departing flights for the Saturday after the session ends, with a departure window between 11:00am and 6:00pm.
  • For mid-session departures (only available in the middle of 1st and 4th Sessions - 1.1 on Saturday, June 15 and 4.1 on Saturday, July 27 only), schedule departure flights after 2:00pm.  We cannot accommodate flights on June 15 or July 27 that depart before 2:00pm.

Terminals: The CedarS Express Team operates out of both terminals of the St. Louis airport.  They are headquartered at a table by baggage claim in each terminal on the travel day.

Finding CedarS Staff: Your child should look for adults wearing CedarS shirts, carrying CedarS clipboards. In the rare instance your camper cannot find a CedarS representative, call 417-532-6699, or ask an airport official to have CedarS Camps paged over the intercom system.

Arrival Communications: Our staff will call you as soon as your child arrives at the airport. Camper phones and electronics will be collected at Principia School and secured, to be returned on the last night of camp, powered and ready for travel home.

Preparing to Fly

What to Wear

Campers should travel in a CedarS shirt so they are easily recognizable to our staff at the airport. We also recommend having a sweatshirt or jacket available, as airports can sometimes be chilly with heavy A/C.

Separate Overnight Bag

Please pack a small bag that is separate from your main suitcase with these items: 1) Modest travel cash; 2) Pajamas, swimsuit, a change of clothes for Sunday, and toiletries; 3) Pillow and sleeping bag or sheets.

Prayerful Support

Please join us in hourly packing your camper's travel experience with the prayerful rejoicing that "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever more." - Psalms 121:8

CedarS Express Bus Service

A Great Way to Get to Camp:  If no airport pick-up is needed, campers are still welcome to utilize CedarS Express for the bus ride only.  Many families from the St. Louis area choose this option for the ride to and/or from camp.  The three-hour ride on a plush, air-conditioned bus will seem to fly by with the beautiful scenery, as Cedars' staff encourage new and old friends to get to know each other.

Taking the Bus to Camp:  Arrive at the Principia St. Louis campus on the opening Sunday of the session by 7:30am.  The chartered bus departs campus on Sunday at 8:00am promptly.

Returning from Camp by Bus:  The bus arrives back to the Principia School campus on the closing Friday of the session around 5:00pm. Please be there promptly to pick up your camper.

Key Travel Details

Airline Days & Times

For airline reservations:

Arrivals: Schedule flight arrivals between 11:00am and 6:00pm on the SATURDAY before the camp session begins.

Departures:

  • For end-of-session departures, schedule flights on the SATURDAY after the session ends between 11:00am and 6:00pm. 
  • For mid-session departures (only available 6/15 and 7/27): book flights after 2:00pm. We cannot accommodate any departures before 2:00 p.m. 

Request E-Tickets:  When making airline reservations, request e-tickets rather than paper tickets. 

 

CedarS Express Bus Days & Times

The chartered bus for Sessions 1-4:

Bus to Camp:  Arrive at the Principia School campus by 7:30am on opening SUNDAY. The bus leaves promptly at 8:00am. 

Session 1.2 and 4.2 Arrivals:  The bus will leave for camp on SATURDAY 6/15 and 7/27 from the Principia St. Louis campus by 6:30pm.

Return Bus:  For end-of-session departures, the bus from camp will arrive at the Principia School campus on FRIDAY at 5:00pm.

Session 1.1 and 4.1 Departures: For mid-session departures, the bus will arrive at the Principia School campus on SATURDAY on 6/15 and 7/27 at 11:30am. 

 

CedarS Express Enrollment

Be sure to communicate your travel plans!

Enroll online for CedarS Express.  Enter your camper's travel/flight information into your CedarS camper registration. 

Email a copy of your itinerary to us at office@cedarscamps.org. Very important!

Timeline:  Register for CedarS Express at least 14 days prior to arrival.  This allows CedarS enough time to mail you important information and line up staff to greet you at the airport.

Additional Charges of $25 apply for last-minute reservations and arrivals or departures outside of the advertised travel windows (requires special permission).

 

CedarS Express Fees Per Person

Options for Getting to CedarS

Full Pick-Up Service
$135
  • Airport pickup at your gate (minors), overnight stay, and bus ride to CedarS
  • Includes Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast
$135
Overnight & Bus Service
$95
  • Overnight stay and bus to CedarS
  • Includes Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast
$95
Overnight & Bus Service- no dinner
$85
  • Overnight stay and bus to CedarS
  • Includes Sunday breakfast only
$85
Incoming Bus Service Only
$50
  • Bus service on Sunday from Principia School to CedarS
  • No meals included
$50
1.2 and 4.2 Arrivals - Airport Pick-Up & Bus Service
$90
  • For those arriving by plane on Saturday, June 15th for 1.2 and Saturday, July 27th for 4.2
  • Airport pickup at your gate (minors) and bus ride to CedarS on Saturday
  • Includes lunch and dinner on Saturday as needed
$90

Options FOR Returning From CedarS

Full Return Service
$135
  • Bus service on Friday to Principia School
  • Includes Friday dinner, supervised evening activities, and overnight stay
  • Includes Saturday breakfast, shuttle to STL airport, and accompaniment to your gate (minors)
  • Saturday bag lunch included
$135
Outgoing Bus Service Only
$50
  • For end-of-session departures on 6/23, 7/7, 7/21 and 8/4, bus service on Friday to Principia School arriving at 5:00pm
  • For mid-session departures during 1st and 4th Sessions only on 6/17 and 7/29, bus service will be on Saturday to Principia School arriving at 11:30am
  • No meals included but light snack is provided on the bus
$50
1.1 and 4.1 Departures - Bus Service & Airport Drop-Off
$90
  • For those departing by plane on Saturday, June 15th after 1.1 and Saturday, July 27th after 4.1
  • Bus service on Saturday to Principia School, shuttle to STL airport, and accompaniment to your gate (minors)
  • Includes bag lunch
$90

*** Prices are per camper.  Campership Travel Assistance is available.***

CedarS Express Bus Rules:

  • There will be two chaperones on the bus.
  • Attendance will be taken by the chaperones, and they will review rules before the bus departs.
  • All electronic devices will be collected and safely stored before campers board the bus.
  • Remain seated while the bus is in motion.
  • Ask a counselor first to use the bathroom located at the back of the bus.
  • Respect the staff and driver, and obey the Golden Rule in how you treat all passengers.

 

How CedarS will communicate with parents/guardians:

  • After enrolling in CedarS Express, you will receive a registration packet in the mail with luggage tags and instructions.
  • If there are updates or notifications, CedarS will email parents/guardians and update the CedarS Express website. Be sure to check your email in the days leading up to your camper's travel.
  • Upon arrival and departure, you can expect a call or text when your camper lands at the airport and is met by the CedarS Express staff member, as well as when their departing plane takes off.
  • If emergency communication is needed, CedarS will send out a text message to all parents/guardians.
American Camp Association

MAIN OFFICE
(November - May)
410 Sovereign Court #8
Ballwin, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162

CAMP OFFICE
(Memorial Day Weekend - October)
19772 Sugar Dr.
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 532-6699

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