FAQs
Download the Snowbird App and get ready to arrive.
General Questions
What is the programming like at Snowbird?
Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters events provide biblical teaching, small group leaders, practical breakout sessions, meals and a host of outdoor recreation activities including giant swings, challenge courses, and whitewater rafting. At the core of every ministry endeavor is the expository preaching of Scripture. This is what sets Snowbird apart from other student camps. Whether our staff are teaching breakout sessions, leading recreation or hanging out with students around campus, our goal is to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and allow the truth of the Gospel message to impact lives.
What ages attend Snowbird camps, retreats, and conferences?
Student events including retreats, summer camp, and mission camp weeks are for middle school to high school aged students. Adult conferences are also offered throughout the year, including the Be Strong men’s conference, Respond women’s retreat, Marriage Retreat , and others.
What forms do we need to have?
The required forms for your event are listed in your reservation agreement and on the registration page of the SWO website. Each person must have a completed liability waiver and health form on file to be on SWO property. Additionally, all attendees 18 years of age or older must complete a background check prior to arrival. Speak with your church/school group leader for more details.
When are deposits due?
Deposits are due upon registration. Please see your reservation agreement for more details.
Is Snowbird a camp for individual students?
SWO student events are designed for church and school groups. Students cannot be accommodated without chaperones. For a student to attend without a group, a chaperone must be present for the entirety of the event. Please call our office at (828) 321-2210 if you have questions.
How do I register for an event?
If you are attending Snowbird with a group, follow the group itinerary link given to you by your group administrator. If you did not receive the link, please contact your group administrator.
How do I register a sibling or another family member for an event?
If you are registering with a group, you must sign out after registering each child or family member, and begin by following the itinerary link again. This will ensure they are not registered outside of your group.
How do I add or drop additional spots to my group?
Call the Snowbird office at (828) 321-2210 to add or drop additional spots.
Additional spots can be added to your group as long as the event is not full. Open your Snowbird account to determine if there are any remaining spots available. Be sure to only register for spots that you are certain you’ll need as the deposit is non-refundable. Check our Registration Guide for details on how to invite specific students to your group via email.
How many chaperones does my group need to bring?
SWO requires a minimum of a 1:10 chaperone to student ratio. If you are bringing both guys and girls to camp, you will need chaperones of each gender to attend as well.
What should I bring?
View the “What to Bring” lists
Do we need prior experience to participate in any of Snowbird’s activities?
There is no prior experience needed for recreation activities, as every activity is facilitated by trained staff members.
Where is Snowbird located?
Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters is located in the corner of Western North Carolina, just west of the Smoky Mountains. We are approximately two hours from Chattanooga, TN; Asheville, NC; Knoxville, TN; and Atlanta, GA. Get directions to Snowbird.
Do the group leaders sleep in the same cabins as the students?
Church/school group leaders and chaperones lodge in the same cabin as their students and are the primary persons responsible for monitoring and caring for students while at SWO, including late-night and bedtime supervision. SWO staff utilize separate housing and will not stay in group housing overnight.
What are some local lodging options?
There are several area hotels and bed and breakfasts in the greater Andrews area. You’ll find a list here of available options and contact information.
Local Hotels
- Quality Inn – Andrews, NC – 3.3 miles from SWO
- Stonebrook Lodge – Murphy, NC – 15 miles from SWO
- Best Western – Murphy, NC – 16 miles from SWO
- Hampton Inn – Murphy, NC- 16 miles from SWO
- Holiday Inn Express – Murphy, NC – 20 miles from SWO
Cabin Rentals
- Fernwood Cottage Suites – Andrews, NC – 3 miles from SWO
- Collett Creek Cabins – Andrews, NC – 3 miles from SWO
- Mountain Riders Campground – Andrews, NC – 2.5 miles from SWO –
- Wicklow Woods Cottage – Andrews, NC – 7 miles from SWO
- VRBO.com
- Airbnb.com
The Clark Brother’s Cabin
If you are visiting and want to be close to campus, feel free to email Shawn and Bethany Clark about their accommodations and availability.
Do we need prior experience to participate in any of Snowbird’s activities?
