Fresh Air Home

★★★★★Zaida Del Valle

My son attended the camp for the June 17th session. He had a great time. He did have to leave a few days in because of heat exhaustion that caused him to throw up. But, after being looked over by a doctor in town and given a clean bill of health he was allowed to come back to finish out the camp. I'm so thankful for my friend who gave me the information for this place. He wants to return next year and I'll be more than happy to sign him up.

★★★★Olivia Ulrich

My son was there but unfortunately was kicked out after 3 days. This camp is not for kids with autism. He had a blast but he wasn’t making any friends and I guess he got really down on himself and had two meltdowns. Because of this they made me pick him up. He did have a lot of fun. He was heartbroken because he doesn’t really have friends and he was finally able to do things he hasn’t in a social situation. Chatham Co makes kids with autism go to a different school with not a lot of children in the classes. So, again, he has no friends. He lost his dad 3 months ago due to an accident. We thought this would give him some normalcy. A chance to be a kid. A chance to not focus on being hurt. It was a mistake. He had some bad meltdowns. It’s no fault to the camp for kicking him out. I do wish, however, they would be more considerate to kids with autism. I don’t think people understand how hard it is. I know it’s hard for adults who are not use to it. So, I get it. Sometimes adults do not know how to defuse situation with children in this time of crisis when a meltdown happens. It happens. There are a million kids there and the counselors are barely adults. I can’t fault them for not understanding how to calm it down. He enjoyed the three days he was there. So, for “normal” children, I do believe this camp would be great. My kid was so happy and excited to tell me the things he got to do. He just wasn’t making friends and felt left out. If your kid does have any issues like autism or things of that nature, I would choose another camp. I do not write this bashing the camp, otherwise, I would have said I do not recommend. I write this as a real review with a child who has autism. If you’re a parent with a child with autism, you would understand.

★★★★★debra silva

I went to this camp for most summers through the 90's and had the opportunity to be a counselor in training in the early 2000's. Yes, there are no phone calls home unless there's an emergency, but children are in good hands. Yes, bunk areas have 20ish beds in them, but the food is actually better than a public school cafeteria. Yes, the outdoor showers we used after the beach were cold, but in the GA heat, why would you want a hot shower outdoors when there's still time to get nasty? Children are also given uniforms to wear while there in case ya'll wanna gripe about that too, but who wants to send their kids with 2 weeks worth of clothes; it's not like they're visiting your ex spouse. Children don't generally care about that type of stuff as we were given the ability to forge new friendships and have fun while learning new things. If you want to helicopter parent your kid, then maybe you should keep them at home in their own room and supply primo meals since your standards are set high for what is essentially a free camp. I for one am expecting my first child and can't wait until she's old enough to attend.

★Arie

Went to this camp back in the 2000’s. I was the only person of color at the camp at the time. We were forced to be out in the sun for hours at a time, totaling to at least 5 hours a day in the direct sun with a piece of rope outlining our boundaries. The food was horrible, there was no hot water for us to take showers with, in which it was 4 girls at a time taking a shower in a single shower at that with a counselor passing us soap and washing our backs. We had two chances to wash and some times only one after being out in the sand all day. Children were not allowed to call their parents at all, only form of contact was letters. This place felt like a concentration camp and I pray to God that this all has changed. If anyone from the facility has updated answers on why the camp was ran that way please respond.

★★★★★william davis

Went to fresh air home in 1956 to1957 time frame . Poor kid that could no go to camp any other way. But the time My sisters and I spent there was one of the most positive experiences that I ever had as child .