about us
Swamp Camp Services, Inc is a 501(c)3 organization supporting Camp Swamp – an 188 acre wooded facility located 2 hours east of Atlanta. Camp Swamp is the heart of our organization where we are able to provide camp and retreat services in Georgia, our neighboring states in the Southeast, and even worldwide. We rent our Camp Swamp facilities to schools, churches, universities, and any sports or business groups for their camp or retreat needs.
our values.
1. Safety
Everyone (parents, volunteers, counselors, and campers) must feel mentally, physically, and emotionally safe, which will encourage spiritual engagement and connection. We deal with bullies of all kinds, enforce standards on language and behavior, and create a culture of agape love. We live out our motto: “The safest place on the planet, besides your home.”
2. Diversity
Accept and celebrate differences! We embrace different talents, interests and quirks whether athletic, scholarly, musical, or other, including domino expert, hula hoop champion, or avid book reader. Click here to see the amazing stories and illustrations of what this looks like.
3. Food
Provide good food. We create palatable (pun intended) memories around delicious food and yummy canteen / tuck-shop treats. We promote mealtimes as special gatherings of our community.
4. Fun
Have fun! We prioritize smiles, laughter, and playfulness as we offer activities that engage a wide age-range of participants considering their interests and needs when planning activities and events. We never have fun at the expense of others remembering that no one will want to come back if it is not fun.
5. Investment
Give to Camp. We partner together to give one hundred percent love, energy, attention, time, and money towards fulfilling camp’s mission. We always think, plan, and train with an eye to future generations.
6. Leadership
Lead strongly and humbly. We articulate clear rules, boundaries, and expectations to counselors, campers and volunteers, and enforce them consistently and fairly. We cultivate a safe spiritual space for everyone to learn to lead like Jesus.
7. Respect
Create a culture of value. We hold every image bearer of Christ in high esteem, no matter their age or their station in life. We prioritize a culture where everyone is important and belongs.
8. Roles
Define and clarify responsibilities at camp. We communicate expectations so each person will know whether they are fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. We foster accountability and encourage ownership of any given role.
9. Spirituality
Have a spiritual camp not a religious camp. We recognize the difference between the two. We trust the Holy Spirit to work through play, connection, community, and wonder.
10. YHWH
Always point towards God. We believe that God is powerful, faithful, compassionate, gracious, and abounding in love. As we witness God revealing himself through the Bible, nature, and relationships, we steer away from outward compliance and allow each person the space and time for wonder, curiosity, and wrestling for personal faith.
how we got here
Swamp Camp Services began with Sonny and Carolyn Sessions, a couple who grew up loving summer camp when they were children. They had a dream of creating a camp with the same loving and safe environment for other children and their families. In the early 1990s, Steve and Kim Sapp, church leaders in the Atlanta Church of Christ, believed in the Session’s dream and wanted to provide camp for its 1800 children (18 years and younger) that were part of their church congregation. The first Camp Swamp was held in 1992 with 64 campers on rented property in North Georgia. Camp Swamp continued to rent property until it built its own 188 acre wooded facility in Penfield, Georgia in 1998. Camp Swamp has been serving children and their families for over 30 years by partnering with God to create a safe, spiritual space for belonging and learning through play, connection, community & wonder.
why the name?
Camp Swamp got its name in 1998 when the camp property was purchased and construction began; some say it earned the name because it rained so much and the ground became “swampy,” while others say it was the influence of some University of Florida fans. Either way, the name stuck like the mud on the bottom of the volunteers’ boots–but the vision for this camp began long before that.
Swamp Camp Mission Alliance
Swamp Corps is Swamp Camp Mission Alliance’s global missionary program purposed to provide a three-year training process that establishes a perennial spiritual, fun-filled summer camp while offering missional leadership training and experiences for the Next Generation.
our staff
Rachele and Steve Gibson
Camp Swamp Georgia Directors
Erwin and Debbie Clark
Facilities Manager, Kitchen Manager
Scott Freiberger
Assistant Kitchen Manager
Dalton Hunsinger
Assistant Facilities Manager
our board of directors & advisory board
Megan Famodun
President
ACOC Board
Dan Ankrom
Board of Directors
ACOC Board
Jaime Parker
Secretary
ACOC Board
Dan Stehr
Treasurer
ACOC Board
Joe Moon
President
Advisory Board
Frank Bailey
Vice President, Development
Advisory Board
Matt Brooks
Secretary, Development
Advisory Board
Vanessa Byers
Promotions Manager, Operations
Advisory Board
Nick Lefler
Development Committee
Advisory Board
Josh Mitchell
Development Committee
Advisory Board
Amanda Mitchell
Operations Committee
Advisory Board
Ryan Novak
Committee at Large
Advisory Board
Debbie Palmore
Operations Committee
Advisory Board
Taylor Schachinger
Operations Committee
Advisory Board
Matt Snyder
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Taylor Schachinger
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Patti Hunter
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Stephen Van Bueren
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Dan Lile
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Josh Mitchell
Strategy Committee
Advisory Board
Vanessa Byers
Development Committee
Advisory Board
Ryan Novak
Committee at Large
Advisory Board
where can we find the camp?
