Trying to pick my most memorable moment from my time as a counselor is nearly impossible. When I think of my time at camp last summer, I see flashes of smiling campers, awesome co-workers, and crazy activities.
Read MoreThere are so many fun activities that we get to do at Camp Gravatt. Some of my favorites are Polar Bear, archery, and high ropes, but by far my favorite thing at camp is mealtime.
Read MoreIf there is one word to sum up how Gravatt positively impacts children, it is “home.”
Read MoreBecause of Gravatt, I’ve mastered the artistries of friendship bracelets and paint pens. I’ve befriended baby goats and caught a chicken. I’ve found that coffee can be consumed at all hours of the day. I’ve made lifelong friends and countless memories. But more importantly, because of Gravatt, I have learned so many things.
Read MoreWritten by Camper Mom Jennifer Suber with input from other Gravatt moms and edited by the summer camp staff.
Read MoreTwo years ago, I was preparing for my senior year at Lander University. I always felt that I would have time to decide what my next steps would be after school, but that fourth and final year of my college career snuck up on me - and I did not feel like I was prepared to graduate. Many students around me talked about what paths they were taking and the jobs they had in place once they had their degree in hand, future employers just waiting for their arrival. Many of my peers were ready to move on, but I did not feel the same. What did I want to do with my degree? Where did I want to go?
Read MoreOpen to all ages from infant to senior citizen, Family Camp began as an opportunity for young campers to experience a sample of camp life with a parent or trusted adult by their side. Many families have made Family Camp a tradition and come back year after year.
Read MoreMore than half of 4th graders in the United States are not proficient in reading. Illiteracy is strongly related to unemployment, poor health, and incarceration rates. Students reading below grade level at the end of third grade are four to six times more likely not to graduate from high school, which means their chances of continuing the cycle of poverty and the need for welfare for themselves, their children, and their communities are great.
In response to issues stemming from illiteracy, Gravatt partnered with the Diocese of Upper South Carolina to develop Camp Adventures in Reading (Camp AIR),
Read MoreIt’s that time again – Happening #75 for the Diocese of Upper South Carolina is set to take place March 11-13, 2016, at Camp Gravatt!
Read MoreFormer summer camp staff member, Madelyn Smith, shares why she gives to Gravatt.
Read MoreFire has always been a part of the southern landscape, from lightening fires to its use by native Americans and early settlers as a management tool. Fire is also a part of Gravatt’smission to be good stewards of our environment. Gravatt’s forest management plan prescribes the use of fire in our forests.
Read MoreThe Gravatt Environmental Education Program (GEEP) is one way Gravatt fulfills its environmental mission. For the past five years, GEEP has existed to increase awareness, knowledge and appreciation of South Carolina natural resources.
Read MoreRidge Spring, a classic small town complete with local shops and friendly folks, is home to a restaurant that keeps customers happy and coming back for more. Chef Brandon Velie and his wife Jeanne opened up Juniper in July of 2005 and are still going strong. It seems Velie has struck gold with his combination of fresh food, attentive and smiling staff, and vintage decorations that instantly transport you to a place of nostalgia.
Read MoreDecember 31, 1914, in Ridge Spring, South Carolina Frederick P. Byrd was born to the overjoyed couple, Eleanor Greene and Dr. Frederick Percival Byrd...
Read MoreJob title: Administration Intern
What do you do? I help manage the maintenance database and camp registration and work closely with both Ellen and Scott in the day-to-day operation of Gravatt.
Read MoreWhere are you from? West Monroe, Louisiana
Job title: Marketing and Development Intern
What are you looking forward to most? I’m looking forward to growing my marketing knowledge and learning how to share Gravatt with the community.
Read MoreWhere are you from? Saluda, South Carolina
Job title: Program and kitchen intern
What do you do? I work in the garden every day and we pick crops. I help preserve and compile the garden, help plan menus around the garden, and help plan the GEEP program (Gravatt Environmental Education Program).
