Swift Nature Camp reviews

Swift Nature Camp is the best decision we have ever made for our son's independence, confidence, and willingness to try and learn new things. 2019 will be his 7th year at SNC and he is looking forward to the day he will be a counselor. He has beloved friends he has met at SNC and looks forward all year to the time he gets to spend with them each summer. Jeff and Lonnie are amazing camp directors. Their caring, enthusiastic attitudes, wholesome ideals, and hands-on approach are some of the reasons I am happy to trust them with my son each summer. I also want to encourage parents to start early. My son was 6 his first summer and I thought for sure he was too young. But he came back that first year 100% enthusiastic and so excited for the next year. He wanted to go back for another session that same summer!

My 8 year old attended the 2 week Discovery Camp and he had a great time. He enjoyed the Nature Center, swimming, the campfires, Archery and meeting so many new friends. His counselor called me the night before camp started to say that he was looking forward to my child attending. The Director called me the day of arrival to let me know that the charter bus had arrived safely. There were pictures posted on Facebook almost every evening, which I really looked forward to. My child came back to me a little more mature, a little more confident, tired and happy. Oh, and a week after he returned, I received a letter from his Counselor with an Activity Rating sheet describing my kid's interest and ability level with various activities. As a parent, getting all of those personal touches eased any worries I may have had about sending my kiddo to sleepaway camp for the first time. **Jenna Stoltz**

This camp is great for kids of all ages. It provides kids to enjoy their time in the outdoors and make many new friends from around the world.

I would never come back here. did not like it at all.

Personal attention is great, considering there are a lot of kids there. Activities are varied, and the ability to earn badges for them is great. Facilities are old, but being remodeled regularly.

My daughter love the camp! She was there for first time she would like to come back every summer.

This camp was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have been going for 6 years now and I have become so much more mature and independent just over the three weeks that I attend every year. Because it is a smaller camp your child will create unbreakable bonds with other campers and counsellors alike. I can not say enough good things about Swift

This is an awesome camp. If kids enjoy nature this is the place to be. Great staff!! Love it!

This was my favorite place as a kid, I learned so much about nature and myself. You couldn't ask for a better family to hang out with all summer. I learned archery and how to make friendship bracelets here (they were the best things, ever when I was in grammar school; so this was an important skill :) ) I learned to canoe, camp, kayak, and sing some of the best summer camp songs ever created!! haha, nothing but good memories. Some of the best memories I have were made here.

I spent 8 summers at Swift, the first six as a camper and the last two as a CIT/JC. It sounds cheesy, but SNC made me into the person that I am today. Before I started going to camp, I was incredibly shy and held back from social interaction. SNC's environment (attentive staff, small cabin size, varied activities, trips away from camp) offered the perfect opportunity for me to develop personally and emotionally (I even won the Warm Fuzzy award one year). It's certainly not a fancy camp, but that's part of the reason it's so special. The campers and staff are unpretentious and interested in nature, learning about the world, exploring, and building relationships. I can't express how much I value the time I spent at Swift, or the ways it helped me develop into a confident, comfortable human being. SNC isn't necessarily for everyone, but if you're interested in a hands-on, outdoors-oriented camp experience, this is definitely one to consider.

All 4 of my children have attended this camp over a 15 year span. My youngest has chosen Swift again this year. They have all had great summer experiences, not perfect, but wanted to go back year after year. They have had good summer counselors and several exceptional ones! Lonnie has always been responsive to anything I have asked and is always happy to hear from the kids.

Lonnie and Jeff are great people that strive to make sure everyone has a great experience at camp with a good emphasis on respect and manners. They have campers come in from all over the world which allows our young people to learn about different cultures. My family thought I was crazy for sending my eight year old daughter away to summer camp for two weeks in the introductory program and later for six weeks the following year, but the experience really helped her to be more respectful of others. They keep the kids busy with a large number of activities with my daughters favorites being arts and crafts and the waterfront. I really like that their program includes helping to teach the kids to be better swimmers. Jeff and Lonnie are also constantly looking at ways to improve the experience. I think the camp is great and my daughter is really looking forward to coming back this year for another six weeks.

