My childhood memories of this horrible place are way into the negative zone…read more The McBrides who ran the camp were terrible people who have left me with unpleasant memories from my childhood. The neglect and indifference from the whole staff still sticks in my mind. I would never send my child to such a place.

Best place ever!!! I went here for four years and it was awesome! Amazing faculty and campers. You…read moremeet so many amazing people! The best camp ever!

I do NOT recommend this business! Staff are not properly trained to handle toddlers!read more

If your child is of African American decent or have any special needs, I do not recommend this…read morecompany. The biggest mistake I've made as a mother is enrolling my son into this school. I regret not paying attention to the signs. The first one being the cotton stems and plants in the directors front office. The second sign was them calling my son pet/nicknames instead of his government, which I sent emails pleading them to address this situation. Also, my son is allergic to dairy and they still fed it to him although I provided them with a prescription from his nutritionist/ pediatric doctor. As the days went by things got worse. They would send my son home with a dirty diaper and snotty nose, he always had a diaper rash we could not get rid of, rushing to Children's emergency room became part of our routine. He caught the hand foot mouth disease twice within six months. He came home with bruises and whips on him. I was getting complaints of behavioral issues until I asked to see the tape of the accusations they were making and saw that children were abusing my son and the teachers were enforcing it! That was the last straw for me. Once I picked my son up it was during nap time and the rug they had him sleeping on was filthy. I have videos of it as well.

I have been taking groups camping for years. I met Luke Milam and discovered Apologia Outdoors…read moreearlier this year and could not be more pleased. I have been on 2 trips with Apologia and will continue to use them for every camping trip I take from here on out. Their knowledge of the outdoors and ability to teach survival skills has made our trips both fun and unique. The most important element in my opinion is that they use God's creation to teach the truths about who God is and the reality of His tremendous Gospel. I cannot reguard this ministry more highly and look forward to many more trips with them.

From the owner: Apologia Outdoors commits to having exceptional stewardship of God's opportunities and resources to…read moreequip God's people to build His church through outdoor ministry. Our definition of outdoor ministry is: "Using creation as a tool to reach people for Christ." Apologia Outdoors exposes the worldly misconception about possessions through wilderness experiences. God taught His people to pack light for maximum effectiveness. It is remarkable how much people enjoy outdoor experiences with so few material belongings. God's create is a natural setting to teach a counter cultural worldview that we need very few material possessions to enjoy a Godly life. Apologia Outdoors designs its trips to equip God's people to share Christ's love in word and deed. This is done by using creation as a stage to provide the necessary raining for individuals and churches. Apologia Outdoors views every believer as a missionary, and our passion is to evangelize the world by growing world-changing leaders. Even after the trip is over, it is our intent that these missionaries nurture disciples that nurture disciples. It is Biblical for every believer to show leadership in fulfilling the Great Commiss

My child loved his experience at this summer camp! They had weekly activities that really developed…read morehis social skills and educational skills.

Mrs. Holifield is very knowledgeable in the Education field, as she brings several years of…read moreexperience. She is sweet and welcoming. Your child will be loved and excel in all things education. Reach out, she's very responsive.

This beautiful camp truly embodies the motto "God's Backyard," and has since ~1947. Camp McDowell…read moreis a ministry of the Episcopal Churches in the Diocese of Alabama and is open to all! With over 1,140 acres and 834 beds, McDowell is one of the largest Episcopal Camp and Conference Centers in the U.S. It borders the edge of the Bankhead National Forest in Winston County, Alabama, and consists of breathtaking canyons, waterfalls, forests, and is known as the "Beautiful Queen of Clear Creek." Lodging ranges from group cabins such as Martha's Cabin, to the rustic cabins on the "boy's side" of camp beside the steps down to Clear Creek, to the hotel-style double rooms at Miller's Commons and the even bigger, newer cabins at Bethany Village. Camp is home to a wide range of programs year-round! Our Episcopal Diocesan Council meeting is held here every Feb., and is attended by over 400 delegates, and the dedicated staff runs the entire 4+ day event better than a well-oiled machine! There are live music performances, "special session" camp weeks for those who are differently abled, various church's retreats and learning opportunities at "Mark's Farm." Amenities include a camp store, a swimming pool, a covered basketball/gym with a stage, where we used to hold camp dances, at least one full service commercial kitchen, outdoor grills, a soccer field, tons of hiking trails, two chapels, a beautiful old bell that would be rung every morning around 0600 when I was a "midget camper," a multi-purpose field, an art studio, a fully functional animal farm, a produce farm, a nature center a welcome center, softball field, rowboats and canoes, among many, many more. There are also challenge ropes/obstacle courses, an amphitheater, picnic tables, various playgrounds, fire pits, word burning fireplaces with cut wood available to burn, and a fully accessible St John's swimming pool complex in Bethany Village! Dining is available at Stough Hall, served family style, or more often, buffet style. Doug Carpenter Dining Hall in Bethany Village would be lovely for a wedding reception and can seat 500-700 based on the table configuration. Eppes Hall is where we grew up eating and can seat up to 200 people. Again, grills, and covered grill areas are sprinkled throughout camp. Also, common use refrigerators are available, especially in the lodging in Miller's Commons. Among the biggest draws at camp are the swinging bridge over Clear Creek and the beautiful cross, and the fun short hike to arrive at the base of the cross! There truly is something for everyone at Camp McDowell. I highly recommend the camp for attending group sessions in the summertime, or renting whatever type of facility you desire for a best friend's/girl's getaway weekend, the lodging on All Saint's Road is primarily 4 double rooms that share a common living room/full-service, fully stocked kitchen with refrigerator, fireplace, and beautiful large back porches with rocking chairs. If you get the opportunity to visit Camp McDowell absolutely do! If you would like to send a person to summer camp, nearly all, if not all Episcopal Church's in AL offer scholarships - that's how I got to go to my first summer camp at Camp McDowell, thanks to my church at the time, The Church of the Nativity in Huntsville, AL!

If you love nature and lots of outdoor activities this is the perfect place to visit. There are a…read morevariety of lodging options and outdoor activities to choose from. I had the pleasure of visiting with a large group and had a wonderful time. The staff were very friendly and there's plenty of meal options available. The prices are very reasonable and the scenery was amazing. I would recommend.