Who We Are

Camp All-American (CAA) was established in the summer of 1989 as a summer camp for kids in need of love, encouragement, and hope. Founded on the philosophy that by providing a summer camp where parents feel safe and kids are excited about playing and learning, CAA sought to build relational bridges that would enable us to minister to the deeper needs of the human heart (finding purpose, freedom, and assurance through a relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ). Building this camp from it's inception on the property of Perimeter Church enabled us to build natural bridges from our church into the community.

Camp All-American and now All-American Recreation (AAR) strive to protect and enlarge that foundation by continuing to encourage others to come “Play with a Purpose” by providing relevant and attractive programs and events that meet the needs and interests of children and adults alike. Our mission is accomplished as God's family and those outside His family build relationships and experience together the love of Christ through the wonderful tools of sport and play.

By using the culturally relevant tools of sport and play, AAR hopes to create spiritually, physically, and emotionally safe environments for people to investigate and experience the love of God. Our programs are open to all people regardless of religious beliefs, gender or ethnic background.

Our History

  • Founded in 1989 As a 501c3 non profit ministry
  • In 1989 opened the doors to our first camp with over 200 kids
  • In 1998 Camp All-American (CAA) disbanded as a separate 501c3 and became a Perimeter Church Ministry and became part of the new Perimeter Ministry under the umbrella ministry of All-American Recreation
  • Expanded programs in 1998 under new ministry to include: Kids Basketball, Soccer, Women's aerobics, Women's Basketball, Coed Volleyball
  • By 1998 CAA had grown to over 2000 kids
  • Summer of 1999 changed camp programming to a Sports Specialty Camp and grew to over 3200 kids.
  • In 1999-2000 1.7 million was raised under the Kids First Project to expand the facilities of CAA (Additions included: New Pool, Ropes Course, Soccer, Wilderness, and others)
  • 2001 Began to use the sports of Badminton, Softball and Basketball as a regular outreach ministry to adults
  • Following summers Camp AA established continued growth of 20% and in the summer of 2004 over 6400 kids attended

Our Statement of Faith

  1. We believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
  2. We believe there is one God, eternal and self-existing in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who are to be equally loved, honored, and adored.
  3. We believe all mankind participated in Adam's fall from his original sinless state and is thus lost in sin and totally helpless.
  4. We believe the Sovereign God, for no other reason than His own unfathomable love and mercy, has chosen lost sinners from every nation to be redeemed by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit and through the atoning death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.
  5. We believe those sinners whom the Spirit quickens, come to believe in Christ as Savior by the Word of God, are born again, become sons of God, and will persevere to the end.
  6. We believe justification is by faith and through it the undeserving sinner is clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
  7. We believe the goal of God's salvation in the life of the Christian is holiness, good works, and service for the glory of God.
  8. We believe at death the Christian's soul passes immediately into the presence of God and the unbeliever's soul is eternally separated from God unto condemnation.
  9. We believe baptism is a sign of God's covenant and is properly administered to children of believers in their infancy as well as to those who come as adults to trust in Christ.
  10. We believe Jesus Christ will return to earth, visibly and bodily, at a time when He is not expected, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
  11. We believe the Gospel of God's salvation in Jesus Christ.

What Others Say

For kids like mine, who do not have a father present and who rely so heavily on me for love and affirmation, the fact that they want to do all the weeks of camp next summer, despite the heat and energy required, speaks volumes of the heart of Camp All-American and its true impact in young lives.
This summer was undoubtedly one of the best summers of their lives, and that's saying a lot considering this is the first summer they've ever spent without their dad. They miss him a lot, but some of that void was very effectively filled by the wonderful counselors who nurtured, supported, and loved these boys all summer long.
My name is Grace. I am twelve years old and have been going to Camp All-American for five years. I love it!!! The counselors are amazing!!! The ropes course, awesome!!! And O-Zone rocks!!! The counselors have moved me so much with their stories and truly have helped me become a stronger Christian.
It's almost unbelievable to me how much my two boys grew over the summer. They grew physically, getting bigger, stronger, and healthier. But that growth was dwarfed by the growth that they experienced in other areas. They now possess a solid sense of self and a deep spirituality that grounds them as they move through various groups of people with various agendas.
Mason and Sydney sure hated to go home. They said one week just wasn't enough. Drew said the same thing. Every year I am amazed at the professionalism and the love that is shown at Camp All-American. I tell everyone one I know about it.
Where do I begin? No words could ever convey how grateful I am for my son having this opportunity. I am a divorced believer and my son's father is not involved in his life at all. Therefore, for my son to have a chance to interact with Christian young men is just awesome! No other camp can compare with the experience he had at CAA.

