Pre-Arrival info for Mother -Daughter retreat 2026

We are so excited to welcome you to the 2026 Mother-Daughter Retreat at Camp Swamp!

We have a fun and relaxing girls’ weekend planned for our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and daughters. Our theme for the weekend is PRESENCE.

Together, we’ll explore God’s continual presence with us and our opportunities to be truly present with one another—especially within our families. There will be opportunities to play, eat, sing, dance, create, learn, and build community together. Come ready to play, learn, laugh, and make some sweet memories!

Before You Arrive: The Essentials

Where are we going?

Camp Swamp
1400 Maxeys Road
Union Point, Georgia

That’s the address to give Google Maps or Siri.

When is check-in?

Friday, August 28 | Beginning at 6:00 PM

When you arrive, please come to the Dining Hall first for check-in and further instructions.

You do not need to bring all of your belongings inside the Dining Hall when you check in.

What about Friday dinner?

Dinner will NOT be served Friday evening.

Please plan to eat before you arrive. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase Friday evening at the Snack Shack.

If you’re looking for food near camp, there are several options just off I-20 at Exit 130/Lake Oconee Parkway, including Chick-fil-A, Zaxby’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Waffle House, Dairy Queen, Subway, Jersey Mike’s, Taco Bell, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Holcomb’s BBQ.

Arriving late?

If you will arrive after 10:00 PM on Friday, please call:

Steve Gibson: 706-351-3092

The gate will close at 10:00 PM, so please let us know if you will be arriving later.

When does the retreat end?

The retreat ends at 11:00 AM on Sunday, August 30.

Breakfast will be the final meal served at camp.

Friday Night: A Soft Landing

We know the chaos that can come with leaving on a Friday for a weekend away. That’s why Friday evening at Camp Swamp is designed to be a soft landing.

Come when you can. Exhale. Relax. Enjoy being together.

There will be lots of options for you and your daughter, including:

And here’s something important for anyone who tends to worry about being late:

If you don’t arrive until late Friday—or even Saturday morning—you are not behind, and you will not be left out.

Please reassure whoever is the most anxious at your house!

Preparing Your Hearts: Setting Expectations

Special weekends like this can sometimes come with unspoken expectations.

We may have an idea of exactly how we want the weekend to go—or how we want our daughter to respond—and disappointment can happen when those expectations aren’t met.

One way to set yourself up for a great weekend is to talk together before you arrive.

Consider asking your daughter:

The goal isn’t to create a perfect weekend.

It’s to create space to notice one another, listen, laugh, and be present.

 Phones: Choosing Presence

We have some good news and some bad news:

Camp Swamp has terrible cellphone coverage. 😊

We’re going to embrace it!

Our request is that this be a phone-free weekend, giving all of us the opportunity to be fully present with the people around us.

A photographer will be available throughout the weekend, so there will be plenty of opportunities to get pictures with your daughter.

Some of our creative projects may require inspiration from your phone, but we encourage you to be intentional about how you use your device so it doesn’t become a distraction.

As the adults, we have an opportunity to model a healthy relationship with technology for the young women around us.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to take a break from your phone, this is a great weekend to do it.

Sleeping & Cabin Information

Our sleeping arrangements will include the Boys’ and Girls’ Cabins, with some special accommodations available for our grandmothers.

The cabins are air-conditioned, but you may want to bring a box fan if you like white noise when sharing a sleeping space.

Please bring either:

There are no bathrooms in the cabins, so plan on taking a short walk to the Bathhouses.

For our younger girls especially, this is a great opportunity to practice sharing space with others and growing in independence as they care for themselves and their belongings.

What to Wear & Bring

Camp Swamp is a place to be yourself. There’s no need to fuss with makeup, cute clothes, or perfectly styled hair!

Be prepared to:

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that you can move in.

Be sure to pack:

Here’s our Summer Packing list which you can use as a guide. You’ll just need to make modifications since guide is for a weeklong stay versus the 3 day weekend retreat.

Playing at Camp Swamp

There will be plenty of opportunities for you and your daughter to play together throughout the weekend.

In addition to our scheduled pool times and creative activities, we’ll have:

And, of course, we’ll have Just Dance—one of our favorite Camp Swamp traditions!

We’ll also have a special girls’ weekend soundtrack full of songs to sing together in the Dining Hall and at the pool.

Come prepared to groove!

Eating at Camp

Our head chef, Scott, and his trusty assistant, Michelle Dodd, have been working on a delicious menu for our girls’ weekend.

Meals will include plenty of fruits and vegetables, along with options for our older girls (that includes the moms!) while still being mindful of the tastebuds of our younger girls.

The Snack Shack will be open at various times Friday evening and Saturday with drinks and snacks, including some special options for the adults.

Bring cash for Snack Shack goodies.

Why We’re Here

At the heart of this weekend, we’re here to connect:

with our daughters,
with other mothers,
with nature,
and with God.

Would you join us in praying for our time together?

Pray that you and your daughter will:

Pray that your time with the other mothers will be a chance to:

And pray for safety throughout the weekend, especially as we travel to and from camp and spend time outside in the summer heat.

Health & Medical Information

Please do not come to camp if you or your child has had a fever or vomiting within 72 hours prior to check-in.

Medical personnel will be on site Saturday and Sunday.

Medications will remain with and be administered by mothers.

Quick Reference

Retreat: Mother-Daughter Retreat
Dates: August 28–30, 2026
Check-in: Friday beginning at 6:00 PM
Location: Camp Swamp, 1400 Maxeys Road, Union Point, GA
Friday dinner: Not provided
Late arrival after 10 PM: Call 706-351-3092
Retreat ends: Sunday at 11:00 AM
Final meal: Sunday breakfast
Phones: Phone-free weekend encouraged
Health: No fever or vomiting within 72 hours of check-in
Emergency/day-of contact: Steve Gibson — 706-351-3092

View Complete Packing List or go to: https://campswamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WhatToBringCampSwampChecklist.pdf

We can’t wait to welcome you to Camp Swamp.

Come ready to be present. Come ready to play. Come ready to connect. Come ready to wonder.

See you at the Swamp! 💛

Steve Gibson, Rachele Gibson & the Camp Swamp Staff