Camp LIFE
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LIFE— it stands for Leadership, Independence and Friends through Experiences, and it’s what embodies the spirit of Camp LIFE, a unique camping adventure for children with disabilities.
Held twice a year in Burton, Texas at the accessible facilities of Camp For All, Camp LIFE provides recreation for special needs children and their siblings while offering a weekend of respite for their parents.
History
As the brainchild of Texas A&M student Sterling Leija, Camp LIFE was founded in 2004 with the support of Dr. Amy Sharp, FSN director.
Camping Activities
Get ready for a big adventure while at Camp LIFE, where the accessible and barrier-free environment enables campers to engage in many exciting activities, including:
- horseback riding
- ropes course
- climbing wall
- petting zoo
- swimming
- canoeing
- fishing
- dancing
- zip line
- nature classes
- biking
- sports
- archery
- crafts
- making s’mores
- and much more!
Counselor and Camper Interaction
Many of the Camp’s counselors are preservice special education students at A&M, who appreciate the rare experience of spending a weekend with children like those they will be teaching one day in their own classrooms. A one-to-one counselor to camper ratio ensures that each camper with a disability receives the support he or she needs to fully participate in all activities. Additionally, sibling campers enjoy an extra dose of attention not always available to them when their parents are understandably busy caring for their child who has a disability.
Participants
Camp LIFE has been created to promote an inclusive environment for all kids. We accept children with a variety of special needs including, but not limited to, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments and spina bifida. It is our goal to never turn away a child due to his or her disability. Children with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 21 and their siblings are eligible to attend Camp LIFE.
Applications, which are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, are made available online a few months before the camp.