Special Camp Celebrates Its 25th Year

St. Margaret’s junior Sophie Payne doesn’t downplay her love of Special Camp for Special Kids, the groundbreaking educational and service-oriented summer camp for children and teens with disabilities.

 

“This,” she says, “is the highlight of my summer, by far.”

 

Payne is now in her third summer working Special Camp, and this year she was promoted to be a member of the staff. As one of the youngest staff members, she helps oversee the campers and counselors who turn the St. Margaret’s campus into a hub of activity and learning during four one-week sessions between July 11 and August 5.

 

This year was especially meaningful for Special Camp—it was the 25th anniversary of the program’s inception. The St. Margaret’s Reverend Mike Wallens began the program with 15 campers and 20 counselors back in 1992. This year, 220 campers participated.

 

While many of the activities this summer took place at St. Margaret’s, campers also enjoyed the time spent away from campus seeing some of Southern California’s finest attractions. That included a trip to the San Diego Zoo, a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm and some beach time at Oceanside Harbor.

 

For campers, Special Camp provides an opportunity to enhance communication skills, social development and more in a traditional summer day camp setting. For the 220 counselors (more than half of them St. Margaret’s students), it was a chance to serve in a nurturing environment that explores the intricacies and needs of the disabled community through patience, maturity, empathy, quick thinking and more. Special Camp offers a one-to-one camper/counselor ratio, ensuring undivided attention and a lasting bond between campers and counselors.

 

Special Camp has 10 staff members, led by Executive Director Lindsay Eres and Camp Operations Director Stefani Baker, along with four staff assistants and 19 senior counselors who oversee the activities. This year’s staff included several St. Margaret’s alumni and two current St. Margaret’s students—Payne and senior Katie Schwartz.

 

“It’s rewarding to see the campers’ smiles,” said Schwartz, who was working her fourth Special Camp and first as a staff member. “You learn a lot about the campers, and you learn a lot about yourself.”

 

The final week of camp wrapped up August 5th, but the milestone year isn’t done yet. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Special Camp for Special Kids, a celebration is planned for Sept. 24 at St. Margaret’s.