12345DOSA Camps, a Division of the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities of the Diocese of St. Augustine sponsors Camp I Am Special, Camp Promise, and Camp Care which are five-day recreational and residential summer camps for children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities.
12345Over the past 10 years, these camps have blossomed from their original two weeks into eight separate weeks, and they serve approximately 300 children, teenagers, and young adults each summer. The eight weeks of camp are held at Camp St. John in Switzerland, Florida and are categorized as follows:
* Two (2) weeks of Camp I Am Special (Children, ages 6-13)
* Four (4) weeks of Camp Promise (Teenagers and Young Adults, ages 14-30)
* One (1) week of Camp Care (For persons with Autism and related disorders, ages 6 and up)
* One (1) NEW session of camp for persons age 30 and up.
12345Camp I Am Special, Camp Promise, and Camp Care are unique because they offer a care ratio of one-to-one, in order to provide the utmost attention and benefit for each camper. Our camp staff is comprised of well-trained high school and college students called “buddies,” in addition to a full-time nurse, a full-time kitchen coordinator, and a camp director who oversees the entire week. All individuals in supervisory roles have extensive experience working with persons with varying exceptionalities. We serve persons with mental retardation, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, blindness, deafness, ADHD, Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and other disabilities.
12345 As the weather becomes warmer and the days grow longer, our campers begin to look forward to camp with eager anticipation. Some campers keep in touch with their friends from camp throughout the year. This program provides them with an opportunity to interact with others in a setting normally reserved only for persons of normal ability. Camp is a place where everyone is accepted without question, regardless of financial circumstances, race, creed, and level of ability. Camp I Am Special, Camp Promise, and Camp Care create an environment where both the campers and the camp staff are loved and nurtured.
