Building Faith & Fellowship for 75 YEars
A Place To Run Home To
Gravatt has been home to summer camp for thousands of children since 1949, and is named for The Rt. Revd. John J. Gravatt, Second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Camp Gravatt is part of Gravatt Camp and Conference Center, which hosts a variety of school, corporate, and religious groups throughout the year. Camp existed on what is now the “conference side” of our property for 20 years before moving to its current location on the “camp side” in 1969.
Registration for Camp Gravatt 2025 will open on November 7th, 2024!
Please visit our 2025 Dates and Rates and Registration Information pages for more information!
Summer Camp
Gravatt Explorers
Family Camp
New Years Camp
Beliefs and Values
At Gravatt, one of our core values has always been to “put campers first.” Our staff takes this seriously, and strives to provide an experience that makes every camper feel loved, included, and accepted. Our primary goal is to create a place where young people can feel comfortable being themselves, allowing them to push themselves out of their comfort zones while challenging them to grow individually and as a community. We do this not by focusing on activities, but by focusing on the strong relationships that form between campers and their counselors. Indeed, we do not have the mountains or the beach, but our campers come back to Gravatt each summer because of the way Gravatt makes them feel.
Episcopal Tradition
Camp Gravatt is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and specifically the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. While Episcopal worship and traditions are commonly practiced and referenced at Gravatt, we welcome children of all denominations, faiths, backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions. We believe that summer camp, and especially Camp Gravatt, provides an opportunity for campers to grow in their confidence, independence, and spirituality as they learn to interact with others in our community.
Goals
Camp Gravatt exists to provide an outdoor ministry of Christian education in the Episcopal tradition and recreation for youth and children. Through this ministry the camp and staff devote themselves to developing the following goals:
Spiritual Growth & Development
- Campers will participate in a camp-wide morning devotion daily.
- Campers will participate in a tent / cabin evening devotion daily.
- Campers will actively prepare for and participate in a camp-wide Eucharist.
- Campers will participate in a Christian formation activity period each day,.
- Campers will participate in the camp-wide Shalom Circle and prayer at the close of each day.
- The entire camp will pray before each meal.
- A lay chaplain will plan with the director for Christian formation, assist in its infusion throughout all aspects of the day, and be available for spiritual counseling for campers and staff.
Human Relationships
- Campers will live in tent/cabin groups according to age level.
- Tent/cabin groups will participate in daily activities and evening programs that will foster communication, problem-solving, friendship, and teamwork.
- Campers will eat together family style.
- Counselors will work to develop positive relationships with each of their campers.
Health & Safety
- Campers will be oriented to health and safety rules on the first day of each session.
- Campers will be required to practice proper hygiene (i.e. bathing, brushing teeth, washing hands, etc.).
- Campers will be oriented to safety rules in each program area before the start of those programs.
Fun & Adventure
- Campers will participate in the Adventure & Discovery Center “challenge by choice” programs, including our Team Building and High Ropes Courses.
- Campers will participate in other program activities to include swimming, art, archery and canoeing.
- Campers will be offered opportunities to choose their own activities.
- Campers will participate in a variety of evening programs such as Carnival, Luau, Talent Show, and The Dance.
Fulfillment of Each Camper’s Potential
- Campers will be challenged to try new activities and develop new skills that stretch but do not break their comfort zones.
- Counselors and other staff members will provide constructive feedback and encouragement to their campers.
Knowledge & Appreciation of the Natural World
- Campers will live in the outdoors.
- Campers will participate in at least one campfire each session.
- Campers will be oriented to proper care of the environment at the beginning of each session (i.e. don’t litter, don’t graffiti tents and cabins, conserve water, etc.).
- Through the Gravatt Environmental Education Program (GEEP), campers will be educated on the natural environment surrounding Gravatt.
- Campers will take part in cleaning up the camp each day.
- Campers may choose to take nature hikes as a tent / cabin group activity.
Leadership Development (LIT Program)
- LITs will participate fully in camp life
- LITs will learn counseling skills through practice and shadowing current staff
- LITs will strengthen their faith through community building and discussion
- LITs will gain an understanding of Gravatt tradition and history
- LITs will assist in program planning and assist in its execution