One-Week Session vs Mini Session: Which Experience is Right for Your Family?

Since we started offering Family Camp in Summer 2021, the consistent feedback we get every year is that families wanted more time at camp. Well…..we heard you! This upcoming summer we are excited to offer One-Week Sessions along with our Mini Sessions at Cohutta Springs. Knowing that change can bring about questions, we figured we’d shed some light on One-Week Sessions and all that comes with it.

Introducing One-Week Sessions

First, let’s go through some logistics and scheduling…..

A Mini Session is a 2-night, 3-day getaway that runs on a Sunday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Friday schedule. These sessions are perfect for a quick vacation when it’s hard to take off a whole week or when you want to dip your toes in the camp waters.

A One-Week Session is a 5-night, 6-day getaway that starts on Sunday and ends on Friday. These sessions answer the call for more time at camp and then some. With more than double the days of a Mini Session, we’re able to program more time at camp for activities, family worship, and incredible events that you’ll remember for years to come.

Here’s the Scoop!

Let’s set the record straight on some of the most commonly asked questions…..

One-Week Session = Unlimited Activities

A One-Week Session isn’t just more time at camp, we’re adding different elements and events that we haven’t been able to do because we haven’t had the time! We try to pack so much into a Mini Session because we want families to experience as much as possible. With our One-Week Sessions, we see the need for families to be able to slow down and not have such a fast-paced schedule. They’ll still have access to all of the amazing activities that Cohutta Springs has to offer like the High Ropes Course, Banana Boat, and Zip-lines. If anything, there will be more time so you don’t have to choose between just one.

Introducing Night Events

Along with the amazing activities, we’re introducing special events into each day that will make each day feel like it’s a new adventure. We’ll be enjoying a Pancake Breakfast, chilling out at Creek Day with rubber duckies races and pony rides, taking on other families in Sock Wars, and parents will get a much deserved Parents Night Off with a delicious, gourmet dinner. And don’t forget about the night events that bring us all together to end out the day! With a One-Week Session, we’ll have more nights to program and keep the party going until the sun sets over the mountain ridge!

Off-Campus Adventure Day

We’ve also blocked out time for families to get some time offsite so they can enjoy the natural beauty and attractions of North Georgia. We’ve declared Wednesdays at One-Week Sessions to be renamed Off-Campus Adventure Day! We’re less than an hour drive from places like Chattanooga, TN or Ellijay, GA and we know families get the itch to explore. Take the famous railway up to Lookout Mountain, chill out as you tube down the Ellijay River with your family, grab some ice cream at Clumpies, or bring the golf clubs and hit the links at a nearby course! This is your time as a family to go explore!

More Time = More Connection

Now that we’ve hit on the fun, let’s not downplay the fact that getting away from our crazy schedules can help us deepen our relationship with the Lord. As parents, we know you take the role of discipling your kids seriously, and coming to Family Camp is more than just thrills. It’s having more time to connect with your kids in a distraction-free environment. In our One-Week Sessions, we’ll have more time dedicated to family worship, family devotional times, and sessions where kids learn Gospel-centered truths and parents get to deepen their faith and interactions with other parents.

We couldn’t be more excited about where God is taking the Family Camp program at WinShape Camps. From starting just 3 years ago with a simple vision to serve families over the course of a few days to now having One-Week Sessions in the summer and parent-child weekends in the Fall and Spring (coming in 2025!), we’re humbled to be able to grow and see families come year after year.

So whether you’re coming for a Mini Session or a One-Week Session, just know that we’re actively planning for you and can’t wait to greet you this summer at Cohutta Springs! We hope the information above sheds light on our newest offering, the One-Week Session!