As a parent now in my tenth year of sending both of my children to Camp Gravatt, there is something that continues to amaze me every single summer.
How can one simple place — without technology, without air conditioning, and yes, even with its share of mosquitoes — give children such deep joy, confidence, and faith? And yet, year after year, it does exactly that.
Gravatt gives children something that feels increasingly rare in today’s world: space to grow into themselves. It quietly teaches them how to lead, how to serve others, and how to find strength in their faith. Last summer, as we drove away from camp, I listened to our children talk about their time at camp and was genuinely struck by how much they had grown. Their maturity, their perspective, and most of all their happiness were remarkable.
Camp Gravatt may not immediately come to mind when we think about places that support children with medical needs. But in truth, it does just that. It supports the silent and often unseen needs of growing children – the emotional and spiritual health that shapes them during the most formative years of their lives, from elementary school through high school.
In a world that constantly pulls at their attention and measures them by screens, achievements, and sport expectations, Gravatt offers something profoundly healing. It gives children a place to unplug, to breathe, to laugh freely, and to simply belong.
Gravatt is more than a summer camp. It is a sanctuary.
It is where friendships are built around campfires, where confidence blossoms during a talent show, and where quiet moments allow space for reflection, faith, and spiritual growth.
For many campers, Gravatt becomes the first place they truly feel seen.
It’s where the shy child finds her voice.
Where the “cool” kid learns the deeper power of kindness.
Where an anxious child discovers peace and acceptance.
Where a child quietly carrying a heavy heart finds laughter, purpose, and hope.
These are the children who may not even realize what they need — but somehow, they find it here.
Gravatt gives children the opportunity to deepen their faith and discover that the truest and most lasting friendship is found in the Lord. That is why the health of Gravatt matters so deeply to families like ours. It is why we support Gravatt not just during the summer, but throughout the year.
We give so that every child — regardless of background or circumstance — can experience the same joy, belonging, and transformation that Gravatt has given our children.
As Mark 12:31 reminds us: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is no commandment greater than this.
Supporting Gravatt is one small way we can live out that calling. Together we can ensure that the doors remain wide open for the next generation of campers, knowing that the seeds planted here grow into lives rooted in faith, resilience, kindness, confidence, and joy.
Gravatt may not always be the loudest voice asking for support. But the quiet, sacred work happening there is profoundly important.
And it needs all of us — today and for the future.
Let’s help keep this extraordinary place thriving for the children who need it now, and for all those who will come after them.
Kristin Sullivan Burgess
Camper / Junior Staff Parent