2024 FLORIDA COLLEGE ALABAMA SUMMER CAMP

Information Central

We are looking forward to an exciting week of camp at Camp McDowell this year. Please note that the dates for camp this year have changed! Camp will be JUNE 9-15.

We expect camp will fill up as normal, so please be ready on January 20th (early for Bell members only) and 27th to apply.

Changes for Summer Camp 2024

NON-SPORTS TRACK

Senior campers only

This year we will offer a non-sports track for those campers who would rather not endure the heat and noise of society sports. These events will take place in the Doug, are restricted to a small number of campers (senior campers only), and will have other society challenges with which they can earn points.

CHOOSING WORKSHOPS

This year we have many new workshops, including handicrafts, woodworking, water polo, and more. There are also many new studies in which you camper can take part. During the application, your camper will choose 8 activities they would like, then our goal as directors is to give them 5 (one per day) from the options they chose. Please note they will only receive five workshops from their choices.

NEW APPLICATION PROCESS

We are moving away from Active as our registration platform this year. Instead, we are using UltraCamp. You can set up your account with UltraCamp at any time you would like. Here are step-by-step instructions to set up your account. We recommend setting up your account before the day applications become available.

The application will open at 10 am on Jan 20 for those who are Bell members and at 10 am on Jan 27 for those who are not Bell members. If you'd like to become Bell members so you can gain access to the early application, go here. If you want to double check whether you are still currently on the Bell membership list, reach out to Tiffany at tiffanyshanks20@gmail.com and tell her in which chapter of the Bell you believe you are enrolled.

ROOMMATE REQUESTS

Senior campers only

Our roommate request procedure is changing this year to make the task more manageable. Ideally, each camper should request up to four roommates. Requests must be made by both campers to be a valid request. Roommate requests made at the time of application are not guaranteed, but our goal as directors is to give each camper at least one person they have requested in their room. Room assignment information will not be shared until arrival at camp and check-in information has been received. Roommate requests are not mandatory, but can be helpful due to the restraints of having four campers in a room together.

TIE DYE DIES AND SOCIETY SHIRTS

This year, we have an entirely new craft staff working camp. We have decided to cease having tie-dye as an activity. There will be NO tie-dying of tshirts this year, but many past campers have used their tie-dye tshirts as a keepsake that they have their fellow campers sign on Friday of camp.

This year, we will plan to offer society shirts for sale for this purpose. If you'd like a camp society colored shirt, add that to your application for $10. This will be distributed on the first day for camp for your camper to wear on Friday and sign. There will also be sharpies for sale in the camp store for $1 each for those who do not bring one from home.

Camper NEED TO KNOW Info

Packing List

SPORTS FOR 2024

At FCAL camp, we love sports. Well, most of us love sports. Our goal is to make camp enjoyable for all. We will offer a nonsports track for those who do not enjoy sports (senior campers only), and for those who do enjoy sports, there will be a mixture of traditional sports and non-traditional games. In the afternoon, we will attempt to play more competitive games. If you play soccer, basketball, football, ultimate, or volleyball, and you want to have a "real" game with others who also play your sport, we will have these games available. So bring your gear. Lace up the cleats. Get ready to win some society points doing what you love best - winning!

WORKSHOPS FOR 2024

ADVENTURE COURSE

(Senior camp only)

Camp McDowell has an adventure course with three main challenges: a climbing wall, a giant swing, and a high altitude jump. This activity requires a liability waiver to be signed and this will be sent to all who are assigned to this activity. Led by the Camp McDowell staff.

BIBLE PROPHETS

Campers are invited to learn some insightful lessons about the minor prophets and how to better apply them to life today. This class will enrich your interaction with this lesser known section of the Bible. Led by Colby Junkin.

CHAIR GAMES

Campers love being together. Chair games is a chance to hang out with a few chair games like "Have You Ever?" or "Signs."

DEBONAIR

(Boys only)

Campers are coached through how to be gentlemen, including how to tie a tie, how to speak properly to ladies, and how to treat others with respect.

GAGA BALL

(Junior girls only)

A full hour of Gaga Ball for girls only. Learn how to play better and get some practice without those dirty boys around.

EXTREME HAPPY MAIL

Bring the artist inside out as you make some interesting happy mail and cards for other campers.

LORD'S SUPPER BREAD MAKING

(Girls Only)

Campers are invited to bake a recipe for Lord's Supper Bread and learn more deeply why this memorial matters.

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE

(Senior Camp only)

Learn some tips and tricks from a professional photographer and enter a photo challenge that will earn society points and have your picture featured in the camp slideshow. Led by Lamar Smith.

* All participants must bring with them their own digital camera with a removable SD card. The camper should know how to adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on the camera. The camper doesn't need to know why they should adjust, just how to adjust.

SONG LEADING

(ADVANCED)

(Senior camp boys only)

Those who are experienced song leaders will learn some advanced techniques for becoming a more advanced song leader.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball techniques are reviewed, including serving, passing, blocking, and bumping. Led by Micah Rice.

