Are you ready for the summer?

Joe Westbury/Index

Campers paddle at Camp Kaleo.

DULUTH — Ask Director Bill Wheeler when he and his staff began preparing for the slew of campers descending on Georgia Baptist Convention Conference Center-Toccoa this summer, and his answer is a simple one.

“We never stop.”

That pretty much describes all the GBC conference centers and camps throughout the state. Although most summer staff began reporting for duty this month, getting ready is a year-round effort.

Wheeler’s counterpart at GBC Norman Park, Brian Blackburn, says enrollment has pretty much hit the ceiling for several weeks at the Colquitt County facility. High-energy music and engaging speakers are a top draw, but so are some recent additions.

Campers will still enjoy the air-conditioned gymnasium and Olympic-sized swimming pool, but now inflatable water slides, dry slides, and bounce houses are available. Everything meshes on the former college campus to create memories lasting years.

“We’ve got – I think – one of the best facilities in the South for camps,” he says. “It’s a small college atmosphere, but minus the revelry that can go with a college. It’s a safe environment with good ole Southern hospitality.”

Woman’s Missionary Union consultant Karen Pace echoes the high expectations for camper attendance at Camp Pinnacle in Clayton.

“We’re striving to have at least 900 involved this summer. As of a few weeks ago, we had 520 registered, which is the first time in several years we’ve had this many signed up this early.

“Campers can expect a lot of typical activities such as swimming, hiking, paddle boating, and private and corporate worship experiences,” she adds. “Other activity options include archery, cheerleading, outdoor living skills, and interpretive movement.

“The most important thing, of course, is the time they will spend interacting with our missionaries. During this time they learn how God draws people to Himself and hear firsthand how He makes Himself known through a relationship.”

Brian Blackburn

A Norman Park camper completes his ride on one of the new inflatables with a splashdown. Several similar additions welcome attendees of the south Georgia conference center.

That real-life missions experience is fostered at Camp Kaleo as well. Week-long camps for Royal Ambassadors and day camps offer programs leading children into a deeper relationship with Christ, says director Mike Flowers, also a consultant in GBC Men’s Ministries. Other than their length, the only difference is RA camps being for boys while the day camps are for boys and girls.

“Campers meet real missionaries who share their experiences on the field,” states Flowers. “We also teach them how to share their faith through Bible storying. In addition, they make crafts, swim, canoe, hike, fish, learn archery and how to use air rifles, gather around the bonfire, and compete in the belly flop competition. In the process they make lifelong friendships.”

Although camps at all locations are preparing to start and reaching capacity (some already have), latecomers are encouraged to sign up.

“It’s never too late,” states Flowers. “At this time we have church groups [coming] every week except one and we still have a few weekends available for booking.”

Groups are welcome to tailor their own camp with Kaleo staff facilitating all outdoor activities, he added.

Camps such as WOW Weekend, IMPACT, Go Tell, Student Life, and MERGE make up much of the activity at Toccoa, says Wheeler. “Later in the summer we’ll also host high school football and band camps.”

Facilities at Toccoa have also benefited from improvements, he reports.

“The chapel has gotten a facelift with some new carpet, fresh paint, and new lighting. New air conditioning units have been placed in Forester Lodge.”

Blackburn has had to deal with lodging headaches of his own. In late March, flooding ruined the first-floor carpeting in Fender Hall. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers in Georgia Disaster Relief, churches throughout Colquitt Association, and Norman Park employees, Fender is slated for use at the beginning of June.

GBC Toccoa

Good food is a consistent part of GBC camps. The cafeteria at Toccoa offers a view of Lake Louise in addition to great Southern cooking.