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About

Camp Rock Of Georgia History

Camp Rock of Georgia all began with a shared passion by our Board Members for helping children through adoption and the idea for an organization to help meet the needs of underprivileged children in South Georgia. In 2011, an opportunity presented itself through the combined efforts of local churches for Camp Rock to move from dream to reality. With the realization that many children would never get to experience a traditional sleep-away camp, the founders of Camp Rock began to make plans for an exciting and fun-packed Summer camp.


This sleep-away camp allows children to just be kids and have a safe, fun, and spiritual week experiencing the outdoors. Since 2011, Camp Rock has provided a fun camp experience for over 1000 children from high risk environments.

After a successful first Summer, Camp Rock representatives were eager to find ways to serve our community's children better. Camp Rock met with the Department of Family and Children Services in Lowndes County to discuss a partnership and how they could help. Because of the challenging economic times, DFCS needed Christmas funds for the foster children and their families. They also expressed the need for necessities such as suitcases, pillows, and blankets. Camp Rock got to work, in December 2011, foster children from all over South Georgia celebrated the first Christmas Time at Camp Rock. This event is an evening of fun and activities for Georgia foster children and their families. A Christmas light show, hay rides, games, s’mores, and gifts for each child make for a picture-perfect Christmas celebration. The first Christmas Time at Camp Rock event included foster children and parents from 8 local counties and served over 500 people. Camp Rock Christmas expanded to 18 counties and over 700 people in its second year! Now, Camp Rock of Georgia Christmas Foster Night serves all Georgia and North Florida Counties for one night a year, where the campus is only open to foster families. The rest of the Christmas Time @ Camp Rock is an annual fundraiser that helps fund our mission here.

In 2018, Camp Rock of Georgia took a significant step by establishing a foster care agency in Valdosta, GA, as part of their commitment to increased community involvement. Fast forward to 2023, and the agency has blossomed, now encompassing 15 homes that extend compassionate care to 32 underprivileged children. Notably, the organization has expanded its reach with a new office in Tifton, Georgia. Since 2018, the agency has successfully facilitated reunions with biological families, numbering 18, and overseen seven adoptions.


In 2024, Camp Rock of Georgia is poised for continued growth and impact.

In a strategic collaboration with Georgia Kids Belong, the organization spearheads the "Foster Friendly Valdosta" initiative. This visionary project aims to enhance the foster family experience by fostering partnerships with local businesses. These collaborations will result in exclusive discounts and unwavering support for foster families, making Valdosta a more welcoming community.

A groundbreaking initiative slated for launch in January 2024 is "Next Steps." This dynamic rapid-rehousing program targets individuals aged 18-24, encompassing former foster youth and homeless young adults in Lowndes County. "Next Steps" is designed to provide a comprehensive support system, including up to six months of rental assistance, life skills training, educational support, and job training.


Simultaneously, 2024 will witness the inauguration of a Waycross office, extending the footprint of Camp Rock's Foster Care Services across a 180-mile radius in South Georgia. This expansion underscores the organization's commitment to reaching and positively impacting a broader geographical area.


As Camp Rock of Georgia embarks on this transformative journey in 2024, the organization remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering a brighter future for vulnerable children and youth in the community.

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