Special Needs Camps

A Camp for Amputees
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - June 18, 2008
See Video Tribute here.
(Camp Star counselor Sara Miller and co-director Cindy McCue talk about how camp has affected their lives as amputees)

Camp STAR Returns for Teens with Amputations
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - June 18, 2008
Read here.

Recognizing how valuable a camp experience can be in building the confidence and self-esteem of those who are physically and mentally challenged, the administrators of YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer have developed innovative adaptive camping programs to serve the special needs of these populations.The climbing initiative located in the Camp Spencer Barn is accessible to all of the Camp's participants, providing an opportunity to confront fears and obstacles, enhance self esteem and encourage risk taking in a controlled, safe environment. It is a favorite among the Adolescent Amputee Campers.

Camp Spencer is home to the Association for Retarded Citizens summer program. Each summer over 800 children and adults with mental and physical challenges come to camp to stretch their limits and horizons. YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer is expanding and improving its Nature Trail system so that it may be enjoyed by all its participants.

A chapter of the Harley Owner's Group (HOG) graciously provides motorcycle rides for the B.O.L.D. group which consists of visually impaired participants.

Children and adults with blindness, severe burns, heart disease, cerebral palsy, kidney disease, teen amputation, mental retardation, hearing impairment, muscular dystrophy, as well as social and emotional disorders come to camp to spend time in an enjoyable, accepting atmosphere. The Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer bridge allows for children from all walks of life to come together, making it truly one of the most inclusive and unique camping programs in the country.

Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer is proud to serve a larger segment of the special needs population than any other similar program in the United States!

From a recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review by Joan Greene, printed May 10, 2007:

"In 1991, volunteers built a bridge connecting the original Camp Kon-O-Kwee to the Camp Spencer area, which houses the blind, burn, amputee and heart camps. Last year, 11,000 special-needs campers visited Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer.

Barbara Kramer coordinated the senior adult programs and many of the programs for children with disabilities. "I learned that their disabilities didn't hold them back," she said. "The camp was our mission and passion, and we tried to make the experience positive for everyone."

Peggy Walsh, 58, of Oakland, is blind and has been coming to the camp for several years. "The minute I step off the bus, I feel like I'm coming home," she said. "Uncle Harry and Aunt Barbara have such a sense of warmth and vision. It is like you can be a kid again."

Current Special Needs Camps

Allegheny County Mental Health (Boys)

Auberle (Children, Teens at Risk)

Blind and Vision Rehab Camp (Teens)

BOLD (Blind Adults)

Camp Excel (Inner City Children/Single Parents)

Camp Good Sam (Youth Bereavement)
Good Samaritan Hospice hosts this overnight camp for children and adolescents to help them cope with the loss of a loved one. This bereavement camp is specially designed for that age group, with goals aimed to build trust, enhance positive self-esteem, and strengthen coping skills. The campers are paired with specially trained volunteers throughout the camp. A memorial service is held at the end of the weekend for campers and their families.

Camp PATH (Obese Teens)

Camp Spencer Superstars (Mentally Challenged Adults)

	Camp STAR (Amputees) The goal of Camp STAR is to support and empower youth with limb difference or loss to be healthy, confident, and active, all while creating positive social interaction and developing peer support.
	Campers (age 8 through 18) are encouraged to make new friends and share their experiences. Camp provides them with an opportunity to participate in sports and other camp activities to the best of their abilities without fear of being judged by others.

Children’s Hospital Dr. Bill Neches Heart Camp
The camp, now in its 20th year, was the first in the nation dedicated solely to children with heart disease. It is named in honor of Children’s cardiologist William Neches, M.D., who retired in 2005 after 33 years at Children’s Hospital. It is co-sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the American Heart Association.

Camp Hot to Clot (Hemophiliac Children)
This camp is open to boys and girls ages 7 - 17, boys with hemophilia, boys and girls with von Willebrand Disease, siblings of boys and girls with bleeding disorders, and children of persons with bleeding disorders. Read more about Camp Hot-to-Clot here.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

Turtle Creek Valley Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Inc.

West Penn Burn Camp
In 1987, West Penn Burn Center established its Summer Camp for Burned Children. The goal was to give children who have been burned a chance to heal physically and emotionally in a supportive environment that offered plenty of opportunities for fun.

At this free, five-day camp, kids ages 7 to 17 who have been treated at West Penn Burn Center meet to share their stories and enjoy new experiences. With the guidance of skilled professionals, children are encouraged to meet new challenges and to take positive risks by participating in adventures that help build confidence while building strong bodies.