Gator Wilderness Camp School is a private, non-profit (501(c)(3)) Christian residential school in Punta Gorda, located on a 250-acre property in Charlotte County. Its year-round camping program is designed specifically for adolescent boys ages 11–15 who are struggling with challenges at home, at school, or in their communities. As the school's staff puts it, they are “more of a residential private school than a camp.”
Boys live and learn in small groups in campsites they help build and care for, with a focus on healthy relationships, structure, and planning. Education is hands-on and experiential — natural science, Florida history, reading, composition, math, health, P.E., environmental science, and home economics, plus trips like canoeing the Suwannee River and sea kayaking the Everglades. Gator Wilderness Camp School is recognized as a private school by the Charlotte County School District and accepts Step Up For Students and McKay scholarships.
The community is welcome at the annual Turkey in the Hole Thanksgiving celebration and fundraiser each November, featuring campsite tours, a program by the campers, a Thanksgiving meal, children's games, and an auction.
To learn whether the program is a fit for your son, call the office at 941-639-7722 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–5 pm) or use the contact form on their website.
Business Review
Private, non-profit Christian residential school and year-round wilderness camp program for boys ages 11–15 on 250 acres in Punta Gorda.