Each recreation activity is managed by trained staffers. There is no prior experience needed for our activities, as the staff will guide and facilitate the activities.
What if my student/child has a special dietary need?
The SWO kitchen serves three hot meals a day, with additional food options, including a salad bar, offered alongside the food served in the main meal line. Download the Snowbird app to preview a menu for the event you are attending. If there is a specific dietary need, please contact Emma Lindsley at elindsley@swoutfitters.com. Please keep in mind that the large number of attendees may limit accommodation possibilities.
Do we need to bring any extra money?
Most Snowbird events are all-inclusive. Extra cost can be incurred if you wish to purchase additional rounds for shooting recs (paintball and gun range), raft on the Ocoee River (summer camp only), or if you wish to purchase items from the Snack Shack including food and SWO merchandise.
How much money should I send with my camper for the Snack Shack?
Students spend an average of $50 at the Snack Shack during their trip to SWO. None of the products are required, but there are plenty of shirts, hats, water bottles, and snacks available.
All major debit and credit cards are accepted in the SWO Snack Shack (and in the online store).
What is your lost and found policy?
Snowbird is not responsible for items lost, damaged or stolen while at SWO or any other off-campus location. Items left behind will be thrown away or donated to the local thrift store. Do not keep items in black trash bags, as they will be at risk of being considered trash.
Are Snowbird events accessible to people with different physical abilities?
While we strive to make Snowbird’s campuses accessible to people of all abilities, not every activity Snowbird offers will be accessible for all individuals with varying physical abilities. If you have questions regarding accessibility, please call our office at (828) 321-2210.
Can I bring an animal to SWO?
Due to the complexity of events at SWO, our campuses operate under a “no animals” policy. As a religious organization, SWO is not bound by public accommodation rules. If you have questions about this policy, please call our office at (828) 321-2210.
Can we bring our own paintball guns?
Attendees may bring their own paintball guns/materials. Personal paint cannot be used in Snowbird paintball guns. Additional paintball rounds may be purchased while at SWO. Please note that personal paintball guns/materials may only be used during paintball recreation hours while a trained SWO staff member facilitates the recreation. Disregard for this policy may result in the confiscation of personal items until the end of the event.
What is the cost of additional supplies on the paintball course and gun range?
Each participant begins with a full hopper of paint (200 rounds). The cost afterward is $40 for a box of 4 bags (2,000 rounds), $20 for 1 bag (250 rounds), $10 to fill a hopper (200 rounds).
Each participant will receive 8 free rounds on the shotgun. If they want to continue shooting, the cost afterward is $5 per box. To shoot the AR-15, there is a required additional cost of $5/10 rounds.
Medical Info
How can I reach someone during an emergency?
If an emergency occurs at SWO, call 911 and alert a Snowbird staff member. If a parent/guardian not present at SWO needs to contact their student, they should contact the student’s church/school group leader directly. If you are unable to get in touch with your church/school group leader, you may contact the main office at (828) 321-2210.
Is there a registered nurse to administer medications and care for injuries?
While at SWO, church/school group leaders and chaperones are the primary persons responsible for students’ care and well-being. Groups are encouraged to bring personal first aid kits to treat minor injuries/illnesses. Parents/guardians should discuss student medical needs with church/school group leaders prior to arrival to ensure that group leaders are able to provide students with the care and observation needed while away from home. This includes, but is not limited to, discussing signs of a medical emergency related to the student’s condition with clear instructions/action steps to take to ensure that the student receives appropriate care quickly and efficiently.
Various summer camp weeks are staffed by a registered nurse, but we do not have a year-round registered nurse on our property. For non life-threatening injuries or illnesses, the SWO medical line (828) 351-6971, can be used by guests to contact a First Aid/CPR certified SWO staff member, or a nurse when available. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, always dial 911 and alert a Snowbird staff member. The nearest hospital is located 17 miles from the property. The nearest Urgent Care is located 2 miles from the property. All medications must be administered by church/school group leaders. If your student has a refrigerated medication storage need, please contact SWO at least two weeks prior to arrival at riskmanagement@swoutfitters.com to fill out the appropriate forms.