Read More
Ropes Director
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to school? Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Twelve years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? One period for GEEP when it was raining and we went on a swamp walk What is your favorite day activity at camp? GEEP
What is your favorite camp meal? Chicken Tenders and French Fries
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Thomas Coleman
What is your favorite night activity? Rambo night
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Timeless
What do you want to be when you grow up? A saltwater fishing guide/captain
Counselor Year Round Intern
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. Joseph's Catholic Church
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Twelve years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Doing a mud run with David Roth my last year as a camper
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Canoe
What is your favorite camp meal? Hamburger steak
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? David Roth
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Inspiring
What do you want to be when you grow up? Years round intern
Counselor
Where are you from? Blythewood, SC
Where do you go to church? Spring Valley Presbyterian Church
Where do you go to school? Blythewood High School
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Seven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? All of my counselors and the impact they have made on my life
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Art
What is your favorite camp meal? Chicken tenders
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Darby Thompson, Amanda White, and Simons McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? Luau
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Welcoming
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher
Kitchen Assistant
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. John's Episcopal Church
Where do you go to school? A.C. Flora High School
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Four years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Going to the pit as a camper or free swim
What is your favorite day activity at camp? High Ropes
What is your favorite camp meal? Tacos
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? David Roth and Alex Bowers
What is your favorite night activity? Space Jam
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Phenomenal
What do you want to be when you grow up? A DNR officer or a photographer
Program Director
Where are you from? Aiken, SC
Where do you go to school? Aiken Technical College
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Two years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? The day we got the baby goats
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Footprints
What is your favorite camp meal? Luau night
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Scott McNeely
What is your favorite night activity? Dragon Slayer Night
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Loving Community
What do you want to be when you grow up? That is still undecided
Camp Nurse
Where are you from? Lexington, SC
What is your favorite activity at camp? Free Swim
What is your favorite camp meal? Fried Chicken
What is your favorite night activity? Carnival
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Wholesome
How long have you been going to Gravatt? One year
What is your favorite Gravatt memory? Torches on the last night of shalom
Where do you go to church? Northside Baptist Church
Lily and Alex are nurse Lori's two daughters who have spent the summer by nurse Lori's side. Lily is old enough to stay in a tent during elementary sessions and loves Strings N' Things and Goldrush during swim period. Alex helps her mom in the infirmary, loves the dance, baby goats, and singing shalom.
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? Spring Valley Presbyterian Church
Where do you go to school? The University of South Carolina
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Ten years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? The 10-day session that I won inspection everyday
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Adventure and Discovery
What is your favorite camp meal? Cold cut sandwich day
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Hughes McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Family
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Doctor
Griffin Carrouth
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Where do you go to school? A.C. Flora High School
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Seven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? My first time playing narball
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Narball
What is your favorite camp meal? French toast sticks
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? JB Carrouth
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Friendship
What do you want to be when you grow up? A lawyer
What is your favorite color? Blue
Counselor
Where are you from? Irmo, South Carolina
Where do you go to church? Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
Where do you go to school? Calhoun Honors College at Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Nine years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Going to the pit as a camper and then going and jumping in the lake to get the mud off
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Swim
What is your favorite camp meal? Hamburger steak with rice
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Hughes McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? The Talent Show
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Supportive
What do you want to be when you grow up? Undecided
Counselor
Where are you from? York, SC
Where do you go to school? Winthrop University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? One year
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? My first tent as a counselor
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Canoeing
What is your favorite camp meal? Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Winston Collins
What is your favorite night activity? Space Jam
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
What do you want to be when you grow up? Pediatrician
Director of Art and GEEP
Year Round Intern
Where are you from? Saluda, South Carolina
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Seventeen years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? On the last night of the first Junior High session I was a counselor when my girls and I were lying on the back porch while looking at the stars and talking about our week
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Art and Swim
What is your favorite camp meal? Biscuits with sausage and gravy
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Michelle Sutton Spigner
What is your favorite night activity? Gold Rush
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Love
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher or a baker in a pastry shop
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Where do you go to school? Cardinal Newman High School
