Wilderness Way Camp School is a year-round therapeutic wilderness camp for troubled and abused adolescent girls. We are located in Fair Play, SC, on I-85, just across the SC/GA state line.
Our program seeks to assist troubled adolescent girls (aged 10-17) as they learn better ways of functioning within their home and school situations. Our ultimate goals are to help the girls work through emotional issues that cause them trouble and to equip them with problem solving skills so they can go back to their home and live successfully. Many of our girls have been abused or molested, and others have been involved in a variety of high-risk behaviors that result in family and scholastic difficulties. We are a nondenominational Christian camp, and as part of our program we seek to introduce girls to spiritual truths and principles as presented in the Bible. No girl is required to make personal acceptance of our beliefs (indeed, how could one "require" a heart change?); however, it is our conviction that lasting personal change comes only as a result of changes in the heart. Our girls come to us from all over the United States, though most tend to come from South Carolina. Girls come and go as individuals, though they function in a ten-member, two-counselor group during their stay here. The average stay of a girl here is 18 months.
We tend to maintain long term staff as we seek to build a sense of stability in our girls lives. Most of our girls have already faced disproportionate rejection and/or abandonment in their lives. Because our staff tends stay for a while, the girls are better able to form healthy relationships that help them heal.
Staff present and past were interested in a variety of job arenas before they joined us including camping, social service, education, child care, house parent, communication, missions, cooking, sports and recreation. These various types of interests of staff, past and present, have all gone in to helping meet the needs and growth of campers and staff alike.
Some consider camp to be one of the least known but incredibly vital ministries in existence. Our daily goal is to serve the needs of girls and their families, helping them grow into the young women God intends them to be.
Is our challenge going to be your new adventure?
Wilderness Way Camp School 175 camp School Lane Fair Play, SC 29643
864-972-0611
jbowmanisoutside@bellsouth.net
wildernesswaycamp.org