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.

Read the story and see the timeline of milestones below.

Camp Swamp was founded by Sonny and Carolyn Sessions (pictured above L to R) who dreamed for many years of running a camp and serving youth and families. You see, Carolyn grew up going to camp since she was a small girl; she will spend hours telling you how inspiring camp was in her life and how many relationships she made during her time there. She and Sonny attended the same college, and at that time the college leadership decided it was time to start a camp. They handed the job to the coach of the school's basketball team, Coach Kirk, and he began to create a plan and assemble a team of counselors whom he could entrust with the job of creating a loving and safe camp environment. Sonny and Carolyn were two of those counselors, eventually becoming head counselors and learning many of the foundations of a successful camp culture during this time.

Sonny and Carolyn dreamed of making such a camp experience available for other children, even decades later. The dream never dissipated; they just needed the opportunity. Then, in the early 1990’s, that opportunity presented itself in the form of the Atlanta Church of Christ, whose congregation included over 1,800 children aged 18 and younger. Steve and Kim Sapp, leaders of the church, decided to back the Sessions' dream, and camp began with its first week in the summer of 1992. It grew rapidly and word got out all over the southeastern United States.  In the fourth year, it was time to search for property and begin to build a permanent camp. Camp Swamp was completed in 1998 and has been in operation ever since on its present 180-acre location in Penfield, Georgia, just two hours east of Atlanta and 45 minutes south of Athens.

Since the inaugural summer, thousands have come to enjoy the safe, spiritual and nurturing environment known as Camp Swamp...thanks to the dreams and hard work of Sonny and Carolyn.