It’s hard to find the words to describe the impact Swift has had on my life. I came to camp because I wanted to escape the city as well as be a positive influence on the kids around me. Little did I know that it would be the kids, my fellow staff, and camp that would be changing me. Everything that occurs at Swift has a purpose -Being Intentional- this is the core of what makes Swift special and so much different than any other camp I’ve been to. Camp at Swift isn’t just about “babysitting” your kids and keeping them entertained for a few weeks, it’s about reflection, it’s about true appreciation for the beauty around us, and it’s about building resilience and independence -skills that will take you much further in life than any sports/music/horse camp ever could. Don’t worry they have all the activities too, but the focus is not on the physical activities but on the lessons they can teach us about ourselves and about our world. Swift = My Summer Home + Family - Make It Yours Too!

I am currently a junior counselor at swift and have loved every minute I've been there. The people you meet there are friends you will keep forever. The people I have worked with always be there for me through anything. The way to camp is set up it is focused on respecting nature, yourself, and others. It teaches kids, at a young age, proper manners. I have always come back from camp feeling like a better person and a new, fresh me. I just keep coming back and hope to spend many more summers there!

Been going to this camp for 7 years. Iam know a Junior councilor. I love it at swift. It has definitely given me a summer family and has helped me become the person I am today, which is a pretty awesome person!

My 2 sons loved this camp! They enjoyed the outdoors and the staff was wel trained and very warm and compassionate toward the campers. Don't waste your time looking at other camps...this is the place!

I worked at Swift for 5 summers in a variety of positions. The directors were always welcoming to all at camp, both campers and staff members, and were very supportive. One of my favorite things about Swift is that it really feels like a family - I felt like I could get to know all of the campers during their time at camp. The campers get chances to participate in a variety of activities that they wouldn't get to do at home, and they are really encouraged, through achievement awards, to develop proficiency and talent in areas that they personally are interested in. The campers really get to improve their skills and grow personally at camp. Having worked at SNC for five summers, I definitely have seen and know the program and camp inside and out, and would absolutely send my children there. In fact, my husband and I intend to enroll my step-daughter to attend this summer, and I'm so excited for her to be able to have the Swift summer camp experience!

my child went to Swift for three years with very mixed results. The first year she enjoyed it very much, but with each succeeding year it her enthusiasm lagged. From what I could figure out it seems the director is basically lazy and somewhat dicatorial. The couselors seemed to be more demoralized the last two years and they passed their feelings on to my child, who really liked the couselors, but heard that they were not being treated well. When I went to visit once, even with much advance notice I had trouble finding the Director and when I did he seemed almost annoyed that I was there and it took almost an hour to find my child. Another issue is the facilities are very worn and a little unkempt. I was told the outings were poorly planned and executed. The upside is the setting is nice, and it is roughing it enough to make it a positive camp experience without being too cushy. Lonnie was a good influence on my child as well. Overall about a B-.

SNC was the perfect place for my son. He had a bad 4th grade year at school, for many reasons, and camp redeemed him. I am so thankful for SNC, the kids and counselors there were excellent in every way, and I think my son related to many of them. He is very emotional, has a great imagination, loves music and fantasy fiction, and wouldn't do well at a sports camp. After two summers there (session 2 each time), he plans to go every summer and eventually become a counselor. The directors, Jeff and Lonnie, are totally committed and available to parents who have questions or are nervous for first time campers. I was very nervous last year while he was away at camp, unnecessarily so. This past summer, I had no nerves and his experience was excellent again.

