Bainbridge Bearcats travel to Lake Pickett for full pads

Published 3:13 pm Wednesday, July 30, 2025

At Pickett Lake, July 27–31 isn’t just about plays and drills; it’s a journey where Bearcats build strength in spirit, deepen their bonds, and chase something bigger than the game. For Coach Jay Walls, this camp is a cornerstone of team culture, an opportunity to forge bonds, build trust, and create something special.

“We’re going to work on blocking and tackling, execution of plays, fundamentals,” Walls said. “But we’re also going to work as a team and come together.”

Pickett Lake Camp in Branford, Florida, provides more than just outdoor fun; it’s a transformative experience where campers grow through shared meals, collaborative cabin life, and interactive team-building adventures that nurture trust and cooperation.

“They’re all staying in different cabins, different groups, so they’ve got to room together,” Walls explained. “We’re going to do a bunch of team activities to create some team camaraderie and bonding.”

Walls has a long history with Pickett Lake Camp, having taken teams there during his time at Suwannee and Tifton County High School.

“It was a tradition there,” he said. “A lot of players still talk about going to camp down there. It was a special thing, and it made us a better team, a closer team.”

At Navarre, Walls’ last stop before coming to Bainbridge, logistical limitations meant the camp had to stay on campus. But in Georgia, and Camp Pickett just a short drive away, the Bearcats have access to an ideal off-site training environment.

One notable feature of the camp? Limited phone access.

“There’ll be an hour and a half each day that they can have their phones,” Walls said. “It’s just a way of focusing on football, focusing on the team.”

To Walls, the true value of camp lies in the struggle—forging strength through the struggle, and emerging stronger, closer, and more prepared.

“I want to focus on the intangibles,” he said. “Working as a team, that togetherness, coming together, there are other teams that go off to camp, all over the county. But I felt like it was something we needed to do, that’s different and tough.”