From June 29-July 2, campers and counselors from the Ohio area gathered to enjoy four days of fun activities, peer-to-peer conversations, camp games, and all magic that Camp Promise experiences provide. Ohio’s Camp Promise Retreat was held at the Akron Rotary Camp for the third consecutive year for 18+ individuals living with neuromuscular disorders.
Like all camps, counselors and volunteers arrived one day early to attend a training and orientation on how to best care for campers and keep them safe during our time together. This year, 43 volunteers assisted 24 campers to ensure a great experience for all in attendance.
Akron Rotary Camp offers our campers many accessible activities and locations to visit. Individuals are able to cruise on the beautiful pond by using a hoyer lift to transfer into accessible kayaks. The camp also has a nature center and arts & crafts room to express artistic talents and create projects that campers take home with them.
Unique to Camp Promise Retreat – Ohio is an accessible ropes course. Both campers and volunteers had the chance to “belay on!” and overlook the beautiful campground from high rise platforms. Other activities during camp included Coffee Talk Sessions, various accessible sports games, yoga & mindfulness, cooking demonstrations, and so much more.
Coffee Talk Sessions are a highly requested activity in Ohio. These sessions are centered around campers or guest speakers sharing valuable information that pertains to our community of individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular disorders. This year, we heard presentations on Dating & Marriage, Hiring/Retaining/Firing PCA’s, and Traveling.
Camp Promise Retreat – Ohio’s Director, Jackie Becker, shares what is special about this year and Ohio’s experience as a whole: “Camp Promise is an incredible, supportive community that provides unmatched experiences to explore, learn and grow for individuals with Duchenne and other neuromuscular disorders. We are blessed to have so many great personalities come through our 18+ retreat in Akron each year.”
Jett Foundation is grateful to all families, campers, and volunteers who took the time to spend part of their summer with us in Ohio. We would also like to thank our generous sponsors whose commitment to Camp Promise allows for unmatched, magical experiences each year. Thank you to Cure Dale’s Duchenne, the Flatley Foundation, Sarepta Therapeutics, Dyne Therapeutics, ITF Therapeutics, the Killian Family, the Nicholoff Family, Ultragenyx, and Yale Appliance.
Check out a photo album of our time at Camp Promise Retreat – Ohio on our Facebook page!
