Camp Waziyatah

★★★★★Julie Padgett

This will be my son Taylor’s fifth summer attending Camp Waziyatah, and without question, it has been one of the most transformative experiences of his life. As a single mother, sending Taylor away to camp for the first time was incredibly difficult. Before Wazi, he had never been away from home. Coming out of the pandemic, I knew it was more important than ever for him to experience independence, develop social skills and confidence, and discover who he was outside of this hovering mother’s care! I wanted him to build friendships with kids from different places, learn responsibility, and experience life without the constant pull of technology. At the time, we were living in Houston, Texas, and I spent countless hours researching camps and reading parent reviews before finally speaking with Gregg, the owner and director. I shared all of my hopes and fears for Taylor, especially the concern of sending him halfway across the country away from home. By the end of that conversation, I knew Wazi was the right place for him. One thing that really stood out to me was learning that Gregg was going back to school to study child psychology at Harvard. To me, that spoke volumes about how deeply he cares about helping children grow and creating an environment that supports them in the healthiest and most intentional way possible. He shared the same hopes for Taylor as I did, helping him grow in confidence, learn resilience, and realize he was capable of far more than he thought, all within a kind and supportive environment. As a parent, you want your child to grow, which inevitably comes with discomfort and difficult moments. To be able to do that in a safe environment with people who genuinely care about your child is invaluable. That first summer wasn’t easy. Taylor experienced severe homesickness during the first couple of weeks, which was agonizing for both of us. I expected a call at any moment saying it was simply too much and that he should come home. Instead, what I experienced was an incredible level of care and intentionality, with daily one-on-one conversations and check-ins from all levels of the Wazi staff. One moment that still means so much to me was when they started afternoon tennis matches because they knew how much Taylor loved tennis, in effort to help him feel connected, cared for, and encouraged. Slowly, we watched him turn a corner. Fast forward to today, and Wazi has become one of Taylor’s favorite places in the world. He has built lifelong friendships and grown in confidence, independence, and social skills in ways I know would not have happened otherwise. Last year, Taylor gave his eighth-grade graduation speech on the importance of getting out of your comfort zone, which is, of course, Wazi’s mantra. So much of Wazi carries on in who he is and what he believes. Taylor is now at the end of his ninth-grade year at an incredible all-boys boarding school, and we’ve been told he transitioned substantially smoother and quicker than many of the other boarding students. I know Wazi played a huge role in preparing him and giving both of us the confidence to even pursue such a life-changing opportunity. One thing the staff told him during that difficult first summer has stayed with both of us ever since was that by staying and pushing through the homesickness, he would learn he was capable of doing hard things and that confidence would give him the courage to pursue so many amazing opportunities in life. That lesson has carried far beyond camp and continues to shape the young man he is becoming. As a parent, you could not ask for more than watching your child grow in confidence, build meaningful friendships, and discover who they are in a safe, loving, and supportive environment. I will forever be grateful to the entire Waziyatah family for the impact they’ve had on Taylor far beyond the just the summers. I think Charles Eliot said it best: “I have a conviction that a few weeks spent in a well-organized summer camp may be of more value educationally than a whole year of formal school work.”

★★★★★Andrew Hager

My company Hager Photography had the absolute pleasure of photographing a wedding here at Camp Wazzy this summer and it was AMAZING. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun, laid back wedding experience. Camp Wazzy is such a unique venue! The couple was chill and wanted to create a special environment for all their guests to enjoy themselves the whole weekend. Everyone was able to enjoy swimming, frisbee, basketball, and more. This was one of the funnest weddings I've ever shot.

★★★★★Justin T. Norris

One of the most incredible destinations we’ve ever adventured to. Huge grounds, phenomenal amenities (Paddle boards,canoes, kayaks, sailboats, gorgeous outdoor amphitheater & stage, fantastic staff, great cabins and endless character & charm. Wife and I stayed 3 days and shared huge lakefront cabin with rest of wedding party. A truly unforgettable experience. So much so, we’re booking it again for 4 days (minus the wedding) for 25 of our closest friends and family to simply enjoy and take it all in. Ask for Tim, the camp director. He’s the real deal and a true professional. The military discounts offered are truly remarkable as well and can be applied for any occasion (not 100% on “any” but just ask. They will gladly work-out anything they can to accommodate) especially if you’re interested in sending your child/children to the main focus of the Camp, which is impeccably curated just for them during the summer months. Don’t overlook this place if it’s on your radar🖖🏼🙂

★★★★★Melanie Judd

Love this place. The experience kids get here literally shapes them for life and makes them better than they were before.

★★★★Jim Joyce

The entire camp was rented for a long weekend for a family wedding. The location couldn't have been better. From the waterfront to the performance stage it was great.