Camp Promise Retreats are a unique 18+ experience provided to campers with select neuromuscular disorders in Arizona and Ohio. From July 27-30, 2023, campers, staff, and volunteers enjoyed time together in Payson, AZ, while playing adaptive sports, cycling, doing arts and crafts, making s’mores, and so much more.
At this year’s Arizona retreat, 21 campers split into five (5) cabins divided by color: purple, blue, green, black, and red. Don’t be fooled; cabin colors aren’t only a representation of where you sleep at night, but resemble who you compete for and what shade your blood runs that week (figuratively, of course).
“I will never forget the look on campers’ faces as they raced each other on mountain bikes and embarked into the lake on adaptive kayaks,” says Jett’s Community Program Coordinator Julie LeClair, who returned for a second year to Arizona on the camp program staff. She also says, “At camp, we provide new opportunities, see profound friendships built, learn fun card games, bond over campfires, and much more. These are the reasons I can’t wait to come back each year.”
In addition to mountain biking and kayaking from High Country Adaptive Sports, campers experienced Camp Promise magic during wheelchair soccer, Campfire Cafe, a casino night, murder mystery games, the infamous Camp Dance, and even got to cool off with some shaved ice from Kona Ice!
Check out this video of adaptive kayaking and camp provided by Greg Conn Photography!
Camp Promise Retreat – Arizona Director Jodi Wolff says, “This retreat contains a group of the most amazing participants and volunteers – just really great humans all in one place who create immeasurable magic. It’s impossible not to leave with a full heart.”
Arizona’s retreat holds a camp committee in the off season consisting of counselors, volunteers, and campers contributing toward creating the best experience possible in Payson each summer.
“This retreat impacted me in a way that showed me I can do the things I never imagined I would do and to not be afraid to try something I’ve never done before. This year showed me how to be braver.” – Camp Promise Retreat – Arizona participant
“Camp inspires me to keep working towards my goals, and shows me anything is possible.” – Camp Promise Retreat – Arizona participant
Camp experiences would not be possible without our dedicated campers, volunteers, and major sponsors. Thank you to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Flatley Foundation, Sarepta Therapeutics, Alexion Charitable Foundation, Italfarmaco, and PTC Therapeutics for their continued support, as well as Messinger Mortuary for supporting our retreat in Arizona.
Camp Promise will host its final in-person camp of 2023 in Brackney, PA, from August 14-19. We will also host a virtual Camp Promise Connect week from September 15-18, 2023.
To view many pictures from Camp Promise Retreat – Arizona, please visit our Facebook photo album.