Our Facilities

The facilities of Camp All-American and Perimeter Church have been built to the Glory of God by His people. Each area you will see has a specific design and plan to facilitate play and relationships. We lovingly call this our "Back Yard". Isn't that where relationships really develop? In the fun and safe places where people can laugh, compete and play. We believe this is where real ministry takes place. As you view our facilities begin to think how you could use them for God's glory and "Play with a Purpose".

Our Staff

Jay Martin (Director, All-American Recreation)

Jay came to Camp All-American in 1998 when he was hired to be the Director of it's umbrella ministry, All-American Recreation. Before that he worked as a Graduate Coach at Georgia Tech, Sports Director at Dunwoody Baptist Church and a brief time in a few business ventures. Jay received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Management from Georgia Tech. Though Jay is slow and not very smart he did manage to graduate from Georgia Tech and play defensive back on the 1990 National Championship team. He uses his gifts in a variety of ways to help lead and serve one of the best Camp Staffs ever assembled.

Jay was married to Heather Anderson on November 16, 1991. They have 3 varmints: Jacob, Mallory, and Benjamin. They are the joy of his life. Jay's favorite past times include working out, bird hunting, and playing with his kids. One of Jay's greatest accomplishment is creating a "Basement Stair Slide" out of boxes for the kids to play on.

Favorite thing about Camp: Friday Morning Devotions: "I get to hear all the great stories about that week of camp from the Counselors."

Tammy Lopez (Director, Camp All-American)

Tammy has been with Camp All-American since 1995 when she, along with a friend, started the first Pre-Camp All-American when their daughter were 3. She now is the Director of CAA and has been amazed at how God has grown the size and scope of this ministry over the years.

She particularly is excited about the growing opportunity to influence the Kingdom by investing in the lives of over 200 college students that come to CAA as counselors and leaders each summer.

Tammy's love for camping began twenty years ago in South Florida where she began working for a summer camp that was part of the Christian school where she taught second graders. Prior to that, Tammy attended Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN where she played basketball for the "Lady Crusaders." She graduated in 1984 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and Bible.

Tammy has a daughter named Maddisen who is a student Wesleyan. Both Maddie and Tammy love to play tennis, shop, hang out together, cook and eat. Maddisen was in the 1st Pre-Camp class and will be the 1st camper to have gone through all the programs we offer. What a blessing it is to be called to such a ministry. Praise God for giving us such an incredible tool to share the Gospel with children and their families.

Brent Curl (Operations and Outreach Director)

Brent is a graduate of Berry College and began working with Camp All-American during the summer of 1997. He has been on full time staff with the recreation ministry of Perimeter Church since January, 2000. He currently serves in a role focused on outreach to the greater Atlanta community and has a passion for sports and recreation ministry. Brent also manages the Challenge Ropes course and Wilderness programming of Camp All-American. He has been married to Maranda since 2004 and has one daughter, Abigail.

Jamey Short (Business and Communications Director)

After growing up in the small town of Glasgow, KY, Jamey moved to an even smaller town and attended Cumberland College where he later graduated with degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration. Working at Camp All-American each summer during his college years helped Jamey realize that the Lord was calling him to Atlanta. Following that calling, Jamey moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2002. Shortly thereafter, he began working full time with Camp All-American and currently serves as the Business and Communications Dir. His areas of oversight include the customer service/administrative team, scholarship program, marketing, communications, and other business related functions. Jamey has been married to Amanda since 2007.

