Summer Resident Camp

Ages 6-17 • Sunday - Friday

Each summer, Rotary Camp serves nearly 400 children with physical, developmental and mild behavioral disabilities. Campers enjoy many traditional camping activities including swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, sports and games, team building and more in our convenient and accessible natural setting. The goals of the our summer camp programs include increasing camper self-esteem and decision making abilities, developing a sense of cultural awareness, increasing camper independence and physical skills and developing an appreciation for the natural environment.

The most exciting part of Rotary Camp is meeting a cabin full of new friends, all of whom will be supervised and cared for by their counselors and volunteers throughout their stay at camp. All programs are age and ability appropriate according to camper needs.

When campers leave Rotary Camp at the end of each session, they not only leave with lifelong memories and friends but also show more independence as well as a greater understanding of themselves and their abilities.

Funding

Rotary Camp is a project of the Akron Rotary Club and is and independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Funded through the Akron Rotary Foundation, private donations and proceeds from the Wayne Homes Chili Open, we are able to provide a quality and safe camping experience for people with disabilities. Year-round facility rentals also help to offset the cost of camp. The camp is dedicated to providing year-round facility recreational programs for all eligible participants regardless of their ability to pay. Due to such generous donations, we are able to subsidize the actual cost of sending one camper to overnight camp for a week – a cost which amounts to more than $750.

Staff

The staff at the Rotary Camp embodies the values held by the YMCA – Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Faith. The young men and women on staff are committed to upholding and passing along these values, and also to understanding, learning and teaching. They realize that they are not only leaders and role models for our campers, but also friends.

Counselor to camper ratios are 2:6. Counselors go through a thorough interview process before they are hired, and an even more rigorous week of training, which includes understanding different disabilities, what special needs to consider and how to foster the camper’s independence.

Safety

Our campers’ safety is our number one priority at Rotary Camp. Nursing staff are on-site 24 hours a day during the summer to distribute medications and to help provide necessary care to our children. A doctor is also on call 24 hours a day.

• Session Dates & Rates

Registration Form