Our Program...
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
Psalm 119:105
The Gator Wilderness Camp School is a year around camping program designed specifically to serve adolescent boys from the ages of 8-16 years old. This group of boys is significantly struggling to interpret a myriad of issues in their families, schools, and communities.
We are a private, non-profit (501C3) organization dedicated to sharing Christ’s unconditional love with families and their sons who are not successfully negotiating many of the “navigational landmines” that exist in a boy’s world today.
Many times boys inadvertently stumble into these “landmines” sometimes resulting in injuries and pain that last a lifetime in the form of broken relationships, imprisonment, and even premature death. It is the goal of Gator Boys Camp to instead pursue relationships with those in need to offer a “navigational beacon” of hope and healing in the name of Christ.
“Providing a camper with tools fit for living”
Social: Who are my friends? Why are good choices for friends important?Emotional: What am I worth? Am I valued? Am I worth loving?Spiritual: Who created me? Was I created for a purpose?Cognitive: Challenging a camper to tackle difficult subjects with confidencePhysical: Allowing a boy room to roam, explore, discover“"I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”
Psalm 61:4"Help Yourself...Help Others."
Winners of Fishing Tournament
L-R Mike Christner, Brock Guengerich and Brian Christner
Fishing Tournament Pictures
2nd place: Jeremy,
Brandon and Benji
3rd place: Mel,
Kenny and Darrin
Jr. Miller and Norman Troyer
Big Thanks to all our Sponsers!
Economy Tackle and Water Sports Center
D and D Garage Doors
Custom-Air Heating and Cooling
Strader Lawn Care
MMA Stewardship Solutions
Mullet Brothers Brick Pavers
Hostetler Irrigation
H. Greg Lee, P.A.-Attorney at Law
Peachey Inc., Roofing Contractors
Woodland Acres Tree Farm Inc.
Mennonite Financial-Federal Credit Union
Overholt Landscaping, Design, and Maintenance
Greenway Lawn Service
Yoder's-Amish Home Cooking/Homemade Pies
"A Sarasota Tradition"
M and W Supply, Inc.
Mustad-Fishing Hooks
Hershberger Roofing
Campbell Cabinetry Designs
Lonnie Miller Aluminium
SCS Blazer Varsity and JV Basketball
From a Camper’s Mother...
When Joseph was a newborn, he never needed a whole lot of sleep. Joseph was always very hyper. For example, when I would go grocery shopping with him, I always had to keep an eye on him so he wouldn’t jump out of the grocery cart. There were lots of times when I just wanted to stay home because Joey was always hyper.
At the age of seven years old, the teachers started complaining because Joey would not hold still in his desk while he was doing his work. So one day, the teacher came to talk to me to see if I would take him to the doctor and the doctor said he has a high score of ADHD and put him on medication. So Joey took one pill in the morning and one at night. At the age of 10 ½ the medication wasn’t helping any more.
The year of 2008 was a very hard year. Joey started with anxiety. By 2009, that whole school year, Joseph got real bad anxiety, and the school would mostly call me every day to come pick Joey up. I would have to leave work to come pick him up because he was having bad anxiety at school and when he was at home he would pace the floor back and forth. He could not hold still at all. He was back and forth to the hospital…..By the first week of August, I did not know what to do anymore…I did not know what Joseph’s reaction was going to be when I told him he was going to Gator Camp. He looked at me and said, “Mom, I’m ready. “ So we signed him up for Gator Camp on September 9th of 2009.
The rules at Gator Camp are that Joseph can come home every 6-7 weeks from Friday to Tuesday. Then he would have to go back to Gator Camp. NO phone calls. We wouldn’t see a change in him right away. In about five months we noticed a difference in Joey. He didn’t pace the floors anymore. He sat still. He is VERY calm. After six months, they took him off the Geodon.
The last seven months I could NOT get over how calm he has been. He has a change of heart. He has a great personality…I love to pick him up when it’s home visit. He is always overjoyed and happy to see his family. On the way home, he gets out his blue song book and starts praising the Lord! I just want to thank Gator Camp for how they stepped and made a HUGE difference in Joseph’s life. I did a lot of crying and praying and God answered my prayers!
Miriam