The quality of Swift Nature Camp begins "at the top". I have known director Jeff Lorenz since he and I were both campers ourselves, and in recent years I have done SNC-related work with Jeff and Lonnie. We have had many hours of conversation about our experiences as campers and what they meant to our lives. Even more time has been spent discussing ideas for how to give each SNC camper an experience that will carry a similar lifetime of benefit. Jeff and Lonnie begin every choice they make about Swift Camp by putting the camper first--from hiring staff, safety, and activities to all the detailed decisions that will effect daily camp life. The directors' attitude and dedication find their way to each camper's experience in countless ways small and large. The setting is typical, the familiar camp activities blend classic fun with opportunities to learn teamwork, independence, and a little science...but what sets this camp apart is the spirit and heart starting "at the top". ~Jim Lamberson

I was a counselor at SNC during the summer of 2010, I had a great time working with the campers. The counselors there are EXTREAMLY dedicated and focused on creating the best experience for the campers. When a problem arises everyone works together to fix it until it has been solved. Each cabin becomes really close and they learn great team skills which will prove invaluable later in life. I was also a camper about 8 years ago and I can say that even though I personally went through some hard times, it was an overall very positive experience and I learned a great deal about social skills and independence. I hope to be coming back next summer!

I was employed at Swift Nature Camp during the summer of 2010 as a camp counselor. It was my first summer as a counselor and I didn't really know what to expect but the other staff members and the staff training at the beginning of the summer were very helpful. As the summer progressed, it became very clear to me that the primary focus of the camp was to provide a safe and educational place for kids while still being extremely fun. Some of the kids didn't really enjoy camp at first and really wanted to go home but by the end they didn't want to leave and wished they had more time at camp. SNC is a great place to send your children for the summer and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a summer camp. SNC changed my life I'm really glad I had the opportunity to work there and look forward to going back next summer.

I worked at Swift Nature Camp during the summer of 2010. Going in as a first time counselor I was excited but not completely sure what to expect. However, all reservations disappeared as the training helped me to be more comfortable and prepared, and I got to know not only the rest of the staff but also the campers. We all become as close as family and I learned not only from my employers and co-counselors but also from the campers. The main focus is always geared towards making sure that the kids are safe and have a wonderful summer, filled with adventure and memories they can take home with them. I'll never forget the experiences I had at my first year at Swift Nature Camp and I would definitely recommend this camp. Swift blew me away and I feel lucky to have had this opportunity.

My son's first summer camp here in 2010. He lost his father in 2008 and I wanted him to be around kids and do boy things (like rifle range and archery) and have fun. I am trying to teach him to be silly and live! He is so serious and reserved, very mature for his age and we have been through a lot! He had such a great time, he is still talking about it 6 months later and begging me to let him go again this summer. I highly recommend this camp! Melissa Wilhelm

I have worked at Swift Nature Camp for the past couple of summers. Each year was unique in it's own way. The setff is trained really well to take care of kids. The directors main focus are kids and giving them a chance to have a fun summer flled with learning and self development. Kids are able to experience fun activities that they can't necessarily experience at home. Kids safety comes first. Counselors get the chance to meet with the directors daily to discuss how they're doing. Kids are taught values they will need in their everyday life, responsibility, perseverance, respect,etc. Swift Nature Camp is an amazing camp that all kids enjoy and call their second home. I would suggest Swift to anyone who wants their children to have a fun-filled summer full of adventures.

camp seems very concerned about children; suggested more staff supervison and it was well received; I would send my child to this camp again

Swift costs more than YMCA camps, but more than makes up for it with the amount of personal attention that each camper receives. My son loved some of the nontraditional activities like the clowning class. He adored the nature center and arts and crafts shack. He said that he swam every day. He also had plenty of down time to make friends and hang up. He came home so happy and relaxed and ready to start the new school year.

I was a counselor at Swift in 2010. As soon as I arrived to camp for training I fell in love with the setting, the staff, the directors, and the MOOSE SONG! It was an incredible experience working at Swift. . . one I'll never forget. There are innumerable opportunities for growth in areas like: independence, respect, kindness, teamwork, enthusiasm, responsibility. All of these values are very intentionally integrated to games, activities, and trips. The campers are incredible as well; I might have learned more from my campers than they learned from me! After the first few shy days of the session at Swift, everyone comes together in an incredible way -- as a family. It blew my mind to see kids going out of their way to help someone else or lend a hand. Synopsis: Swift Nature Camp is a place where kids aren't afraid to be themselves -- a place where they can have fun and be guided to self realization and personal development.

