Swamp Camp is a year-round overnight camp facility hosting retreats, special events and, during the summer, week-long overnight Christian camps for children from 9-18 years of age. The camp is located in a rural setting in Penfield, Georgia just two hours east of Atlanta and 45 minutes south of Athens on 188 acres of wooded land and open fields, where campers enjoy a variety of activities such as basketball, soccer, Laser Tag, Ultimate Frisbee, swimming, fishing, 300' Slip N Slide, 12' pool slide, paddle boating, Low Ropes Course, ping-pong, arts and crafts, hayrides, and more. Unforgettable memories are made during cabin challenges, night activities, devotionals and Bible classes.
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How do we create the "my-second-home" camp culture? It is through living our Core Values:
Everyone (parents, volunteers, counselors, and campers) has to feel mentally, physically, and emotionally safe in order for the spiritual self to be realized. Set an environment of respect; deal with bullies of all kinds, and create a culture of love. (Imagine an atmosphere where last names weren’t important; thus you were known for who you are and not all the ties to your parents, brother, sister, money, position, etc.) Thus our motto: “The Safest Place on the Planet, Besides Your Home.”
Celebrate differences! Whether you are an athlete, scholar, musician, or domino expert, your color, talents, interests, and quirks are accepted and celebrated…each tremendously adds to the cultural tapestry; then the words of Desmond Tutu come alive, “Isn’t it amazing that we are all made in God’s image, and yet there is so much diversity among his people.”
The food needs to be good. People—especially kids—will remember the food one way or another…and talk about it.
Everyone needs to have FUN! If it is not fun, no one will want to come back. The cooks, nurses, campers, counselors all need to have a great time. Allow camp to host a wide age range, like 9-18 for summer camp. You will be amazed at the results and live the words of Dr. Seuss, "Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”
Pour all the resources you have into making a perennial camp…one that allows for generations to experience. If you give half your resources, you will get 50% of the results. If you only focus on one year, you may forego the next decade.
The rules need to be clear and few with someone who is in charge to enforce them. They must be enforced or everything will spin out of control and no one will have much fun.
Everyone from the directors to the volunteers to the campers to the head dishwasher has to feel valued; each has the right to feel like somebody. The culture of the camp is to make everyone feel like he or she is important.
Everyone needs to know his or her role, being defined and understood by all parties. If so, then each person will know if he is fulfilling it or not. Each can feel the success of fulfilling it and personal accountability if not.
Have a spiritual camp, not a religious camp. There is a huge difference between the two. Trust God to work on the young hearts that are open. If great sermons and convicting preachers always converted people, all of our kids would be disciples. Trust the process and the Spirit.
God, Jehovah, has to be made real. We need to forget trying to indoctrinate kids into the church; let God reveal himself through the stars, the people, the Bible, nature, relationships, and through the spiritual culture that is created; the rest will follow.
Megan Famodun, President, was born and raised in Marietta, GA. She attended college in Boston, MA for two years but then transferred and finished her degree in Sociology and Leadership at Kennesaw State University. After graduating, Megan began serving in the Youth and Family ministry and soon after that, she married her husband Adeoye, they have been married now for four and a half years. Together, they served in the Youth and Family ministry at North River for a little over four years. During that time, they spent several weeks out at Swamp Camp, which was such a great opportunity for them since they did not get to experience it when they were growing up. Now, Megan is the HR & Finance Manager at North River. She is enjoying her new role and excited to be able to build new skills and use her talents to help with the administration of the church.
Dan Ankrom, Vice President. Dan Ankrom was born and raised near Rochester, New York. He attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and later earned a Master’s degree in Physics Education at SUNY College at Buffalo. Dan has worked in both education and engineering, and has lived in the Atlanta area since 2005. He lives in Alpharetta with his wife Alaina, and their two children, Pierce and Waverly (who both LOVE attending camp at Swamp Camp!). Dan works for Trenton Systems in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Jamie Parker, Secretary
Faith: Jamie was baptized in 2000 in the ACOCG ministry. He played nearly every Sunday on stage for the better part of 13 years as part of the band and now helps with the music ministry at Cornerstone church and leads a men's life group.
Professionally: Jamie Parker, a 3x ICON agent with Exp Realty, brings over 14 years of experience in helping his clients sell, buy or invest in real estate. Prior to real estate, he taught orchestra and general music for Gwinnett/Dekalb county schools for more than 17 years and has three degrees in education from Georgia State and UGA. As a real estate agent, Jamie has been a member of the Agent Leadership Council while at Keller Williams and is now and ICON agent, trainer and mentor agent with EXP Realty. He ranks in the top 1% of all real estate agents in the state of Georgia.
He recently also purchased Atlanta Strings Violin Shop in Downtown Lawrenceville and is aiming to create a foundation to allow children to reach their maximum potential through music.
He also publishes a community magazine called Brookwood Family Living which goes to 3500 of the most affluent homes in the Brookwood High School District.
Why SWAMP CAMP: Jamie is a single dad and has two kids ages 15 and 13 who are huge fans of SWAMP CAMP. He has fond memories of the magic marker makeover his daughter did on his face in a daddy/daughter retreat. SWAMP CAMP has the huge power to change lives for Christ.
Dan Stehr, Treasurer. Dan and his wife, Cathi, live in the Lilburn area of Gwinnett Country(Metro Atlanta). Dan is from Kansas(go Jayhawks!) but moved to Atlanta in 1989, shortly after was converted in the Atlanta Church of Christ, and met Cathi(from Texas) in the Singles Ministry. After marrying in 1992, Olivia and Caroline were born and came through the Youth and Family Ministry and became disciples as teens. Olivia graduated from Georgia Tech where she participated in the Campus Ministry, after which she married Brandon Lennon. She and Brandon live in Atlanta and volunteer with the Teens at North River. Caroline graduated from the University of South Carolina where she was part of the Campus Ministry. Caroline is now a member of the church in Asheville.
After some time in Georgia, Dan was able to finish his education at Georgia Tech(1998), with a BS in Computer Science, which has led to work as a Computer Programmer over the last 24 years, currently at InTown Suites. Cathi works in the Gwinnett County Public Schools. Dan and family enjoy time together and travel, especially to our National Parks, as well as golf for Dan.
Dan and Cathi have long been big supporters of Swamp Camp, with Cathi working in the Kitchen several years. Olivia and Caroline spent many summers at the Swamp, as Campers, Workers and Counselors. Dan is a Deacon with the Atlanta Church of Christ in Gwinnett and represents the congregation on the Board of Directors.
Dan Stehr
5093 Arbor Lane
Lilburn, Georgia 30047
At Swamp Camp, we have a long-standing commitment to our families and friends to be “the safest place on the planet.” A lot goes into living up to that standard, so as a part of this commitment we want to ensure each of you understand as much as possible about the camp and its management. With this in mind, we have put together this Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document as an easy to reference guide to some of the not-so-obvious-and-curious topics. May it increase your knowledge and comfort to our commitment to indeed make Swamp Camp “the safest place on the planet, besides your home.”
Our first week of summer camp at Camp Woodmont saw 64 campers from around the southeast get to taste what would become the Swamp camp culture.
After searching for almost two years, the right property was found in Penfield, Georgia and construction began. It rained so much materials had to be hand carried to the site because the trucks couldn't make it. To see a complete set of construction pictures click here.
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