They Said It! (Quotes from Campers)

"My favorite part about camp is meeting lots of new friends and trying to keep in touch with them."

- Meg, Atlanta, 11

"Camp means a lot to me. The whole year I look forward to camp. It prepares me for what I will have to face at school."

- Drew, Atlanta, 13

"A week from my parents. There are no punishments and I love no punishments."

- W.F., Triangle, 11

"I get to meet soooooo many new friends and the cross class is awesome!"

- Jessica, Atlanta, 11

"What I like most about camp is that you go and you can bring home great things and it really inspires me to do and be like Jesus. I think it is the most spiritual time of the year. I also like meeting new people."

- Lauren, Atlanta, 12

"I love the Bible Talks. It's awesome to stay in a cabin with guys your own age. I love the midnight wrestling matches!"

- Matt, Atlanta, 17

"To me camp means leaving my home and spending a week in a cabin getting to know people I've never met before. It also means having a blast and getting a whole new perspective on scriptures I've heard all my life, but have never really thought about. My parents ask my friends what week they're going, then send me a different week, so it kind of forces me to be out of myself and meet new people who become best friends in a week."

- Melissa, Atlanta, 12

"Camp means a break from the world and hard things like boys and mean people."

- Ashlee, Triangle, NC, 13

"I like the devos and the free times. My favorite is the cross devo and starlight devo."

- Cameron, Atlanta, 11

"What I love about camp is that you're so far away from all the worldly junk and you're free from all the pressure."

- Hallie, Atlanta, 12

"Camp means a lot to me. I can't write it all here, though I feel close to God there, learn a lot that changes my life, meet new people, and it has forced me to be more open and out of myself."

- Emmie, Atlanta, 11

"Things I Love about camp: the small kids--I like how they teach me to be loving and giving and the child-like heart; the cross lesson--how it makes me grateful for what Jesus did for me and the life I have because of him; the ring of honor--I love it so much."

- Whitney, Atlanta, 16

"One thing I love about camp is getting to pray through the sunrise because it draws people closer; I love the anticipation of receiving a care package; I love walking up to the gilrs cabin in the dark; I love bonding with the girls in my cabin; I love waking up really early and having a quiet time with someone you've never met before, who goes to a different church."

- Amanda, Atlanta, 17

"Camp is my favorite place to be. I love that every time I came home, I either want to go back or I learn a lot more about God. A lot of times, it's both!"

- Katelyn, Atlanta, 11

"I like learning and having fun!"

- Samantha, Atlanta, 9

"Having fun and learning stuff."

- Marcus, Triangle, NC, 13

"My favorite part of camp is having times with my counselors. Their thoughts are amazing and they really mean so much to me."

- Emily, Atlanta, 12

"I liked--loved--to learn from each child how to have a child like heart towards God, and then to see them in class and all grown up and still loving God. I feel fruitful for having known them."

- Bernadette, Atlanta, Former Counselor

"Everyone treats you like family."

- Zsanette, Triangle, NC, 13

"You meet so many friends and you have a better relationship with everyone. You learn how much God loves you and you learn how much you need to change to be like God. It gets you ready to be a disciple and it is so awesome!"

- Olivia, Atlanta, 11

"Camp is my favorite place in the whole world to be because it's like a spiritual wake up for me. I don't worry about being cool or popular. I don't worry about school (yeah!). I can totally relax. I would live there."

- Anonymous, Atlanta

"Camp means growing in my relationship with God and friends."

- Stephen, Atlanta, 12

"I like older guys having quiet times with me in the morning."

- Logan, Triangle, NC, 13

"I am a disciple because of camp. It made me realize how Jesus saved my life. It has given me so many incredible memories and hardships I worked out that taught me so much. The friendships you build there are incredible and last a lifetime. Once I'm there, I can't go home."

- J.D., Atlanta, 15

"You get to make new friends from other churches in different parts of the world. You get to be yourself."

- Madie, Atlanta, 13

"According to me the Swamp changes some things in me every time I go. Carolyn Sessions really inspires me. She always has something nice to say. Also some of the older girls who are disciples try to reach out to us younger ones and become like big sisters to us, or mainly me."

- Diamond, Atlanta, 11

"70's party--fun, dancing and having a great time with the other kids."

- Rebecca, Triangle, NC, 13

"I think the swamp has helped me to become more Godly and have fun."

- Russell, Atlanta, 12

"The Swamp is the reason I am a disciple. The relationships you build last forever and they are deep. The Swamp is a drop of heaven on earth to me."

- Tyler, Atlanta, 15

"The most important thing to me about camp is how everyone is loving to each other and how we can learn and worship God and still have fun. The counselors are like us in a more mature body. When I get older I want to be a counselor at The Swamp."

- Juan, Atlanta, 11

"I have never been to camp but this is why I would want to go. I would want to go because I could hang out with my friends and meet some new friends, which is really cool. I would be able to worship God and become a great disciple."

- Mallory, Atlanta, 12

"Camp to me is spending my last nine summers in heaven on earth; is my best friend from school actually seeing God and deciding to liver her life for him; is a spiritual haven, a time to be encouraged, a time to be challenged, a time to grow and a time to have fun!; is building real relationships that I'll keep for eternity; is where I find my heroes."

