CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND INC
Where Goodness Grows
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Camp Southern Ground operates with the belief that every child can benefit from the experience of summer camp. We know that the summer camp experience can change a child's life. Camp Southern Ground is the first camp built from the ground up to be an inclusive program that identifies the specific needs of communities, and provides whatever is needed to make sure every child who attends camp is able to be successful and to grow. We serve four main communities: typically developing mainstream children, children with neurological challenges such as autism, ADHD, or emotional and social challenges, children from dramatically underserved areas, and children from military families, especially gold, silver, and white star families. Outside of summer months,Camp Southern Ground is dedicated to supporting veterans through their transition from the military to a meaningful, productive life after service through our Warrior Week and Warrior Pathh programs offered at no cost to the participants.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Summer Camp
Much more than just a week away from home, summer camp at Camp Southern Ground is a chance for kids to grow and learn. They get to connect with new friends and meet people a little different from themselves, explore in nature and spend time outdoors, while eating delicious and healthy food that keeps their bodies feeling good…all geared toward celebrating our differences and putting a little more “good” back into our world.
During summer, Camp Southern Ground offers week-long sleepaway camp sessions serving children ages 7 to 17, bringing together mainstream kids and those with learning and neurodevelopmental issues such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), while also including kids from all socio-economic backgrounds and those with family members actively serving.
What makes Camp Southern Ground truly unique is the value it places on diversity and inclusion among its campers. While at camp, youth have the opportunity to interact with other campers whose circumstances, life experiences, and outlook on life are dissimilar from their own. This experience helps campers develop a new perspective and a respect for each other’s differences, and teaches that it’s OK to be different – that it is our unique traits that are what make us special. Through this process, youth who may often feel excluded from social acceptance among their peers at home begin to develop an authentic sense of belonging, while more mainstream campers with typical needs grow in acceptance, empathy, and compassion.
Warrior Week and Warrior PATHH
Camp Southern Ground is dedicated to supporting veterans through their transition from the military to a meaningful, productive life after service. Outside of summer months, Warrior Week at Camp Southern Ground provides veterans, reserves, and active military with the fundamental training, insight, and experience necessary to transition from the military to a successful and meaningful life after service.
Warrior PATHH (Progressive Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) is the nation’s first non-clinical program aimed to cultivate and facilitate post traumatic growth among combat veterans struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or combat stress. The program, which is substantiated by an unprecedented amount of proven success, delivers training for veterans to regain the capacity to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as improve their physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic well-being.
Where we work
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Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of campers enrolled
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people, Multiracial people
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2018, we launched our 1st full summer camp operation, serving 353 campers. In 2019, we had a 67% increase over 2018. In 2020, during pandemic, we served 800 kids virtually. In 2021, 611 attended camp
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed social skills (e.g., interpersonal communication, conflict resolution)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Multiracial people, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2019 Family survey responses: 66.7% campers Built New Social Skills.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed positive relationships
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Multiracial people, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2019 Family Survey responses, 92% of campers connected with someone different. In 2021, that increased to 93%.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they are aware of their interests and abilities
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2019 Family Survey responses, 82.2% of campers gained confidence.
Number of Military Youth served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Of our total 2019 camper enrollment, 23% of our campers were from Military families.
Number of Underserved Youth
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Of our total 2019 camper enrollment, 38% of our campers were from families below poverty level.
Number of Neuroatypical Youth served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Of our total 2019 camper enrollment, Camp Southern Ground provided accommodations and interventions to meet the needs of 42% neurodiverse youth.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
ONE MISSION: TWO CAUSES - Youth and Veterans
The mission of Camp Southern Ground is to provide extraordinary experiences for individuals to recognize and magnify the unique gifts within themselves and others to profoundly impact the world.
At Camp Southern Ground, we believe that individual differences make us stronger when we come together. An inclusive camp, we serve children ages 7-17 with programs that challenge, educate, and inspire. We bring together typically developing children, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), learning and attention issues, social or emotional challenges, underserved youth, and those with family members serving in the military.
