10th Annual GROW Day Camp at West Georgia United Methodist Church
June 10-14, 2024
Monday through Thursday 9:00 – 5:30 Friday: 9:00 – 12:30
All camp activities will be held on the campus of West Georgia United Methodist Church, 1106 Maple St., at the corner of Maple Street & Hays Mill Road (enter on Hays Mill)
Enrollment limited to 48 campers who are rising 1st graders through rising 6th graders
Registration and Information: Go to www.growdaycamps.org for 2024 camp information, to register your child/children, view a short informational video, see more photos, and read descriptions of camp activities, mission, & curriculum.
Drop-offs: Early drop-off at our fenced playground from 7:30-8:30 am, supervised by trained adult volunteers who have been educated through our Safe Sanctuaries curriculum and policies for the prevention of child abuse. Check in from 8:30-9:30 am with GROW counselors, professional staff from the North Georgia United Methodist Conference Camping and Retreat Ministries or trained West Georgia United Methodist Church volunteers.
Lunches and Snacks Provided: Partnered United Methodist churches of the Maple Street and Downtown area take turns providing lunches for all campers, staff, and volunteers: West Georgia United Methodist Church, Community First United Methodist Church, and Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church — for all 5 days at no extra cost. In addition, snacks are provided twice daily by GROW staff.
Scholarship Information:
Need-based financial aid/camperships come from two sources, and applications for both must be completed:
Step 1: Complete our online West Georgia United Methodist Church scholarship application.
Step 2: West Georgia United Methodist Church will send you the link to complete the North Georgia Camping and Retreat Ministries GROW Campership Application (this is a second scholarship opportunity - please apply for both).
For additional questions on GROW’s camperships, email growdaycamps@ngcrm.org or call 706-864-6181
Want to learn more about our experience at Grow Day Camp? Check out this article below which explains its history and what your camper can look forward to this Summer.
Summer camp….. brings back fun memories for many adults when recalling their days in school when part of the summer was spent at a church, sports, or scout camp. Today’s Carrollton families have many times the number of camps to choose from: an ever-widening variety of sports camps for track & field, football, basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, golf, tennis and more, plus camps for culinary arts, drama, writing, visual arts, computer skills, and more. So, what about a camp for elementary children for faith formation?
Closing Ceremony at West Georgia United Methodist Church
Since 2014, West Georgia United Methodist Church has hosted a one-week, GROW Day Camp for rising 1st through rising 6th graders. The week of June 10-14, 2024 the Carrollton church near the UWG campus at the corner of Hays Mill Road and Maple Street will partner with Community First United Methodist Church and Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church for their 10th GROW Day Camp.
“These three churches, as well as the leadership of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, believe this format of 4 full days plus a half day on Friday that are packed with activities serve faithfully for a single purpose. They are all designed to teach young children new skills to enable them to build their own Christian community,” explained West Georgia United Methodist Church member and camp coordinator David Harris.
Sydney Shattles, right, has a friend forever
There are three areas of focus in the curriculum and mission of GROW Day Camps. Grow deeper roots in their faith (grow spiritually), in their ability to work as a team (grow socially), and in self-confidence as a loved child of God (grow individually.) The mission-minded Methodists can rely on over 90 years experience (since 1925) of conducting camps in Dahlonega at their facility at Camp Glisson. In 2008 the Conference added the current branch of GROW Day Camps geared exclusively to elementary aged children with a day camp only format that carries the same mission directly to host churches. These churches house the professionally trained counselors for the week.
“The camps up at Glisson have been successful for decades, but the higher cost of overnight stays, more meals and their location up near the Tennessee border limited their outreach efforts. In addition, they realized in the early 2000s that elementary age kids need the confidence from faith strengthening as well to resist negative peer pressure and learn how to serve others to form Christian community,” said Harris.
What are the three big keys to the success of GROW Day Camps? “A low camper-to-counselor ratio, with their high quality, in depth training, coupled with the passion and caring attitude by the counselors, and fun activities that develop their faith in the process,” related Harris. “Their winning system comes from what GROW calls ‘Living Groups’ averaging 4-6 campers per counselor – usually 5 – in which the campers stay all day every day, including sharing meals and snack times, with their assigned counselor. This encourages close relationships and bonding between campers to their counselors.” These healthy relationships can be seen developing even in the very first day of camp. Activities taught including morning and late afternoon chapel in the shaded amphitheater on the church property, archery, belayed tree climbing, short drama skits, Bible stories, singing, arts and crafts, and a wide variety of non-competitive games and activities.
Jasmine Prothro & Caitlyn Parlato share a moment at West Georgia United Methodist Church GROW Day Camp
“Of all the approximately 94 different counselors & Site Directors that have come to us to serve in our 9 previous camps, there’s not one I wouldn’t love to have back. They’ve all been passionate, caring, highly effective and enthusiastic, without exception. That is a strong indication of how well trained their counselors and Site Directors are,” reflected Harris. We’re also amazed at how each year we see activities we’ve not seen before in previous camps. This shows the effort they give to design new, fun ways to teach the lessons. Their creativity is amazing.” Continued Harris, “I tell many parents before camp starts that your child won’t be the same child on Friday as he/she was on Monday,“ enthused Harris. “Many kids come in on the first day somewhat shy, looking around trying to see where they fit in. But by Friday, they’re typically full of new-found confidence, buoyed by the new friends they made and the fun they’ll remember for years. I’ve had parents tell me their child was still singing some of the camp songs until Christmas. When you can send your child to camp where they’ll have fun, gain new friends, grow a deeper sense of faith and learn new skills at the same time, what more can a parent ask for their child?” explained Harris.
Water Day at Grow Day Camp
Beginning in 2019, except for the COVID year of 2020 when GROW had to cancel all camps, West Georgia United Methodist Church has filled all available camper slots on the average of a month prior to the 1st day of camp. Be sure to sign up now to reserve your spot.