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!

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.

My now 7 yr old grand daughter/daughter I'm adopting LOVES THIS CAMP. She has been a buckaroo week…read morein summer as a 6 yr old. Been to winter camp had a birthday party there. Loves going to camp so I put her in for 2 weeks this 2023 summer. Great fun and memories to be made. She takes swimming lessons each summer session $50 add on. She enjoys the art singing chants and friends she makes. TAKE A BAG WITH CRAYONS MARKERS COLRING BOOKS for their down time I didn't know that and mine had nothing while other girls laid on bunk coloring she was said about that. This summer we are better prepared.

I came here for UAB's student government retreat, and it was a great place for team building! Nice…read moreAC in the dining hall, and the food was good. We got served juicy chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, green beans, casserole, dinner rolls, and chocolate chip cookies. They also had a salad bar on the side. The lake is nice and calm. They have paddle boarding , canoeing, and the blob in the water. They also have a pool and basketball courts. The cabins are okay. It's pretty hot and humid on a September day, so make sure to turn the AC down. I wiped down the mattress with a Clorox wipe and it turned from white to brown. Pretty good place for a retreat. Not a good place for a neat freak.

Camp Skyline is a Christian all girls camp located in northeast Alabama on Lookout Mountain. My…read morewife spent many months researching camps that offered a variety of activities including some out of the box that include; Circus, yes, circus including all kinds of high wire activities, manners and modeling, golf, Bible study, cooking are just some. This will be our oldest daughter's sixth year and our youngest her fourth. Sessions are two weeks, not too long and not to short. We have found the staff and counselors really interested in the girls. Skyline is nearly 300 miles from our home and requires an over night stay going and coming but we feel worth the effort. Our girls consider it an important part of summer, they look forward to, they shop for it and they hate to leave when it is over. It has been a great experience for them in meeting and making new friends. None of their local friends attend so they meet girls from other places and learn about their lives. They learn how to live in close quarters with other folks that might be different from you. Costs are in line with other summer camps. We feel our girls are in good hands and will come back better people for the time spent there.

We were looking for somewhere unique to take our daughter for her birthday and found Ark Wings. Our…read moredaughter had been expressing a desire to do some gymnastics recently, so we thought this would be a perfect way to try it out and let her have some fun at the same time. We setup the birthday party with the staff and showed up. The staff were very friendly and made sure the party was fun for all the party-goers. I was very happy with how my daughter and everyone else was treated, and now, even weeks later, she is still talking about how much fun she had.

Was really hoping for more coaching after going to a few tournaments and watching the coaches at…read morethe other gyms I realize how unqualified our coaches were and what was worse at the end of the season they hand out awards in my child who had won almost every tournament didn't win not one award but all the kids that took private lessons did it really upset my daughter

This is such a great summer camp. My daughter has been coming every summer for six years. You can…read morechoose a specialty camp such as horse camp or come for the week and choose your events. Events include caving, zip lining, river rafting, etc. Lots of games and activities and of course prayer and services daily. My daughter has made life-long friends and camp is always the highlight of her summer. The folks running it are fantastic and the camp counselors are usually ones that came to camp every summer and grew up loving it. I would highly recommend them. They are planning expansion and more investment this year and going forward.

Edit: I'm changing my review back to five stars with the WONDERFUL news that the camp will once…read moreagain be run by its original owner and the changes that the new owners had made will be reversed! My son loved this camp so much for the past two summers. We both had nothing but glowing things to say about it. We were both absolutely heartbroken when new owners came and made sweeping changes that would exclude many if not most Camp Woodmont families from Camp Woodmont in the future. I am so glad that it will continue to be the same wonderful, affordable experience for girls and boys. Please send your kids to this camp if you can! They will have an amazing time.

Camp Woodmont is back under its original ownership!!! This is an amazing experience for your child…read more My son started going there when he was in kindergarten and has gone every year finally becoming a junior counselor and then a counselor last year it has made him a responsible, caring young man. I hope Camp Woodmont will be in our lives forever.

I love to bring my kids and tubes to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve because they have an entire…read morenatural lazy river with a natural waterslide too. When I have grandkids, I'll be sure to bring them each summer. Sincerely, Christophe.

Oh my!!! I stumbled across a great hiking, swimming, relaxing and gathering spot. It's not far off…read morethe highway but tucked in enough to explore some great hiking trails. Alabama really does hold a lot of natural beauty. You kind find spots of tranquility or if you bring the kids, there's plenty of adventure for them. Pets are welcome. I will definitely be back!