Much more than just a week away from home, summer camp at Camp Southern Ground is a chance for kids to grow and learn. They get to connect with new friends and meet people a little different from themselves, explore in nature and spend time outdoors, while eating delicious and healthy food that keeps their bodies feeling good…all geared toward celebrating our differences and putting a little more “good” back into our world.
Camp Southern Ground’s signature Warrior Week provides veterans the fundamental training, insight, and experience necessary to transition from the military to a meaningful, healthy, and fulfilling life after service. Warrior Week begins with a high-touch week at Camp Southern Ground. The goal of this week is to help transitioning veterans harness their strength, perseverance, selflessness, sacrifice, integrity, and honor as a springboard to a productive and fulfilling life after service. We apply a holistic approach to growth and discovery amongst a support network of peers and mentors who will walk with them over the next year of their journey to assist them in finding their new mission in life. The wellness and workforce readiness program helps veterans identify their unique strengths, define purpose, and develop an action plan to transform struggle into profound growth, fulfillment, and productivity.
Warrior PATHH (Progressive Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) is the nation’s first non-clinical program aimed to cultivate and facilitate post traumatic growth among combat veterans struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or combat stress. The program, which is substantiated by an unprecedented amount of proven success, delivers training for veterans to regain the capacity to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as improve their physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic well-being. Warrior PATHH programs are available for both male and female combat veterans — active duty or veteran. No clinical diagnosis or prior mental health care is required to attend.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
During summer camp, approximately 40% of our campers have some level of special needs, 30% of our campers are from underserved areas, 35% of our campers are from military families, and 30% are from minority and communities of color. Building a camp that truly embodies inclusion, we recognize that each community we serve has specific needs requiring extra support.
For our campers with special needs, we provide additional staff with the education and experience to be able to provide whatever support they need. Every activity has accommodations to make it accessible, so no one is ever left out or unable to participate.
We teach our entire camp population that different isn’t better or worse – it’s just different.
For our campers from underserved areas, we recognize that we need to build trust and confidence with the families we serve. It is why we have a dedicated outreach director who visits these communities and schools and why we build partnerships with local non-profits who serve these families every day. We also know that transportation or purchasing all the items on the packing list may be a challenge, so for any family that needs transportation or supplies for camp, we provide it at no cost.
For our military families, we build into our program recognition and appreciation for those who have served our country. We do a formal flag raising each day and talk to our kids about how patriotism means we all share values and an amazing country together. For all of our gold, silver and white star families, we fully cover the cost of camp, including travel, no matter where they are traveling from.
We also know that cost can be a huge barrier to many other families that could benefit from camp. We offer a tiered pricing model that lets families choose the price they can afford for camp. No scholarship applications. No paperwork. Families just pick what they can pay and we fund the rest. Over 80% of our families get some level of financial support from CSG each year.
The overall goal of camp for every camper is to grow goodness. We want them to grow unique gifts, grow healthy bodies, and grow strong communities. We offer unique and challenging programs that allow every child to find something they enjoy or are talented in.