- Laura, Atlanta, 17

"Games, friends, and candy."

- Deray, Triangle, NC, 11

"I like Sonny's goofy jokes."

- Chris, Atlanta, 11

"The coolest things about camp are playing the "Wacky Olympics", washing dishes in the morning, making friends, foosball, learning about God."

- Jeff, Atlanta, 11

"I think the coolest thing about camp is getting away from daily life and learning from people who have more experience with life. I also like learning deeply about the Bible, and just being able to hang out alone for a week. My favorite lessons would have to be the starlight devotional and the cross lesson."

- Jacob, Atlanta, 14

"I think one of the coolest things about camp is that you get to hang out with old friends and make new ones."

- Mitchell, Atlanta, 12

"Starlight d-times, cross study, hanging out with my friends, swamp ball are my favorite things."

- Jed, Atlanta, 14

"The last time I went to camp Swamp I had the best time of my life. I wish I could live there. It's so fun. It teaches you a whole bunch of stuff about God and life. I love the way I can make new friends and see old ones. It's the best place on earth. You get dirty and have a great time. My favorite part is hanging with friends."

- Symone, Triangle, NC, 11

"I like Sonny's heart and his love for us. It is special and fun. I like the time he takes for us! Thanks!"

- Shaun, Atlanta, 11

"I think the best part of camp is the singing devotionals we have in the morning. I also like the ghost stories at night. I also like hanging out with my friends and definitely four-square!"

- Zack, Atlanta, 14

"I get to spend and see my friends for a whole week."

- Stephen, Atlanta, 12

" Making friends, learning about God, praying, having quiet times, eating good food, sleeping a few hours a day, and fishing."

- Justin, Atlanta, 14

"If you think I hate camp, well think again. I love camp. I love the food, the pond, definitely the canteen, and how everyone gets to learn about the Bible."

- Michael, Atlanta, 9

"At camp I liked getting the award. Also the counselors are the best. I think the Swamp should stay as the Swamp for as long as possible!!"

- Hannah, Atlanta, 9

"I like camp because it is muddy and fun. The way it is well organized and the way the food is great."

- Sean, Atlanta, 10

"Three reasons I like camp are being with your friends, the lessons, and the activities like swimming, free time, sleeping and it's not like other camps. It's special."

- Adam, Atlanta, 9

"I like that: 1) You get choices about things to do, 2) Things are already planned to do, 3) At night the stars are beautiful."

- Claire, Atlanta, 10

"It's fun and exciting. I like the devos, Friday nights, pool time, 70's dance, camper of the week, friends."

- Paige, Atlanta, 10

"The thing that I like about camp is that everybody is nice to you and we play fun games."

- Spencer, Atlanta, 10

"The things I like most about camp is all the friends you make and meet. I live to listen to Sonny's stories. I love all the parties."

- Chris, Atlanta, 12

I like the devos...mostly the starlight devos. The friends you make. I like the counselors and Sonny & Carolyn (you too Jeff) Friday night, the party & the lip sincks, Thursday night 70's party, Saturday mornings the camper of the week."

- Lauren, Atlanta, 9

"I like it when we do Bible groups. I think it's cool that the counselors teach it. I like it when we do it on the kizibo."

- Mia, Atlanta, 11

"Growing up as a disciple's kid I had always been around the church, but it was camp that broke my hard heart and made me see who I was and more importantly who God was. Camp was the first place that I ever really prayed and from this day on it remains truly a magical place."

- Krista, Atlanta, 15

"Camp is, at nine years old, eating as much candy as you want...FOR DINNER! Camp is the promise of best friends whispering long into the night. Camp is falling in love with God for the first time...the second time...the eleventh time."

- Indya, Atlanta, 18

"Camp to me is the place to go to get away from all the worries of life. When I am at camp, I can clear my mind and focus solely on God and nothing else matters. Camp is where I can focus spiritually and not care what anyone else thinks because they all have the same goal in mind as I do."

- Danny, Atlanta, 16

"My favorite thing about camp is the little kids that become your best friends over the week. They teach you to have the heart that Jesus called his disciples to have. True gratefulness is taught through the late night talks with the new best friends you make while you're there."

- Jenni, Atlanta, 16

"Camp is a place to go to learn about yourself and find the good and the bad, but regardless of what you find, people still like you. To little kids you're the coolest person in the world and the friends you make last a lifetime. Camp is a place to be yourself and learn that it's cool to love God. Camp is a place to be safe and be loved and learn how to love others."

- Audrey, Atlanta, 17

"I love the camp because you learn a lot and you just have fun. I totally recommend it."

- Natasha, Triangle, NC, 13

"Camp to me is a place where I can get away from the world and relax. Camp is where I get my best spiritual meal ever. It's like eating roast beef, mashed potatoes and everything else. I like to eat but it's spiritual food. Camp to me is building relationships that will last. It's where the closest thing to heaven is on earth. It's also humbling because I learn how to have the heart of a child from the younger campers."

- Grant, Atlanta, 17