For an organization that builds itself around reaching students through on-campus meetings during the school year, you might think summer would be a time to go into hibernation.

But if the organization in question is the Forsyth-Dawson chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, that assumption would be off base, to say the least.

“Summer is the time when we really get geared up, we really pour into our [student] leaders, pour into our athletes,” campus director Jeannine Davis said.

The local FCA works full-bore while school is out, trying to attract students to football camps, multi-activity power camps and leadership retreats, and the lack of daily classes can actually be helpful.

“Camp is called a week of inspiration and perspiration, so they go, they sweat together, and then they have time to transition and talk about spiritual things,” Davis said.

“During the school year, you fight to get time [with students] ... so when the kids go away to camp, we get five days, morning, noon and night.”

Davis said FCA has built a network of more than 130 student leaders on high school and middle school campuses in Forsyth and Dawson counties, with over 1,000 students affected through regular activities.

Between now and August, FCA’s activities will include youth football camps at West Forsyth and South Forsyth, as well as multi-sport power camps at First Redeemer Church, where participants can spend time riding horses, playing golf, cheerleading and crocheting, among other activities.

Local staffers say that activity camps, designed around elementary and middle-school students, are a chance for younger kids to be exposed to FCA’s mission, find their niche in local sports and be exposed to older students who can serve as role models.

Michael Ganote, local chapter director, said the football camps can give coaches a chance to look at what’s coming down the pipeline in terms of talent. West’s camp last year attracted 175 participants, he said.

“You’ve got the new eighth graders coming in. It gives the coaches a chance to look at some eighth-graders, give his [high school] kids the chance to serve a little bit and work for the camp, and basically get [the younger kids] introduced to football,” said Ganote.

For older students, FCA’s football camp at Georgia Southwestern State University attracts high schools from across the state, including Forsyth County.

Davis said West’s football program will send at least 90 players to the camp this year, making it the biggest team camp in school history, according to Wolverine coaches.

FCA is also sending local representatives to a student leader retreat and a gathering for coaches and their families, both scheduled to be held on St. Simons Island.

Then there’s the deeper mission of the organization, which is spreading its message of faith.

Davis said the parent of one elementary-school student was astonished at how interacting with FCA had affected her young son, who refused to let her remove the Bible from his bedside stand at night.

Ganote is quick to point out that it takes dedicated individuals to make the local chapter a success. He pointed to adult leaders like Jason Gripe at Liberty Middle School and Harold Earls at First Redeemer Church as good examples.

And of course, it takes actual student-athletes willing to share their testimony. Ganote said a standout Christian athlete was Andrew Barna, a recent South Forsyth graduate and former member of that school’s baseball program who has impressed audiences with public speeches on behalf of FCA.

The local FCA has only had full-time staff for two years, so Davis says the job of winning attention and support from families and potential donors is an ongoing one.

Still, the organization has found fertile soil in Forsyth County, she said.

“Everyone’s been very receptive throughout the county. The schools are very open, the parents are very supportive, teachers and coaches are supportive, so it’s just getting the word out,” she said.

E-mail BJ Corbitt at bjcorbitt@forsythnews.com.