Let’s Go Camping
“Don’t let your dreams, be dreams.”
For a lot of individuals that we work with their dream is to be among friends without their provider or caretaker, and to be able to do what they want, when they want. They want to be able to be free even if just for a few days, and we have been able to give them this opportunity!
At Community Partnerships of Idaho, we have held Camp Partnerships for the last 22 years. This is a time where campers of varying abilities can escape the day to day to enjoy the great outdoors! It’s a time where they can enjoy zip lining, camp fires, dances, relaxation and hanging out with friends!
The idea for a camp for adults with developmental disabilities was realized years ago when our Executive Director was working at Easter Seals Goodwill. She wanted to give individuals the opportunity to be without their providers/caretakers, to discover personal growth from recreational challenges and to experience what it’s like to “go on vacation.”
This summer we provided an outdoor recreational opportunity for 124 campers. 80% of these campers come year after year. One camper even has a countdown to the next camp.
As for our camp staff, more than 50% of them return year after year. About twelve staff have committed to helping at camp for 10 years and fifteen have been at camp for 5 years. Our camp staff is trained to ask the campers what they want to do each day, to provide choices and empower them to decide for themselves!
“It’s great to see these campers doing things they didn’t think that they could do. They push themselves beyond their fear and challenge themselves,” stated TeRonda Robinson our Camp Partnerships Director. “One of my favorite moments was a young lady doubting her ability to zip line, you could see her go through fear, anxiety and worry but she pushed through it, challenged herself and did it. The excitement on her face was priceless.”
So, if you have a loved one with a developmental disability who is at least 18, or if you yourself have a developmental disability we would love for you to experience Camp Partnerships. If you would like to get involved in helping at Camp Partnerships we would love to have you! For more information please contact Teronda Robinson at teronda.robinson@mycpid.com.
Don’t let your dreams be dreams, make them a reality!
