This year's program had 156 campers across three sessions paired with 158 volunteer counselors, many of them St. Margaret’s students.

This summer marked the 35th year of Special Camp, a day program serving youth with disabilities and their one-to-one volunteer counselors. Rooted in service, opportunity, and love, Special Camp is dedicated to creating an unforgettable summer experience while fostering inclusion, belonging, and understanding and helping to eliminate the stigma often associated with the disability community. 

Across three week-long sessions with an “Under the Sea” theme, 156 campers, ages 6–21, were paired with 158 volunteer counselors, nearly 40% of whom were St. Margaret’s students. Each session culminated in a talent show, celebrating the many talents and abilities of Special Camp’s incredible community.  

Special Camp’s summer programming was led by Executive Director Lindsay Eres ’00 and Associate Director Katie Schwartz ’17, along with a dedicated staff of ten. The team included recent St. Margaret’s graduates Mason Allison ’26 and Mitchell Allison ’26, as well as current St. Margaret’s students Ali James ’27, Sloane Johnson ’27, and Gavin Taylor ’28. St. Margaret’s School Nurse Elouise Garrovillas also continued in her role as the lead Special Camp Nurse, while Amara Grover ’25 and Caroline Gunderson ’23 served as camp photographers. 

Mason Allison ’26 supervised the 158 counselors, while Mitchell Allison ’26 supervised and managed more than 30 Support Staff members, including nine St. Margaret’s alumni and seven current St. Margaret’s students. Their leadership was instrumental in creating a safe, supportive, and meaningful experience for campers and counselors throughout the summer. 

Special Camp created friendship and fun both on the St. Margaret’s campus and throughout the community. Off-campus adventures included Pretend City, Adventure City, Doheny State Beach, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Dave & Buster’s, a new venue for Special Camp this summer. On campus, campers participated in Special Camp’s traditional five activity centers: Entertainment, Arts & Crafts, Games & Reading, Sports, and Sensory Integration. 

The summer also featured several special guests and experiences. Magician and mentalist Adrian Saint joined the campers at Pretend City, providing an exciting experience for our older participants. Each Wednesday, musician Ray Auxais of Takes A Village LA led a drum circle that quickly became a favorite activity among campers, counselors, and staff alike. 

Each session concluded with the Geraldine Parent Family Reception and Awards Ceremony, a beloved Special Camp tradition where each counselor presents a personalized award to their camper. Graduating campers received special recognition as they celebrated this important milestone in their Special Camp journey. The ceremony also recognized Staff and Support Staff members celebrating their five-year anniversaries with Special Camp, including Caroline Gunderson ’23, Coco Johnson ’25, Mason Allison ’26, Mitchell Allison ’26, Taylor Francois ’26, and Lila Wohlgemuth ’26.

The celebration continued beyond the ceremony. At the conclusion of each session, every camper received a handwritten letter from their counselor and a one-on-one photograph in a frame the camper painted earlier in the week—two meaningful keepsakes that captured the friendships and memories created at Special Camp.

While Special Camp’s signature program remains in its summer sessions, the organization’s commitment to its campers extends throughout the year. Special Camp offers year-round social and recreational opportunities designed to build friendships, encourage independence, and provide continued opportunities for connection, inclusion, and belonging.