We recently made the difficult decision to suspend all in-person activities at Camp I Am Special this summer to ensure the safety and health of our Campers, staff and volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. This choice was made in concert with the Diocese of St. Augustine, our board of directors and staff leadership team as well as the American Camp Association and the Association of Camp Nursing.
While this comes as an initial disappointment, we are excited to announce that Camp I Am Special will still be available for our Campers virtually! It may not look like the camp sessions that have come before, but we are committed to providing our Campers and their families with the best experience possible from the safety of their homes.
Our staff is developing an interactive curriculum that will recreate the spirit of Camp I Am Special and provide those in attendance with a sense of community during this uncertain time – a key component of mental health for all of us, not just those with intellectual and developmental differences.
The silver lining of this logistical change is we are not bound by the restrictions of holding Camp in a physical space. That means Camp I Am Special is now open to anyone with intellectual and developmental differences who would like to participate – and without cost to the families!
Rather than charging program fees for virtual camp, we are seeking donations to cover the costs. With a gift of $100, you can sponsor a Camper to receive the joy and excitement of the Camp I Am Special experience at home.
You can do so by visiting our website at www.ccbjax.org/donate and designating a gift to Camp I Am Special.