Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) announces

2021 Summer Camp to resume

 

 

Synopsis:   Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) will resume its summer camp this May 2021 at its 55-acre camp on the Guadalupe River in Comfort Texas.  Since 1979, CAMP has provided safe, fun recreation for individuals (ages 5 – 50) with Autism, Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spina Bifida, and visual or hearing impairment.  Siblings can also attend CAMP, to give caregivers a much-needed break.  Healthcare and young adult volunteers needed.   Extensive Covid-19 policies posted on website.   Visit campcamp.org or call (210) 671-5411.

 

 

Since 1979, Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) has provided safe and fun-filled recreational experiences year-round for individuals (ages 5 – 50) with diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spina Bifida, visual impairment, and/or hearing impairment.

 

After careful deliberation that included surveys and virtual town halls with parents, and closely monitoring the situation in the local and regional communities, CAMP’s leadership and Board of Directors announced that it will again hold summer camp in 2021, running late May through August 2021. (In 2020, CAMP had to close its school year and summer programming, for the first time in its 40-year history, because of Covid-19.)

 

Summer sessions will be held every other week at its 55-acre camp on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country in Comfort Texas, to allow for thorough cleaning and volunteer training. As in past years, siblings (aged 5-13) are welcome to attend CAMP this summer with their sibling, giving caregivers a much-needed respite from the demands of 24/7 care.

 

Volunteers Needed!  CAMP needs paid Staff (age 16+) and Volunteers (age 15+) to make our summer even possible

      • We train!
      • Breaks provided between the seven sessions that run late May through early August
      • Volunteers can choose to come up for one week or multiple weeks
      • Room and board at the CAMP provided free for both volunteers and staff
      • Life changing experiences – Volunteers and staff come away from their experience with more compassion and empathy for those with special needs. More importantly they develop traits such as self-confidence, independence, commitment, problem-solving skills, and character. These traits are not taught in school, but are invaluable in raising the leaders of tomorrow.
      • https://campcamp.org/childrens-association-for-maximum-potential/volunteer-opportunities/
      • For paid staff, positions include head cabin staff, cabin counselors, activity leaders, lifeguards, maintenance, dining hall attendants, chefs, and dishwashers. Benefits not only include a stipend plus room and board, but also the chance to form life-long friendships.
      • https://campcamp.org/childrens-association-for-maximum-potential/employment/seasonal/

CAMP is heavily recruiting teen, young adult, and healthcare volunteers for its summer camp sessions. CAMP offers a unique 1:1 camper-to-counselor ratio that provides safe and fun-filled experiences, so teenage/young adult volunteers beginning at age 15 are welcome and receive training before any camp sessions begin.

 

“Health Care volunteers such as physicians, residents, med and nursing students, RNs, LVNs, respiratory and physical therapists, and pharmacists/pharm techs are really needed,” adds CAMP’s Chief Program Officer, Brandon G. Briery, PhD. “Besides the valuable hands-on experience gained by our healthcare volunteers, they all tell us – without exception – they leave CAMP with a deeper compassion and empathy for all walks of life. That explains why many of our healthcare volunteers have been with us for 30+ years.”  Volunteers can get more information from CAMP’s webpage at bit.ly/CAMPvolunteer.

 

Covid policies for campers and volunteers/staff:   CAMP has multi-layered comprehensive policies to prevent the spread of any infection and allow for rapid identification of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, including small group sizes and limiting the mixing of groups. Its full criteria and policies are posted on our website.  CAMP has the huge advantage of lessons learned when we recently held five small family retreats on weekends, without one case of Covid-19 occurring during the retreats.

 

Every camper who wishes to apply this summer must complete a pre-screening assessment. The responses to the assessment questions will determine eligibility to participate in summer camp 2021 based on CDC guidelines regarding individuals with higher risk conditions to develop severe illness from COVID-19. The American Camp Association – the only national independent accrediting organization reviewing 1,500+ camp operations – estimates the majority of overnight camps are planning to open this year, subject to state rules.

 

Registration is now open on the CAMP website at bit.ly/SummeratCAMP. Attendance for each of the seven sessions will be very limited to allow for social distancing, so Osborne expects slots to fill up quickly.

 

As always, no one is excluded from attending CAMP based on ability to pay, so any and all donations make a difference, especially in these unprecedented times. Visit www.campcamp.org to learn more, to get involved, or to support CAMP’s mission with a financial gift.