Camp Cole

Our Mission

Camp Cole exists to be a safe, fully accessible, and inspirational place where individuals facing illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges can gather, connect, and shine. Located just outside Columbia, South Carolina, our camp and retreat center is a place where everyone belongs.

Our Impact

For families and individuals navigating an illness or disability, moments of normalcy, joy, and connection can be rare. Camp Cole creates space for those moments to happen. Since opening our doors in 2021, we have served more than 12,000 individuals at Camp Cole, with over 250 different diagnoses, disabiltiies, or other challenges.

Our Story

Every story has a catalyst. Ours is Cole Sawyer. Cole lost his battle with cancer in 2004 at the age of 11. During his fight, he experienced the power of a special summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. There, Cole formed friendships with others who truly understood his journey. Those connections brought joy, comfort, and a sense of normalcy, not only to Cole, but to his entire family.

When Cole passed away, his mother Stacy vowed to build a unique camp in his memory so that more children living with critical illnesses could experience the joy of an overnight camp the way Cole had. A few years into planning, Stacy unexpectedly passed away.

Together, with support from a generous community of friends and followers, Cole’s older sister, Kelsey, and her good friend Margaret Deans forged ahead with Stacy’s dream. Today, the spirits of Cole and Stacy shine brightly across our beautiful Camp Cole campus, lighting the way for our future campers.

How We Serve

Camp Cole serves children, teens, and adults who are navigating serious illnesses, disabilities, and complex life challenges through transformative overnight summer camps, programs, and year-round experiences. We also offer rental opportunities to mission-friendly non-profits, businesses, schools, and churches.

We partner with trusted organizations, our Camp Partners, and also operate Camp Cole Directed Programs such as Camp Imapct and Cole's Kids. From outdoor adventures to creative and waterfront activities, every experience is designed to build connection, confidence, and joy.

Your Impact

Camp Cole exists because of the generosity of individuals, families, businesses, and foundations that understand the impact a camp experience can have on a child, teen, or adult living with an illness or disability or facing a different type of life challenge. Thanks to your support, every child receives a full or partial scholarship to attend Camp Cole. By making a one-time, recurring, or annual donation, you’re giving campers the freedom to shine!

Thank you for helping them shine!

A Glimpse Into Summer 2025