Stephen Ready (Assistant Director)

Stephen went to college at Georgia Tech and studied Business. During his time at Tech he worked at Camp All-American from the summer of 2003 to the summer of 2005. It was in this time that Stephen began to see his passion for camp ministry grow. After graduating college Stephen moved to Mesa, AZ to start a day camp at a church. After completing his job there he moved back here to Atlanta to work full time for Camp All-American in February of 2007. He is responsible for programming and running Day Camp for 4th & 5th graders, Camp O-Zone, and the Servant team, and a host of other responsibilities. When Stephen is not at work he enjoys playing the guitar, running, and becoming a master of Nintendo Wii. He also dabbles in the study of whales, specifically Orca.

Dee Bennett (Assistant Camp Director)

Dee Bennett is a graduate of Georgia State University where she studied Music Management. She interned briefly with the Recording Academy and with an independent record label during her senior year and worked with an entertainment events planning firm just prior to graduation. She began working in elementary education in 2005 and remained in education for two years. She first arrived at Camp All American as a Junior Camp counselor in the summer of 2006. She returned in the summer of 2007 and joined the full time staff in the fall. Dee's responsibilities at camp include planning and oversight of Pre Camp, Junior Camp, Day Camp (1st-3rd) and summer assemblies, as well as curriculum development and HR for the summer staff. Her passions include creative writing, singing and song writing, dancing poorly when nobody is watching, and teaching Christ through sound theology to His youngest potential followers.

Carolyn Case (AAR Resident)

Carolyn first came on staff with Camp All-American, in the fall of 2003. She worked as the Camp Resident for two and a half years working as the discipleship coordinator for the female counselors, helping with recruitment, and the camp store. After her residency was over, she moved on to work at the University of Georgia, while getting her graduate degree. God had other plans however, and He led her back to CAA again in January of 2007. She is again our full-time Camp All-American Resident who has a heart for college students and camping ministry. Carolyn enjoys Mexican food, jazzercise, and traveling.

Joel Prothro (AAR Resident)

Joel came to Camp All-American in the summer of 2003 as a Day Camp counselor. He continued to spend his summers at camp until he finished his masters degree in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech. Now he works as the All-American Recreation resident where his responsibilities include working with the basketball academy during the winter, as well as planning and recruiting for Camp.

During the summer, he leads the discipleship program for the male counselors and keeps the specialty program running smoothly. When not at work, Joel enjoys weight lifting, photography and playing the piano and guitar.

While working as a counselor, Joel met Miss Mary Thompson. They began dating in 2005 and were married in November, 2007. They now live in John's Creek, Georgia.

Michelle Hitchcock (Customer Service)

Michelle worked part-time for Perimeter on their special events team before she started the exciting, fast-paced job as customer service specialist for Camp All-American in January, 2007. She loves her job working with parents of campers and helping them with the process of registration, answering questions and concerns along the way, and seeing parents beaming with pride at their campers at the end of the week closing ceremony. She relates because she is a mom of 8-year-old twin boys who LOVE Camp All-American. Michelle enjoys scrapbooking, working out, and spending time with her family and friends.

Michal Whitlock (Ministry Associate)

In the summer of 2003, Michal decided to take a summer job as a counselor at Camp All American. She soon realized that camp was not a temporary job, it was a lifestyle. After that first crazy summer, she decided to change her major from the ever popular "Undecided" to Recreation and Leisure Studies Administration. She spent the next two summers at CAA, one as a counselor and the other as an Office Assistant.

In January 2006, Michal married Josh Whitlock and began working in the Sales Department at a hotel in Duluth. It was apparent that the Lord was calling her back into ministry, so on January 2nd, 2008, she joined the incredible Full-Timers as the Ministry Associate for the Camp and Sports Ministry and is excited about what God has planned for the kids in this community.