Warrior Week, our signature 12-month transition program, begins with a high-touch week at Camp Southern Ground. The goal of this week is to help transitioning veterans harness their strength, perseverance, selflessness, sacrifice, integrity, and honor as a springboard to a productive and fulfilling life after service. We apply a holistic approach to growth and discovery amongst a support network of peers and mentors who will walk with them over the next year of their journey to assist them in finding their new mission in life. The wellness and workforce readiness program helps veterans identify their unique strengths, define purpose, and develop an action plan to transform struggle into profound growth, fulfillment, and productivity.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Camp Southern Ground serves youth from four distinct communities because we believe the world is a better place when people who are different come together. In addition to TYPICALLY DEVELOPING YOUTH, we also serve
NEURODIVERSE YOUTH Every child has a distinct neurological profile and a unique set of strengths. We provide accommodations and interventions to meet the needs of neurodiverse youth, such as those with autism, Tourrette syndrome, learning differences and social and emotional challenges, including:
• A team of dedicated Inclusion Specialists, including Board Certified Behavioral Analysts
•Extensive review of each camper’s unique needs as a component of the application process, including review of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Psychoeducational Evaluations
•Program accommodations and interventions for every camp activity
•Resources to help families prepare their child for camp
•Sensory-inclusive facilities desi
UNDERSERVED YOUTH One in five children in the U.S. live in families below the poverty level. We know poverty makes it less likely that children will benefit from rich learning experiences and enrichment opportunities. Camp Southern Ground ensures equal access to the camp experience by providing:
•Over $475,000 in scholarships for summer 2021
•A dedicated outreach director to build relationships, earn and understand the needs of underserved communities
•Transportation for campers who otherwise would not be able to get to camp
•Provision of camp packing list items as needed
MILITARY YOUTH Camp Southern Ground is deeply committed to serving veteran and military families. We emphasize outreach to Gold, Silver, and White Star youth, respectively, those who have lost a parent in the line of duty, had a parent injured or disabled, or lost a parent to suicide post deployment. To honor the sacrifice of these families we provide:
•Partnerships with organizations serving military families including Semper Fi Fund, TAPS and Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund
•100% scholarship, including travel, for all Gold, Silver, or White Star families in need
•A program reflective of military values, including a formal flag raising and lowering each day
WARRIOR WEEK - We engage in team building exercises on the high and low ropes course, eat amazing food together, hear from world-class instructors that train on Clifton Strengths and Enneagram assessments, and spend time writing down a comprehensive plan that will get them where they want to go next. We also use the week to help veterans get connected to the massive veteran support network that exists in the non-profit sector. All of this instruction and support helps each veteran develop their new mission. The three-part mission includes: Discover Your Strengths, Define Your Purpose, and Develop Your Life Plan. Our partnership with the Boulder Crest Retreat has enabled us to conduct the proven Warrior PATHH program at our facilities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since our founding in 2011, Camp Southern Ground has come a long way. From 2011 to the present, we launched a $83.3M Capital Campaign. To date, we have raised $49.9M and completed land acquisition (400 acres), infrastructure, utilities installation, a state-of-the-art LEED Certified dining hall, a LEED Certified residential lodge, a Space Crab treehouse, a multi-purpose shade pavilion, a high and low ropes course, and zip line, a Certified USDA organic farm, fire pit, bicycle pump track, aquatic center and 3-acre solar farm. In 2015, we convened nationally recognized leaders to guide youth and veteran program design and strategic planning. We piloted fall mini adventure camps and hosted over 250 youth during five weekend sessions. In 2018, we hosted the first season of summer camp, serving 353 young people. We also piloted Warrior Week to help 24 veterans transform the high stakes period of transition from the military and one of struggle to profound growth in the civilian world. In 2019, we hosted the second season of summer camp, hosting 590 young people, a 67% increase over the prior year. We scaled Warrior Week from two to eight sessions, serving more than 136 veterans. We rolled out Warrior PATHH post traumatic growth program in collaboration with Boulder Crest Retreat. In 2020, we had to cancel summer camp due to the pandemic but served over 800 campers with virtual sessions and sent over 200 activities and recipes for families to enjoy. We had to briefly halt veteran programming, but as soon as restrictions lifted, we safely served 139 veterans at camp. In 2021 we returned to programming with additional safety protocols in place, hosting 186 veterans and 611 campers, all without one COVID outbreak.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND INC
Board of directorsas of 02/23/2024
Zachry Brown
Bridget Harrell
Doug Haynes
Mike Helton
Huntington James
Ami Klin
Rob Light
Craig Menear
Tommy Millner
Jonathan White
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/20/2019GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.