The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 21, Ed. 1, Wednesday, November 9, 1994 Page: 3 of 8
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kids achieve their maximum
1
Helping
potential
" By MELISSA STALLINGS
5 OPINION PAGE EDITOR
to
i war i
ana Bicklcy never thought she
would work 24- hour days seven
days a week throuehout her sum-
l mcrs. But she's been doing it for six
Ijycars as a counselor at Camp C.A.M.P.
ifitx unique camp for mentally and physi-
t cally handicapped kids.
; "It was something I thought would be
interesting " she said. "But once I start-
ed I couldn't stop. It's addicting and I
t can't imagine my life without it.
'$ C.A.M.P. is only one of many pro-
j gramylircctcd by C.A.M.P. an organi-
zation whose initials stand for Chil-
f dren's Association for Maximum
Potential. C.A.M.P. is well-known
aationwidc and very well known
found the San Antonio area according
to Sam Van Ncstc Camp C.A.M.I
director.
"People hear about C.A.M.P. by word
q mouth" Sam said "both campers
and volunteers."
That's how David Hall senior youth
and family ministry major from Bclton.
heard about C.A.M.P. Dana invited him
to a weekend camp two years ago.
"After that experience I knew I want-
Ad to go back" he said. "I was
Hooked. Dave volunteered again for a
week this past summer.
Dana explained the story of the
C.A.M.P. logo "The ladder leading to
the star represents the goal of the rain-
bow. The child is making his way up
the ladder holding the crutch which
represents his disability. The paper doll
KVmi.i frianric
ill s4 "- ilfeS
Dave Hall posos with Nathan Immel his camper assignment during
the week he spent volunteering as a counselor at Camp C.A.M.P
lis summer.
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ff Simpers tllzabeth Hornandez and
MtS and CratlS thIS Summer at Oamp
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figures below arc the counselors and
medical staff who arc helping him to
achieve his goal."
And that is exactly what C.A.M.P.
docs. Sam said "C.A.M.P. is a chance
to do the same things kids without dis-
abilities can do. It's just like any other
camp. Each child that comes works to
achieve their maximum potential and to
succeed to the best of their ability."
C.A.M.P is run just like other sum-
mer rnmns. The enmn offers hnrsehnrlt
ridino. nrcherv. riflerv. cnnneinir. 9
swimming and arts and crafts.
Dann senior elementary special
education major frpm San Antonio
said "One of the neatest things
about C.A.M.P. is that it's so acces
sible. We have ramps leading to
horseback riding and canoeing and
the Whole camp is surrounded by
sidewalks."
Because of its history with children
suffering from medical disabilities
C.A.M.P. especially tries to accommo-
date campers with severe problems.
Seventy-percent of the kids who go to
Camp C.A.M.P. havp been turned away
from other camps. Camp C.A.M.P.
takes kids who need constant medical
attention.
Sam said "In a perfect world every
camp would take every camper. But
this is the real world and a lot of camps
arc on a shoestring budget. We have
the equipment and trained professionals
other camps don't have."
C.A.M.P. takes campers who suffer
from cerebral palsy autism mental
retardation and seizures among other
things. They accept kids who require
Photo courtty Oavl Hal
n - r . CS 4 A
Alyson Tune color together In Dana takes
U m.r Strives IU
tt H . ' LLVH
medical equipment such as feeding
pumps respirators and temperature
monitors.
C.A.M.P. summers arc divided into
week long sec-
tions:
med-
ical
disabili
ty week men-
tal retardation week autism week
physical disability week and two multi-
disability weeks.
Sam said "We started by taking kids
with medical disabilities and we've
continued to follow through with that."
Camp C.A.M.P. began in 1979 when
the first pediatric kidney transplant
patient Matt Lipman was denied the
opportunity to go to summer camp. .
Sam said "He visited his doctor and
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Dana Blckley poses with camper Nathan Bruce during the summer of 1993 at C.A.M.P. Dana works as a Chtef Cabin Counselor at
C.A.M.P. a job that encompasses supervising an entire rabln and always having lots of enthusiasm.
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Loron Urban one of her favorite campers
Uliur ll& uuinoia nuiniai wnip uAtiitanus
she asked him about all the fun things
he had done at camp. He told her he
couldn't go because of his medical dis-
abilities. Dr. Chris Johnson Lipman's pediatri-
cian got together with a group of medi-
cal volunteers and started taking medi-
cally disabled kids camping. Then they
began renting camps around San Anto-
nio to take Rids for one or two week
sessions.
In 1989 Camp C.A.M.P bought its
present location in Center Point just
outside of Kcrrvillc. And that's
where the fun begins.
Because Camp C.A.M.P. really
is fun. The camp is bright and color-
ful painted with primary colors and
it sits along the Guadalupe River.
From the looks it's an everyday
camp for everyday kids.
Dave said. "Whether thev're cominc
from state institutions or their own
homcti this is the one week during the
year these kids get all the attention they
dcserve.Thcy're special and unique
kids that need special and unique atten-
tion." C.A.M.P. relics on its staff of volun-
teers to give that attention. Sam said
approximately 100-110 campers attend
each week of C.A.M.P. and C.A.M.P.
employs 45-50 paid staff members and
around 60 volunteers.
Dana said "We're always needing
people to volunteer especially college
age people. A misconception is that you
have to work for the whole summer but
just a week or two is enough."
Applying to be a volunteer at
C.A.M.P. is an easy process Sam said.
Photo tXHtoyOnftckl
canoeing during one of her six summers
sum ao aiiuuuiu uuioouaun nuiiiy aiwuuiy
"We'll take people with any experience)
in volunteering or experience with any
type of child care." J
He said "Volunteering gives the)
opportunity to have an impact on some
one's life. I know of so many cases irj
the history of C.A.M.P. where one
counselor doing his or her job had an
incredible immeasurable effect on a
camper's life. I'm not saying there's"
sweet music and angels singing evcrjl
day but if you give of yourself yoil
gain so much in return.
Dave said "You get at least as much
out of it as the kids do." J
Camp C.A.M.P. above all provides a
new perspective both to volunteers and
campers. Dave said "When you'rd
swimming with a kid and he's just havj
ing a blast you sec that pool of waterjp
a whole new way." ;
Dana said she had not considered
becoming a special education teache'r
until she worked at C.A.M.P. "I've
learned everything from C.A.M.P. I've
learned so much more for my profes-
sion but also for parenting counseling
and life."
It is hoped that Camp C.A.M.P. will
continue into the future playing its part
in giving handicapped kids a wonderful
summer experience and volunteers of
all ages a new perspective.
C.A.M.P. is always looking for volun-
teers. If you're interested in Camp
C.A.M.P. call Sam at (210) 671-2598.
Dana said "You're giving your ser-
vice of caring for someone. It's very
fulfilling to look at the kids' faces at
the end of the week and hear the par-
ents say 'Thank you so much.'"
Photo courtesy Dan Pcklay
working at Camp C.A.M.P. Camp C.A.M.P.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 21, Ed. 1, Wednesday, November 9, 1994, newspaper, November 9, 1994; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth92261/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.