This is a worst case example of the bad side of summer camp. Through my contact with other camper's parents I have found my experience was not unique. Swift camping means handing over your kids and money to some unmotivated high school kids. By the way, if you look at the other comments you can tell that they were really written by Lonnie (who is a foreigner) because they all have the same type of grammar errors (and are then copied and posted again). This is run strictly for the money and not for the children at all. Beware.

Swift is awesome!!!! Next year will be my 4th summer there. Its always the highlight of my year when I get to go to camp. I environment is very good because you really get to know everyone. You get to no each other really well because of the small camp size. When I first went I was a little worried about it because I didn't know other people who went to overnight camps, but I must say it was probably the best desition of my life! The greatest thing about it for me is that camp keeps on getting better year after year. I also love it because I have done stuff that other people I know haven't. It is also awesome because there are people who come to SNC from all over the US and even the world. To me that is amasing becasue before I went to camp I couldnt tell people that I know people from Poland, Mexico, Peru, and Columbia. Now I can. The activities and trips at SNC are also relly amazing! Before I had never even been camping now I've been camping at least 10 times! ? Teri

Swift is awesome! After this summer I'll have been there for 3 whole years! :-D The conselours are so funny and nice and the stuff we do is really fun. It's a tad bit expensive, but hey, if had a choice between any other camp in the world, and Swift, I'd choose Swift. Swift is amazing. Period. -Shades

This camp is the best possible camp to send your kids to. The staff is amazing. Very well trained to deal with all aspect pertaining children.I sent my two girls last year for the 3 week session and they just loved it. My girls were 8 and 11. I have to admit I was very nervous about sending them for so long and so far away from where we live ( twin cities) so I went up to visit them. They were so happy. It was just like sending them to a relatives home. Lonnie and Jeff are very much dedicated to our kids it's very heart warming to know our kids will be care for just as they would at home. I most defiantly will send my kids back this year. Please feel free to call and ask me any question you might have about Swift Nature Camp. Sending your child here would be the best possible thing you could do for your child. Joanne Martinez 651-795-8180 jojo3269@comcast.net

This camp was a god send. I have sent my kids to numerous YMCA camps but nothing even compares to Swift. The love and compassion Lonnie and Jeff give to these kids is amazing. they make every kid feel very loved and cared for. This was my girls first year here. I was a little nervous sending them so far away for 3 weeks but Lonnie let me come and visit them on the weekends.When I came up to camp my girls were so happy I have not seen them just frre and careless in a long time. all they had were great stories about all the fun things they had done and the great Ice cream Jeff took them to go get down town. If you truly want your kids to have the best time of their life's send them to Swift. My girls are begging to go to the 6 week camp. I'm already saving up. God bless you Lonnie and Jeff. You really made a difference in my girls life. Signed Joanne Martinez ( Bela and Rosie's mom)

I love SNC! The best place I go all summer. My 7th year comming up and I can't wait!

EXCELLENT camp! Great staff!

best camp ever!!!!! I wish I stayed for 6 weeks!

Swift is the coolest place I have ever been. I have made so many new freinds both living in the USA and in other countries. One of the good things about Swift is the limited number of campers at camp. It helps you get to know everyone. Also the age groups because there are younger kids and older kids and that realy helps getting to know people. The activities are very fun things like archery and rifelry I would have never done if I did not go to camp. Swift is the coolest place I have ever been to.

this is the best camp in the WORLD!

This will be my 7th summer going to sift and I love it!!!!

Good but not great

I thought snc was one of the best camps ever everthing was awesome there its almost summer!!!!!

An extremely good camp

One of my favorite places on earth! It is always so much fun!

THEY WERE GREAT. THEY WOULD ALWAYS LISTEN TO ME, SINCE I WS SO NEW.

I love SNC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

staff is 5 because everybody I see in staff always says," hi hows it going?"

Good Stuff.

i love SNC

This camp is one of a kind. They have the most caring staff you find at any camp.