MOULTRIE, Ga. — Camp WinShape returned to Moultrie June 13-17 and was held this year at Willie J. Williams Middle School. WinShape Camps for Communities is a Christian-based day camp founded by S. Truett Cathy, who is best known as the founder of the Chick-fil-A restaurants.

Over the summer, nine teams of college and seminary students — all trained as camp counselors — bring WinShape to more than 90 cities, including Moultrie.

Camp WinShape, for children who have completed 1st-6th grade, combines sports, recreation, arts, Bible study and worship into one unforgettable week, according to a press release from the Moultrie Chick-fil-A.  Campers can select activities from 21 different skills.

This year, WinShape offered a pilot program for 7th-9th graders as well.

On Chick-fil-A Friday Family Fun Day, parents were invited to spend the entire day with their campers for a family experience. At the close of camp, everyone ate Chick-fil-A for free, for a total of 685 meals served to campers and their families this year!

Liz Murphy, the social worker at R.B. Wright Elementary School, said, “I can’t wait to hear the stories that kids will have to share when we get back to school. The energy that kids experience at WinShape is long lasting. I know because I got to hear about WinShape from kids throughout the school year that attended last summer. WinShape appears to plant hope in the hearts of kids like no other camp that I have had the opportunity to refer kids to. I’m not sure if it’s the atmosphere, the different programs offered while at camp or the college kids that run the program. Whatever it is, it makes a positive lasting impression.”

Moultrie’s Leadership Team worked together for nine months and was comprised of representatives from various churches and community organizations: Pat McGlone and Lisa Coop, from First United Methodist, served as the host church; Susan Whiddon and Judy Plymel, from Titus Ranch, coordinated the scholarships and camp expenses; Elena Bautista from Head Start communicated with school social workers and assisted with scholarships; Josh Myrick, the senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, was the volunteer coordinator; Josh Wilson, the children’s pastor at First Baptist Church, helped to communicate with local churches and work with the counselors; and Charlotte Strange, the marketing director for Chick-fil-A Moultrie, assisted with marketing and fundraising for the scholarships.

This year, the Moultrie camp had a total of 226 campers. The cost of the camp was $204 per child. With the help of the school social workers, as well as financial assistance from many individuals, businesses and churches, there were 73 scholarships distributed through Titus Ranch. The remaining 153 campers were non-scholarship.

Susan Whiddon from Titus Ranch said she likes “bringing the camp to our community because it makes it possible for children to attend camp who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Parents also get to be involved and have conversations with their children about what they learned at camp each day.”

Community support was shown on many levels, the Chick-fil-A release said. Numerous individuals and businesses gave money to the scholarship fund either through Titus Ranch or their local church. First United Methodist, St. Mark’s Episcopal, First Baptist Church, Stripling’s Sausage, Chick-fil-A Moultrie, Steve and Belinda Allen, Alex Lampman and Clayton Anderson all helped to entertain and feed the counselors during that week. Carriage Cleaners and Modern Cleaners each did laundry for 14 counselors. Moultrie Junior Women’s Club made goodie bags for the counselors, and Colquitt Regional Medical Center and school nurses provided nursing services for the entire week. Radiology Associates of Moultrie sponsored camp shirts for all of the scholarship campers.

The Leadership Team expressed appreciation to the Colquitt County Board of Education and Williams Principal James Horne for use of the school.

In addition, 35 volunteers served in many roles daily at camp from filling water coolers, making lunches for volunteers and counselors, assisting with recreation and Bible study time, and running errands.

The Leadership Team is already beginning to work on the 2017 camp and would like for more churches and individuals to be a part of this opportunity. Anyone interested can contact Charlotte Strange at Chick-fil-A.