Camp Discovery
Woodland Christian Camp & Retreat Center - Heritage Camp, 90 Woodland Camp Rd, Temple, GA 30179
About
Camp Discovery is a free weekend respite camp where campers take part in swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, games, and camp songs with s’mores. Campers also have access to a high ropes challenge course that includes a Zip Line and Giant Swing. Camp Discovery staff are present throughout the camp weekend, and campers are under constant supervision with each camper paired with a Big Buddy adult volunteer and always having at least two adults in their presence.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: June 5–7, 2026; a free weekend respite camp
• Price: Camp Discovery is a free weekend respite camp; Camp Discovery is no cost to the attending families/youth.
Camp Discovery is a free weekend respite camp for children with intellectual disabilities, and children age 13–25 are welcome to apply. The individuals who participate have varying types of intellectual disabilities, including medical diagnoses of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, and/or traumatic brain injuries, and may also have speech impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical limitations, and cognitive delays. These students need assistance with critical thinking, reasoning, behavior management, and everyday life skills. At night, campers stay in cabins with their Big Buddy as well as other campers and Big Buddies in their group.
Campers with food allergies or special dietary needs can bring their own food or additional items to supplement the camp menu, and all food should be stored in a labeled bag or container. Guests with strict dietary requirements have access to a refrigerator/freezer and microwave in the dining room, and volunteer staff are available for assistance. Parents or guardians are asked to provide transportation for their children, and travel assistance may be available based on need. A packing list is included with the camper acceptance packet, and the camp will do its best to provide sleeping bags, pillows, and various toiletries if needed, with arrangements made in advance.
Camp Discovery will be led by certified professionals and trained volunteers, and certified and specially trained volunteers will lead and supervise all recreational and programming activities. All volunteers are thoroughly screened, must submit to background checks, and attend mandatory training, and a medical team will be on site for the duration of the program. Amanda “Mandy” T. Anderson and Ashley Sutton serve as Co-Directors for Camp Discovery. Mandy has a B.S. Ed in Mental Retardation from the University of West Georgia, multiple Georgia certifications in Early Childhood and Special Education areas, and 17 years of teaching experience across all grade levels, including work with students with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional/behavior disabilities, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and students who are deaf/hard of hearing; she currently works as the Instructional Coordinator for Special Education at Carrollton High School and as the Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher for Carrollton City Schools. Ashley previously served for five years as a camp counselor at Camp ASCCA (Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults), holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of West Georgia, began working at Carrollton High School in 2015 as a Teacher and Community Based Instructor, received certification in 2017 as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, and earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education Adapted Curriculum from Georgia Southern University in 2018.
Woodland Christian Camp, the host organization for Camp Discovery, was established in 1969 and has a long history of establishing programs that impact youth and assist families in the community. Camp Discovery’s ability to meet the need is based on donations from individuals, camper families, corporations, grants, and civic organizations. Amanda “Mandy” T. Anderson says that her years at Woodland were “some of the best times of my life,” and Ashley Sutton states that she is “overjoyed to be part of this camp experience” and that Camp Discovery “is going to be a wonderful therapeutic recreation experience for students in the West Georgia area” and that she is “so excited to enjoy the magic of camp again.”
Last updated April 24, 2026.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: June 5–7, 2026; a free weekend respite camp
• Price: Camp Discovery is a free weekend respite camp; Camp Discovery is no cost to the attending families/youth.
Camp Discovery is a free weekend respite camp for children with intellectual disabilities, and children age 13–25 are welcome to apply. The individuals who participate have varying types of intellectual disabilities, including medical diagnoses of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, and/or traumatic brain injuries, and may also have speech impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical limitations, and cognitive delays. These students need assistance with critical thinking, reasoning, behavior management, and everyday life skills. At night, campers stay in cabins with their Big Buddy as well as other campers and Big Buddies in their group.
Campers with food allergies or special dietary needs can bring their own food or additional items to supplement the camp menu, and all food should be stored in a labeled bag or container. Guests with strict dietary requirements have access to a refrigerator/freezer and microwave in the dining room, and volunteer staff are available for assistance. Parents or guardians are asked to provide transportation for their children, and travel assistance may be available based on need. A packing list is included with the camper acceptance packet, and the camp will do its best to provide sleeping bags, pillows, and various toiletries if needed, with arrangements made in advance.
Camp Discovery will be led by certified professionals and trained volunteers, and certified and specially trained volunteers will lead and supervise all recreational and programming activities. All volunteers are thoroughly screened, must submit to background checks, and attend mandatory training, and a medical team will be on site for the duration of the program. Amanda “Mandy” T. Anderson and Ashley Sutton serve as Co-Directors for Camp Discovery. Mandy has a B.S. Ed in Mental Retardation from the University of West Georgia, multiple Georgia certifications in Early Childhood and Special Education areas, and 17 years of teaching experience across all grade levels, including work with students with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional/behavior disabilities, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and students who are deaf/hard of hearing; she currently works as the Instructional Coordinator for Special Education at Carrollton High School and as the Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher for Carrollton City Schools. Ashley previously served for five years as a camp counselor at Camp ASCCA (Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults), holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of West Georgia, began working at Carrollton High School in 2015 as a Teacher and Community Based Instructor, received certification in 2017 as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, and earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education Adapted Curriculum from Georgia Southern University in 2018.
Woodland Christian Camp, the host organization for Camp Discovery, was established in 1969 and has a long history of establishing programs that impact youth and assist families in the community. Camp Discovery’s ability to meet the need is based on donations from individuals, camper families, corporations, grants, and civic organizations. Amanda “Mandy” T. Anderson says that her years at Woodland were “some of the best times of my life,” and Ashley Sutton states that she is “overjoyed to be part of this camp experience” and that Camp Discovery “is going to be a wonderful therapeutic recreation experience for students in the West Georgia area” and that she is “so excited to enjoy the magic of camp again.”
Last updated April 24, 2026.
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