Camp Discovery officially began in June, but staff will continue enrolling children in grades K-8 weekly through Sept. 2 in light of Catoosa County schools' recent announcement that the school year will be delayed until after Labor Day.
About 80 campers enrolled the first week to play games and learn teamwork on the campus of Catoosa Baptist Association Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The camp can accommodate up to 125 campers each week.
"In my opinion the counselors are the best thing about the camp," said Camp Discovery camp director Teresa Beene. "They love the children and have a heart for them. We teach children how to be a part of a team and how to grow as a person."
She said the camp counselors run a tight ship and keep the children on a set schedule. Children swim two times per day and play games including capture the flag, soccer, football, dodgeball and kickball. Campers participate in praise and worship, Bible study and arts and crafts in the mornings. They receive breakfast and snacks, but must bring their own lunch.
Beene, who began directing Camp Discovery three years ago, said the most important thing is that counselors interact with the campers. She said the counselors play games with the campers and sit with them at lunch too. Most of the counselors are majoring in education at colleges in Tennessee and Georgia.
Camp Discovery also has two lifeguards on duty: Alex Furr and Daniel Hamby.
"I like the kids at camp," said Camp Discovery assistant director Ashleigh Givens. "We have a wide variety of kids from schools in Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe and Chickamauga."
o Camp Discovery, at 72 Old Mill Lane in Ringgold, can be reached at (706) 937-5323 or at the camp line, (706) 937-2621.
o The Camp Discovery theme Bible verse is Philippians, 4:8 that reads: "A child in training: focusing their minds on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good reports."