How to Start a Camp
To deliver on our mission to transform the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs, Camp For All collaborates with more than 65 nonprofit organizations. Our Partners include many large organizations, such as hospitals, schools, and nationwide nonprofits.
Our Partners are also comprised of numerous small and diverse grassroots groups. In many cases, these Camps were created by individuals with a dream to positively impact the lives of others – exactly like Camp For All!
Here’s a planning checklist to help get you started:
- Decide what type of Camp you want to run (for example, children, adults, and/or family) and develop a plan, including whom you want to serve, vision, goals, timeline, and resource needs such as the number of in-cabin counselors, which must be provided by the Partner. Camp For All may be able to assist with volunteers.
- Develop a budget. A good starting point is to base it on the number of campers you expect to participate. Recommended Camp For All budgets would be $125 per person per night and includes three meals with access to all our activities, or $105 per person per night if planning a Camp for more than four nights.
- Camp For All collaborates with our nonprofit Partners to serve our shared campers. Camp For All provides the barrier-free camp, professional staff, adaptive programming, and appropriate foods. As part of our mission, we raise more than $3.1 million annually to provide half of the cost for of YOUR campers to come to Camp. Partners bring the campers, the medical staff, and the “in-cabin” counselors. Partners also provide the other half of the camper costs.
- Determine the time of year you would like to host your Camp and start preparing a packing list for your campers.
- Secure and complete any legal documents and/or waivers that must be completed for your Camp, including securing nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, if needed or appropriate.
- Create a secure and simple registration process for your campers. Using online forms for everything from enrollment to medical waivers can make the process more efficient.
- Determine and address any insurance needs you may have. If you don’t have insurance, Camp For All can provide you with the insurance you will need. Please contact June DeLeon at jdeleon@campforall.org for information.
- Raise awareness of your Camp through proactive communications, including social media, neighborhood association meetings, and group gatherings.
- Ensure the health and safety of your campers by documenting any special dietary needs or restrictions they have. Camp For All is prepared to serve or meet almost any dietary need our campers may have. In fact, we’re able to accommodate multiple needs at any one Camp.
- Prepare to collect feedback and stay connected with campers. Asking campers and their parents or guardians for their opinions will not only help you improve your Camp, but it will also keep them coming back year after year!
Should you need help with any of these steps or want to talk to someone about bringing it all together, please contact:
Allen McBride
Camp Director
979-289-3752 ext: 3410
amcbride@campforall.org
Send Allen a summary of your planning and progress so he is prepared to walk you through the next steps. Allen can also schedule a visit to Camp For All so you can see our cabins, activity areas, and food services, as well as meet the members of our passionate and trained staff.
We hope to see you at Camp For All soon!
Duchenne Family Camp
One shining example of a grassroots group in action is the Duchenne Family Camp hosted by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. The weekend overnight Camp for families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy was started by passionate parents of people living with Duchenne, including Co-Coordinator for South Texas Connect Group for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Rachel Poysky. Rachel helped start the Camp by focusing on connections, communities, and relationships.
“Getting families together is so important,” Rachel said. “For many, they don’t have any other families in their community with Duchenne. At Camp, we all connect, make lifelong friendships, and support one another in our Duchenne journey.”
Friendship Smile
Another great grassroots camp success story is Friendship Smile, a day Camp for children born with cleft lip and palate. Camp Director Katherine Rose and her team started the Camp in 2019 to create a place where “campers feel truly understood.”
“One of the most powerful moments I witnessed at Camp For All this year was seeing a group of boys, ages 10 to 12, laughing, joking, and hanging out together like lifelong friends,” Katherine shared. “When I asked how they met, they told me it was at Camp For All last year through Friendship Smile.” With some passion, planning, and organization, you’ll be well on your way to creating an unforgettable experience for your campers at Camp For All.