Camp McDowell is a premier organization in our field with over 1,140 acres and 834 beds. A multi-faceted operation, Camp McDowell includes the McDowell Environmental Center, McDowell Farm School, Alabama Folk School, and more. Over 30,000 visitors attend programs at Camp McDowell each year.
Miles of hiking trails, glistening streams, comfortable lodging, and large meeting areas makes McDowell an ideal venue. As a Summit participant, you’ll see behind the scenes and directly learn how McDowell transforms lives through outdoor learning experiences.
Camp McDowell is a ministry of the Episcopal Churches in the Diocese of Alabama, and is one of the largest Episcopal Camp and Conference Centers in the US. The Environmental Center, Farm School, and Folk School are secular programs that operate out of this space.
McDowell Environmental Center
McDowell Environmental Center provides outdoor learning experiences that can't be found in a classroom for school groups. Schools typically come for three days and two nights to learn through exploration and inquiry in the forests, canyons, and streams of Camp McDowell.
Programs are aligned with the state educational curriculum of Alabama and surrounding states. The Environmental Center hosts more than 6,000 program participants each year.
McDowell Farm School
Students who attend the Farm School are able to make connections about the foods we eat and how it comes to our plates, learning about sustainable agriculture in an immersive setting. Engaging with the Farm School’s gardens and animals allows program participants to develop essential agricultural and social skills while also growing a deeper connection with the natural world.
Featuring a wide variety of crops and animals — including cows, goats, pigs, and chickens, — the Farm School hosts more than 3,750 program participants annually.
Other Programs
In addition to the Environmental Center and Farm School, Camp McDowell offers a variety of other programs.
McDowell Summer Camp
Summer Camp fosters a welcoming, Christian community that supports young people's growth and development. All sessions offer a host of fun activities like hiking, paddle sports, arts and crafts, swimming in the pools, high ropes elements, and more.
Alabama Folk School
The Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell reconnects people to music, art, and each other. The Folk School offers workshops in traditional folk arts such as dancing, storytelling, banjo, and fiddle as well as the homesteading practices of cooking, canning, and quilting.
Conferences
McDowell hosts conferences, mid-level events, and small gatherings of all types throughout the year.
Teacher Workshops
Teacher Workshops give teachers new ideas, materials, strategies, and skills to take back to their classrooms while providing continuing education credits through PowerSchool. These credits are also typically TEAMS approved. Ultimately, these workshops get teachers more comfortable with the outside classroom so that they will return to their classes refreshed and enthusiastic about taking their students outside.
