Camp CAMP

Camp CAMP provides overnight camping experiences to children with special needs. CAMP will only accept children when we are confident that we can provide a safe, healthy, and fun-filled experience. As a result, parents and guardians must provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information on application forms, and during check-in, about medical conditions, medications, dietary restrictions, and seriousness of behavioral challenges.

CAMP continues to provide summer camp experience for children with no verbal communication or self-help skills or with need for multiple medications around the clock, tracheotomies, ventilator support, gastrostomies, central catheters, peritoneal dialysis, and overnight drip infusions, when appropriate health care providers can be enlisted. In order to allow regular care providers a complete respite experience, we accept the siblings of our campers.

Counselor-to-Staff Ratio

Depending on the needs of the child and availability of volunteer counselors, we strive for a counselor-to-camper ratio of up to 1:1. For siblings without disabilities, our counselor-to-sibling camper ratio may be 1:5 or higher.

Campers' Activities

Campers and counselors gather at Flag Pole where they sing songs,hear announcements, and visit with their friends. Campers attend up to five activities a day with their tribes, which can include archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, horseback riding, nature activities, outdoor cooking, sports and recreation, and swimming, all intended to make campers smile. After dinner each evening, campers and their counselors attend a night activity, which may include a carnival, dance, karaoke, night swim, or other fun activities. Trained instructors supervise all activities and modify them so that each child can participate fully.

CAMP Facility

Camp CAMP has a bed capacity of over 300 overnight guests. CAMP's 55 acres include an archery range, dining hall with kitchen, outdoor sports court, medical library, swimming pool, several covered classrooms, and an activity pavilion with stage and public address system. Our 12-bed, well-equipped infirmary is available for wellness monitoring and 24-hour care for more fragile campers. Campers sleep in large air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible cabins.

Tribe Structure

Campers are assigned to tribes based on age and gender. Each tribe has an experienced supervising Chief Cabin Counselor (CCC), an Assistant Cabin Counselor (or A1), and 8-10 additional counselors. The numbers and ages of children accepted for any given session determine tribes' age boundaries. However, tribes generally are divided into the following age categories:

  • Cherokee -        5-9 years old
  • Apache -          10-12 years old
  • Mohawk -         13-16 years old
  • Pawnee -          17-21 years
  • Sioux -              5-13 years (siblings of children with special needs)

Leadership Staff


Teachers, college students, and experienced staff in the fields of education, recreation, or health constitute the leadership staff. Volunteer high school and college students are assigned to each cabin. Their skills, dedication, and enthusiasm are a major reason why Camp CAMP is special.

 

CAMP Location

Camp is located in the Texas Hill Country about one mile outside Center Point, Texas, mid-way between Kerrville and Comfort. The Guadalupe River forms one of the Camp's boundaries. For street and mailing address, click Contact Us.

Calendar

Schedule for Summer 2008

May 19-22 Leadership Training For all paid staff attending the summer
May 25-30 Session 1Adult 1 (mixed) This session is open for adults (aged 22-45) with mild to severe impairments.
June 1-6 Session 2 Adult 2 (mixed) This session is open for adults (aged 22-45) with mild to severe impairments
June 8-12 Pre-Camp This week is for counselors who are volunteering for one or more sessions during the summer. This includes returning volunteers.
June 15-20 Session 3 Physical This week is open for campers with physical impairment but limited or no mental impairment. Example of diagnoses: Spina Bifida, mild Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Injuries. There is limited availability for campers who need placement in the infirmary for 24 hour nursing care.
June 22-27 Session 4 Autistic This session is open for campers with Autism/PDD. No Aspergers this session.
July 6-11 Session 5 General This session is open to campers with mild to moderate mental impairments. No Autism and no wheelchairs this session. Example of diagnoses: Mental Retardation, Downs, Aspergers
July 13-18 Session 6 Medical This session is open for Campers with moderate to severe physical or medical impairments. Children who are very medically involved should consider this session. There is limited availability for campers who need placement in the infirmary for 24 hour nursing care.
July 20-25 Session 7 Autistic This session is open for campers with Autism/PDD. No Aspergers this session.
July 27 -Aug 1 Session 8 General This session is open for campers with mild to moderate mental impairments. No Autism and no wheelchairs this session. Example of diagnoses: Mental Retardation, Downs, Aspergers.
Aug 3-8 Session 9 Medical This session is open for Campers with moderate to severe physical or medical impairments. Children who are very medically involved should consider this session. There is limited availability for campers who need placement in the infirmary for 24 hour nursing care.

 

For Further Information