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A whole camp cheering on a flight of steps, arms raised

For churches and communities

Bring a camphome.

A Swamp Camp is a week-long residential camp for 9 to 18 year olds, run by your own people, that is still there for the next generation. We help you start it, then we hand it over.

Start a conversation

Who we go with

We only go where invited.

We do not impose. We collaborate.

Across the world young people long for belonging, churches want impact that lasts, and leaders are asking how to pass on faith to the next generation. Swamp Corps exists to answer that question.

We partner with:

  • Churches
  • Christian organizations
  • Local leadership teams
  • Communities ready for long-term sustainability

The three-year handoff

Yours by year three

We bring a trained team for three summers. Each year we do less and your leaders do more, until the camp runs without us.

  1. Year 1

    Plant the culture

    Swamp Corps leads

    We run the whole camp and set the roles, the expectations and the spiritual culture.

  2. Year 2

    Train and cultivate

    We lead together

    We co-lead with local leaders, coaching and reinforcing what makes camp, camp.

  3. Year 3

    Transfer ownership

    You lead

    Local leaders run the camp. We assess, support and strengthen what will keep it going.

  4. Year 4+

    Sustain and support

    Your camp

    Ongoing training, audits, leadership development and a place in a global family of camps.

Camps that complete training may affiliate with S.C.M.A. through a licensing agreement that protects the culture and keeps everyone accountable. See the full training process.

Before year one

What does it take to start a Swamp Camp?

Seven steps, with the goal of serving every 9 to 18 year old within reach of the camp. It takes the kind of commitment a church plant does.

“He may endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.”

Psalm 72:5

These steps protect the integrity, safety and sustainability of every Swamp Camp.

7 STEPSto establishinga Swamp Camp
7 STEPSto establishinga Swamp Camp

  1. 01Invitation

    We do not promote ourselves. We wait to be invited, which shows our trust in the Spirit and makes a lasting camp far more likely.

  2. 02Expectations

    A first meeting to talk through what you expect and what resources you have. Both are confirmed before we plan anything.

  3. 03Directors

    We talk through what makes a strong camp director, then begin the search for the right people.

  4. 04Location

    A close look at the site: what a productive camp needs, your budget and how people will get there.

  5. 05Registration

    What camp will cost and how per-camper fees fund it: the fee, the break-even number and long-term sustainability.

  6. 06Staffing

    What qualifies a counselor or volunteer, and the vetting that keeps camp safe.

  7. 07Marketing

    A plan to tell your community what camp is and why it matters, so families come and people get behind it.

Straight answers

What leaders ask first

All eight start-up FAQs

How do you keep campers safe?

Safety is non-negotiable. Swamp Corps operates under strict child protection policies and zero-tolerance standards.

  • Rule of Three: no one-on-one isolation
  • Background checks and screening where applicable
  • Staff trained in abuse detection and mandated reporting
  • Clearly defined supervision and housing standards

Read the Safe Camp Policies

How many people will we need?

It depends on the size of the camp, but the ratios are clearly defined.

  • One counselor for every five to seven campers
  • Teams of 10 to 14 campers
  • Swamp Corps supplies trained counselors during the three training years
  • Your own counselors are developed over that time so the camp can stand alone
Who pays for camp?

Camp fees are mostly covered by the families who attend, because that builds commitment and keeps the camp sustainable.

  • Fees cover transportation, lodging, meals, programming and staffing
  • Where families face hardship, churches are encouraged to offer scholarships or raise funds
  • We can share fundraising approaches that have worked elsewhere
Who is the camp for?

Swamp Camps usually serve the churches within a reasonable travel distance of the site. Most welcome several churches, and local leadership decides how far to reach.

Boys with arms over each other's shoulders in a prayer huddle

Meaningful partnerships begin with a conversation.

Local ownership.
Perennial impact.

Our vision is a world where every child can reasonably reach a Swamp Camp. Tell us about yours.

Start a conversation About S.C.M.A.