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Seven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? My last year as a camper when we had night devotion with Louis in Stewart Dining Hall
What is your favorite day activity at camp? High ropes
What is your favorite camp meal? Grilled Cheese
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? David Roth
What is your favorite night activity? The Dance
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Pure
What do you want to be when you grow up? A lawyer
Counselor
Where are you from? Gilbert, South Carolina
Where do you go to school? Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Seven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Going to the St. Francis Chapel the last night of my CIT year What is your favorite day activity at camp? Archery
What is your favorite camp meal? Fried Chicken
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Hughes McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? Halloween Night
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Love
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Disney Imagineer
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to school? University of South Carolina
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Eleven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? My first cabin as a counselor which was Junior High 2 in 2013
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Swim
What is your favorite camp meal? Fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Simons McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Loving
What do you want to be when you grow up? Physical Therapist
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to school? Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Eight years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? In 2010 when we had prayer lanterns going from Beckham to campfire What is your favorite day activity at camp? Morning watch
What is your favorite camp meal? French Toast Sticks
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Darby Thompson
What is your favorite night activity? The Talent Show
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Everlasting
What do you want to be when you grow up? I'm not sure yet, I know I want to work with kids in some capacity but I don't know what specifically
Where are you from? York, SC
Where do you go to church? Church of the Good Shepherd
Where do you go to school? University of South Carolina
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Four years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? The Gravatt Olympics
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Swim
What is your favorite camp meal? Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Simons McGlone
What is your favorite night activity? Space Jam
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Mesmerizing
What do you want to be when you grow up? A stay at home dad
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Where do you go to school? College of Charleston
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Six years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Getting to host a talent show with Griffin and Alex as my favorite Disney princess What is your favorite day activity at camp? Footprints
What is your favorite camp meal? Pizza and corn
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Sydney Beckner and Hallie Carde
What is your favorite night activity? The Talent Show
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Selflessness
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher and a head of a theater program
Counselor
Where are you from? Columbia, SC
Where do you go to church? St. John Neumann
Where do you go to school? Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Eight years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Going on a swamp walk with Hughes Mcglone my last summer as a camper What is your favorite day activity at camp? Art on Tie dye day
What is your favorite camp meal? Hamburger steak night
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Hughes Mcglone and David Roth
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Home
What do you want to be when you grow up? A geologist
Counselor
Where are you from? Augusta, GA
Where do you go to church? Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
Where do you go to school? Wofford College
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Eleven years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Devotions with Hughes Mcglone and Pierre Sanders my CIT year
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Canoeing
What is your favorite camp meal? Spaghetti
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Hallie Carde
What is your favorite night activity? Disney night
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Caring
What do you want to be when you grow up? Someone that does something with Marketing
Counselor/ Year round intern
Where are you from? Forest Acres, SC
Where do you go to church? St. John's Episcopal Church
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Really since I was born with my church, camp, and Diocesan Youth events
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? Teaching campers about prescribed or control burns with Hughes Mcglone
What is your favorite day activity at camp? GEEP (Gravatt Environmental Education Program)
What is your favorite camp meal? Meatloaf
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Scott McNeely and Thomas Coleman
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Hospitality
What do you want to be when you grow up? A forester
Counselor
Where are you from? Lexington, SC
Where do you go to school? University of South Carolina
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Fifteen years as camper and staffer, but really my whole life
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? When I came to a staff reunion with my parents when I was three years old, and I was sitting on the Beckham porch and Father Byrd sat and talked with me
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Polar Bear
What is your favorite camp meal? Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? All the current and former staff members
What is your favorite night activity? Jurassic Classic
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Love
What do you want to be when you grow up? The camp director or be a board member
Camp Director
Where are you from? York, SC
Where did you go to school? Clemson University
How long have you been going to Gravatt? Twenty-five years
What is your favorite memory at Gravatt? When I was a camper and we would have water wars on boys side during rest period
What is your favorite day activity at camp? Swim period on Sharks and Minnows day
What is your favorite camp meal? The hamburgers and hot dogs at Luau
Who is a current or past staff member that you look up to? Father Byrd
What is your favorite night activity? The Space Jam
Describe Gravatt and its ministry in one word. Excellence
Gravatt is a sanctuary for the ministry of faith formation, hospitality, leadership development, and environmental stewardship.
Questions about Summer Camp? Email our Camp Director, Fletcher Spigner at fletch@campgravatt.org for more information!
