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FAQs

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General & Registration Questions

Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters is a full-service ministry, providing biblical teaching, small group leaders, practical breakout sessions, meals and a plethora of recreational options. From giant swings, zip lines, and paintball to whitewater rafting and hiking, our passion is to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. At the core of every ministry endeavor is the expository preaching of Scripture. This is what sets Snowbird apart from other student camps. Our passion is to share the truths of God’s Word and allow the Gospel message to impact lives. Whether our staff is teaching breakout sessions, leading recreation or hanging out in student cabins, our goal is to share the Gospel of Jesus continually and to serve as ministers of the reconciliation He offers us through His life, death, and resurrection.

Snowbird’s Summer Camp and all other student conferences are open to middle and high schoolers. SWO also offers several adult conferences, including the Be Strong men’s conference, Respond women’s retreat, Marriage Retreat, etc. Our SMO Missions Camps are for middle and high schoolers.

The required forms for your retreat are listed in your reservation agreement. Each person must have a medical history and liability form filled out completely to be on our property. Forms are also located on the registration page of the SWO website.

Deposits are due upon registration. Please see your reservation agreement for more details.

We can’t accommodate students without chaperones. Our student events are designed for church and school groups. If you want to attend without a group, then you will need to bring a chaperone with you who will attend the entire camp or retreat. Please call our office at (828)321-2210 if you have any specific questions.

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.

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.

Call the Snowbird office at 828-321-2210 to add or drop additional spots.

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.

View the “What to Bring” lists

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.

The SWO staff will be pursuing relational interaction with your students while they are here, until bedtime. Your chaperones are then responsible for your students. So, group leaders and chaperones will lodge in the same cabin as your students, but the SWO staff utilize separate housing.

There are several area hotels and bed & breakfasts in the greater Andrews area. You’ll find a list here of available options and contact information.

Local Hotels

Cabin Rentals

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.

  • Clarkbrotherscabin@yahoo.com

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.

The SWO kitchen serves three hot meals a day, with a soup & salad bar offered as an additional option. If there is a specific need, we will do our best to accommodate your needs but might be limited by a large number of attendees. Please contact the SWO office for more detailed information.

Most Snowbird camps and retreats are all-inclusive. There is an extra cost if you wish to purchase additional rounds for shooting recs (paintballs and shotgun) that are allotted. Rafting on the Ocoee River is an additional costs to summer recreation. You may also want to bring money to buy T-shirts, snacks, etc. at 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).

Due to the number of campers we have each week, SWO cannot be responsible for items left at Snowbird or any other off-campus location. Skateboards, helmets, paintball guns, sleeping bags, jewelry, cell phones, cameras and the like will be thrown away or given to the local thrift store. Please read below and inform your group of this policy. It will be strictly enforced.

  • Snowbird is not responsible for any items lost, damaged or stolen while at Snowbird.
  • Do not keep things in black trash bags, they are “at risk” for being considered trash
  • If a participant chooses to bring any of their personal recreation equipment (skateboards, paintball markers, etc), Snowbird is not responsible if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.

You may bring your own paintball guns/materials. You can not use your paint in Snowbird guns, but you can use personal paint in your own guns, or purchase more while you’re here.

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.

Contact your student’s group leader if you need to reach them during an event. If not, then leave a voicemail at our main office number (828)321-2210. Our office team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Various summer camp weeks are staffed by a registered nurse, but we do not have a year-round registered nurse on our property. Many SWO staff are certified in First Aid/CPR. 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, if there is a non life-threatening medical need. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, always dial 911. 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 chaperones. 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.


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