Tucked away down a long and sparsely populated road in Lake County lay the grounds of a busy summer camp. If you drive too fast you might just miss the sign that leads you to the 63 acres in just miss the sign that leads you to the 63 acres in traditional activities including swimming, archery, ropes courses, hiking, and zip lining. These sports may paint the picture of a typical camp, but the campers participating at the Easter Seals Camp Challenge are children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. This site is specially designed to allow everyone to have the ability to experience summer camp fun.

Easter Seals Florida, a non-profit organization headquartered in Orlando, provides exceptional services to ensure that people of all ages with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. In business since 1948, Easter of the state’s 67 counties through developmental preschool and child care services, group homes, education of persons with autism, adult day care, personal emergency response services, veterans’ services, clinic services, and employment services. Launched in 1961, the Easter Seals Camp Challenge is a main component of the organization’s recreational programs.

Andrew Wiater, a 14-year-old camper, was born prematurely and has cerebral palsy. Doctors told his mother the prognosis was poor, but Andrew has shown otherwise. While at Camp Challenge, he can often be found working with the DJ at dances and encouraging others to participate in drama activities, like the skits and plays performed to entertain visiting family and friends. In fact, the Camp Challenge Talent Show is Andrew’s night to shine! Last summer, he discovered another camp passion thanks to soccer player Jamie Watson and the Orlando City Lions during their accessible soccer clinics. Andrew has said that Camp Challenge is “better than the theme parks!” Outside of camp, Andrew is an honors student, has dreams of Broadway, and plans to go to Julliard.

One of the newest features at Camp Challenge is the wheelchair accessible pool, rebuilt in the past two years to meet current safety standards. It is ADA compliant, zero-entry, and meets all current requirements under the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The camp itself is a fully-accessible, air-conditioned/heated camping facility with 10 cabins. The outdoor adventure experience it provides for adults and children with cognitive and physical disabilities also allows respite for their caregivers.

Natalie Chapin, 40, first came to the Easter Seals Camp Challenge 15 years ago and has attended annually. She doesn’t let her medical conditions, including cerebral palsy and epilepsy, define her. Rather, her bright outlook on life is infectious, which is why she has so many friends at camp.  Each year, Natalie looks forward to visiting old friends, meeting new ones, and engaging in numerous arts and crafts projects. Aside from challenges with her epilepsy, Natalie is unable to be outside in the summer heat for long periods of time. However, at Camp Challenge, the counselors are trained to work with individuals’ special needs, so Natalie is able to experience the calm, serene setting, where she can enjoy a vacation while knowing that she won’t be prone to seizure.

“At Camp Challenge, I can be with people who have needs just like me,” said Natalie. “I’m not considered different.” Natalie and her family rely on scholarships to attend Camp Challenge. The Sunday School group at her local church also pools funds to finance half of her week’s stay, while Easter Seals donors contribute the remaining balance. And Natalie is grateful for the support, “I want everyone to know how much I appreciate them helping me to go to camp. I look forward to it every year and I really love my time there.”

This year, Camp Challenge will offer a day camp alternative for nearby campers with disabilities and special needs. Registration for Camp Challenge’s four sessions is open through May 15th. Session one and two cater to adult campers (18+) with physical and cognitive disabilities, and will be held June 15-21 and June 22-28. Session three, June 29-July 5, is geared toward teens and young adults (ages 14- 26); and session four, July 6-12, welcomes children (ages 6-18). Each six-day session costs $2,084; campers and their families are asked to cover $900 of that fee and Easter Seals donors fund scholarships to cover the difference.

For more information on the Easter Seals Camp Challenge and other programs, visit http://fl.easterseals.com.