The future of Camp Glisson is in the hands of our supporters.  The fees paid by summer campers and retreat groups cover the direct costs of day-to-day operations, but do not help address the long term sustainability or growth of our ministries.  Facility improvements, emerging ministries and our ability to offer financial assistance to campers in need are just a few examples of how your gifts to Glisson continue to offer spiritual experiences for campers and retreaters to meet Christ face-to-face on this holy ground.

The Glisson Annual Fund gives you the opportunity to support overall ministry of Camp Glisson.  Gifts to the Annual Fund are used for a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Campership assistance for Village, Outpost and Sparrowwood campers
• Emerging ministries
• Facility improvements
• Capital projects
• Endowment
• Camp operations

The Circle of 100 is a group of committed Glisson friends who have achieved membership in this Circle by pledging to the Annual Fund.  Membership in the Circle of 100 can be yours with a pledge to the Annual Fund of $100 per month, or $1,200 per year.

Glisson Partners are individuals who have achieved Partner level within the Circle of 100 by pledging a minimum of $2,000 annually to the Glisson Annual Fund.  These faithful supporters are highly committed to the various ministries of Camp Glisson through their support of the Annual Fund. 

"My friend, I think of you daily ..."

It's the song our summer counselors sing to their campers at the close of every week of Glisson summer camp, and it exemplifies the commitment of these loving, dedicated Christian young adults who serve as counselors every year.  The song is sung by counselors while they stand in a circle around their campers.  We invite you to join in our "My Friend" circle by Sponsoring a Counselor or Sponsoring a Living Group (details below).

Lyrics to the "My Friend" song

With a pledge of $1,600 to the 2009 Annual Fund, you will sponsor a specific counselor for the summer.  You will receive:

• a framed photo of your sponsored counselor
• full biographical information
• his or her email address
• a personal note
• membership in the "My Friend" Circle 
• a 2009 "My Friend Circle" car sticker
• contact with your sponsored counselor, including emails, letters and care packages, will be encouraged

Gifts of any size can help to sponsor a counselor.  Just indicate "sponsor a counselor" in the memo line of your check, or in the comment section of your on-line gift, and your gift will be combined with others to support a member of our summer staff.

Giving groups, such as youth groups, Sunday school classes, alumni groups and civic organizations, are encouraged to combine resources and sponsor a counselor together as a team pledge.  Individuals may also consider approaching civic groups, churches and foundations as partners in their sponsorship.

A living group includes 12 campers and two counselors.  You can sponsor an entire living group with a pledge to the 2009 Annual Fund in the amount of $5,100.  Sponsorship includes membership in the "My Friend" Circle, as well as an invitation from the Camp Director to visit camp during the summer season.  During your visit, you will:

• attend chapel
• participate in a living group activity
• have lunch with a living group in the Dining Hall
• be taken on a tour of camp by a staff member

You will receive a thank-you plaque with a picture of your Glisson living group and a 2009 "My Friend Circle" car sticker.

Giving groups, such as youth groups, Sunday school classes, alumni groups and civic organizations, are encouraged to combine resources and sponsor a living group together as a team pledge.  Individuals may also consider approaching civic groups, churches and foundations as partners in their sponsorship.

While gifts to the Glisson Annual Fund are unrestricted, allowing Glisson the flexibility to allocate the funds to the area of greatest need, any gift can be designated for something specific.  We want all donor gifts to be reflective of the giver's heart and passion, so the gift can be as meaningful for the giver as it is for the recipient.

Your gift can be designated for virtually any specific initiative you wish within the framework of Camp Glisson operations.  Following are some examples of how a gift to Glisson could be designated:

• Camperships.  The Campership Fund offers financial assistance to those summer campers whose families are unable to afford the cost of summer camp on their own.  The Campership Fund helps campers in the Village, Outpost and Sparrowwood programs.  Right now, the need is greater than ever!
• Building program.  Gifts designated for the building program are allocated to the building project in effect at the time the gift is made.  At present, gifts to the building program will help us complete the swimming pool project -- our current capital project.
• Endowment.  Gifts to the Endowment would not be utilized in the short-term, but would be invested to grow for many years.  These funds would ultimately ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of Glisson ministries through initiatives such as property acquisition, facility modernization and capital improvements.
• Gifts in honor or memory of a loved one.  Any gift, whether it be to the Glisson Annual Fund or designated for something specific and regardless of the amount, can be made in honor or in memory of a loved one.  Simply provide that person's name when submitting the gift.

In addition to these general categories, specific giving opportunities arise as needs are identified.  For example, Camp Glisson currently has identified immediate needs for the following:

1. Upgraded heating system for the Chapel.  Our beloved Chapel, built in 1950 and always seen as the spiritual center of Glisson, was originally an open-air structure.  This made the space un-useable during the coldest parts of the year.  It was winterized in 1964 with windows and gas furnaces.  Those original gas furnaces are still there -  44 years later!  They are terribly inefficient, loud and take-up significant space because of their large size.  Not only will this replacement make the Chapel more comfortable and energy efficient, but we could potentially add additional pews to increase capacity and flexibility for Chapel worship.
2. Renovation of "Down Under".  While we have ample bed space here at Glisson for various sized groups, sufficient meeting space is at a premium.  This is particularly true for year-round retreat groups, but impacts our summer campers as well.  "Down Under", located on the ground floor of our Dining Hall, would be a more suitable meeting space for groups with some renovations.  Part of this need involves sound-proofing the ceiling so that movement in the Dining Hall upstairs no longer impacts group meetings in Down Under.  Also, improvements to doors and windows will make the space more comfortable during the cold of winter and the heat of summer.  Making this space, built in 1952, a more versatile meeting space will dramatically improve our ability to accommodate summer camp activities and host year-round retreat groups.
3. Additional Adirondack shelters for the Outpost ($6,500 each).  Through gifts from multiple donors in 2007 and 2008, we were able to expand the Outpost program and offer the experience to more campers than ever because of the first four Adirondack shelters we built.  One additional shelter will allow us to eliminate the last of the platform tents and completely open up the meadow for activity space.
4. Used mini-bus for transporting Leaders-in-Training (LIT's) to Day Camp locations around the North Georgia Conference ($18,000-$20,000). 
5. Day camp trailer for transporting Day Camp equipment to the churches who are hosting Glisson Day Camps.
6. Four-seat golf cart for transporting Sparrowwood campers around camp ($3,500 to $5,000, used).
7. Additional campout sites for our Village camp-out groups. This could be a gift of building materials, volunteer labor or both.
8. A scramble shelter is a low-profile wall which is at ground level, over cushioned ground cover, and allows campers to practice climbing skills without the need for a safety harness.