WOOD WORKING

Working with wood and making something you can be proud of is something every young person should learn. Come work with a master woodcrafter and make something you can take home.

*This activity costs an extra $10 to pay for the supplies for the project.

ARCHERY

Campers are invited to learn the skills and practice the art of archery. Don your Robin Hood cap, grab a bow, and see if you can split an arrow down the middle.

BIBLE TIMELINE

Campers are invited to learn the Seventeen Time Periods and why they matter. This class will enrich your understanding of how the entire Bible fits together into one complete message. Led by Colby Junkin.

CPR/LIFE SAVING

(Junior camp only)

Campers are led through life saving techniques, such as CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.

DISC GOLF

Campers are invited to learn how to better handle discs, better aim for baskets, and just enjoy a small disc golf course together.

GOSPEL ON A NAPKIN: PRACTICAL

EVANGELISM

Learn the fundamentals of how to teach your friends the Gospel, in a simple, easy-to-memorize lesson.

HIKING

(Junior camp only)

Campers are led on a hike together with other campers their age.

NEW SONG CLASS

(Senior Campers Only)

Campers are invited to learn some new songs. Those who participate in this class will also be invited to record these songs before the end of the week.

PUBLIC SPEAKING (HOW TO TELL A STORY)

Campers will learn about basic public speaking skills, especially through learning how to better tell a story. Led by Adam Shanks.

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN

(Senior camp girls only)

Women are led through some helpful skills that will help them as they lead other women and children in worship. Led by Tiffany Vaughan.

WATER AEROBICS

(Junior girls only)

Water aerobics is an exercise class in the water. It's a fun time for them to just get an extra hour in the pool. Led by Tamara Renfrow.

WORSHIP TRAINING

Learn how to better serve your local church family by learning fundamentals of the public reading of Scripture and leading prayers.

BB GUNS

This activity allows campers to shoot pump BB rifles at targets in a safe and confined area.

CANOEING

(Junior camp only)

Campers are welcome to spend some time canoeing on the pond with their friends. They will be required to wear life vests for safety purposes.

CRAFTS

Crafts will change from day to day and include activities such as painting.

EARTHBALL GAMES

Campers will be challenged to handle a larger than life ball, playing various games against one another.

GUITAR JAM

(Senior camp only)

Those who play guitar are welcome to jam together for an hour. Led by Keith Stonehart.

*All participants must bring their own guitar to participate.

EXTREME HIKING

(Senior camp only)

Campers are led on a harder hike, including some small climbing, a walk down a creek, and a singing in the gorge.

OLD SONG CLASS

Campers have learned many songs over the years, many which have been forgotten. Join with other campers to relearn some older camp songs and bring them back from retirement.

SIGN LANGUAGE

(Junior campers only) Campers will learn how to communicate with the deaf, learning some basic words and the alphabet. Led by Amy Dixon.

STORY BEHIND THE SONGS

The songs we sing in worship are not only meaningful in their message, but sometimes even in their creation. Learn some of the stories behind the songs we sing as worship with our congregation.

WATER POLO

(Senior boys only)

Water polo is a sport for the Olympics. Except when it's an exciting hour of wet fun for the FC AL Camp!

BIBLE JOURNALING

(Girls only)

This activity is a special activity, quickly popular last year, where ladies can learn how to journal artistically through the Bible. Led by Brenna Powell.

EXTREME CANOEING

(Senior camp only)

Campers hike to a river where they can canoe together down the river and then back upstream. They will be required to wear life vests for safety purposes.

DAY SPA

(Girls only)

Campers will spend an hour being cared for as if they are at a day spa. Cucumbers anyone? Led by Julie Norris and Jana Hall.

FISHING

Campers can fish at the pier on the pond. They will learn how to properly tie a hook on the line and bait the hook as they fish. Fishing is catch and release.

HANDICRAFTS

(girls only)

Learn amigurumi, or crochet animals, and make an adorable pet of your own.

*this activity costs an extra $10 to pay for the supplies for the craft.

IMPROV CLASS

Campers will be taught some improv games and learn tips and tricks for improv style humor.

PERSPECTIVES OF LIFE: ECCLESIASTES

This one time study will familiarize the camper with the major lessons of Ecclesiastes and help them put life in perspective. Led by Ashley Miller.

SONG LEADING (BEGINNERS)

(Boys only)

Basic music reading skills and song leading techniques will be taught to young men wanting to develop as song leaders in worship.

SURVIVAL SKILLS

Campers are led through some basic survival techniques and skills needed to survive in various scenarios.

WEIGHTLIFTING

(Senior boys only)

All guys know how to lift weights. They just don't know how to do it without hurting themselves. Come learn some better techniques as you lift weight together with your fellow campers.

CAMPER TALENT SHOW

This year's camper talent show will be on Friday, June 14th. We invite all campers to try out for the show with their own unique talent. We have time for 10+ acts for senior campers and 10+ acts for junior campers. Those participating in the talent show must follow these rules.