This email was sent out today to those in the Swamp database. Please spread the word.
As many of you may know, over the course of the last year the camp has created a separate entity under The Swamp umbrella called Swamp Corps. Its sole purpose is to replicate The Swamp camp culture wherever it is invited. Swamp Corps does this by committing experienced campers and counselors from the U.S. for a three-year period so that the host community's counselors, camp directors, and even their campers can be trained on how to run and sustain an annual camp focused on training the character's of young people to reflect the pillars of a peaceful planet.
Swamp Corps is very fortunate in 2011 to be able to take a team of 47people to Jamaica and a team of 21 to Barbados. Participants are coming from a variety of places such as Athens, GA, metro-Atlanta, GA, Clemson, SC, and Tallahassee, FL. The Jamaica camp, called JamCamp, is in its second year of training whereas this will be the first year for the camp in Barbados.
To our amazement and surprise another opportunity has surfaced in the country of South Africa. We were not planning or expecting God to move so quickly...but, hey, that's the Spirit for you, and the power of word-of-mouth-excitement for a good thing.
Inspired by its Youth & Family Services Minister Dave Pocta, who has directed camps himself and seen the powerful impact they can have on children, the Johannesburg Church of Christ would like to see a thriving, perennial camp for their congregation and the areas in their sphere of influence: the dream is to see a camp in each of the 12 countries of southern Africa and to impact the myriad number of children in that part of the world.
As you can imagine we were reeling at the news knowing this is exactly the reason Swamp Corps was created. However, we also know we must build correctly and for this to not be an overwhelming experience for either families, individuals or churches themselves (as some churches are giving part of their Mission Contributions for kids to go on the trips in 2011). Especially, we don't want to burden those who are already sending people to current locations. Albeit, we must act with great diligence with what we feel is the Spirit's call.
With this in mind, we are in a discovery stage for this venture and wanted to get the word out to see who out there in "Swamp World" would welcome the opportunity to help start a camp in Johannesburg, South Africa this coming January. Not everyone will get to go on all the Swamp Corps trips, but if we all do our part then The Swamp experience can be felt and multiplied across the globe to God's glory.
Here are the details:
- Trip Duration: 9-10 days
- Camp Duration: 4 nights, 5 days...2 days travel on either side of the camp time.
- Dates: somewhere between December 30, 2011 and January 12, 2012 (some school may have to be missed...bummer, hey?!)
- Cost: Approx. $2,500 per person - this does not include fees for passport, shots, etc., if needed.
- Application Requirements for Participant:
- Be 14 years of age at the time of travel,
- Have attended The Swamp at least 4 weeks in one's lifetime (campers and counselors only),
- Counselors must be at least a rising senior in high school or college age,
- Be mature enough to be on a team in an extreme and giving environment,
- Other factors determined on a case-by-case basis (i.e. needed skills such as counseling experience, life guarding, needed skills, etc.)
- Positions Needed:
- Eight (8) girl counselors
- Eight (8) boy counselors
- 20 campers
- 9 adult volunteers
AGAIN THIS IS ONLY A DISCOVERY EMAIL to determine how many campers, counselors, and adult volunteers are willing to raise the money and give up the time to go. It will help us to determine if indeed we can support Johannesburg's invitation.
Warning: the response could be overwhelming so there may not be a spot for everyone therefore the Participant Eligibility protocols will be followed as stated on our website. Click here for more.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL BY MONDAY, MAY 23RD.
Pray for wisdom and clarity on this exciting news. I hope that this brings no extra burden on any person, family or congregation other than the desire to see as many influenced as possible.
