The Camp Able Philosophy:

We are children of one Father, which makes us all sisters and brothers—created in His image. Those of us, who are able, have an obligation to help others—we are called to embrace all of God’s Children as family. We are, each of us, disabled in some way and each of us is gifted. At Camp Able our goal is to work around our disabilities so that we may celebrate our gifts.

DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center  in Parrish, Florida, has hosted Camp Able since its inception in 2007. Camp Able is specifically designed for persons with special needs. It is NOT about disabilities, but rather about ABILITIES! Christ has called us to love God and to love our neighbor as He has loved us—without conditions or limits—it is in celebration of that perfect love that we come together at Camp Able.

In this setting we are reminded that our neighbors don’t all look, or sound, or think the same way we do. Camp Able is about forming a community that loves us just as we are. It is about attempting to emulate that perfect love  God has for all of His children. Our goal at Camp Able is to establish, at least for a few days, a community of unconditional love, compassion and acceptance.
 
During Camp Able, the campers take part in several different activities i.e. swimming, scuba diving, arts and crafts and a ropes course challenge. What is not easily expressed through words can be read on the camper’s faces—filled with amusement and delight. Each camper, faced with their own set of circumstances, work through their challenges to take part in a camp that allows them to have fun; learn new things; and most importantly, just be an ordinary person.

For the Campers, this is a very special time—it’s vacation, Christmas morning, and a family reunion all rolled up together and spread out over five days. For the staff, Camp Able is a gift we are privileged to wrap up in silliness and love to offer our sisters and brothers in Christ. Only to discover that it is we who have received the greatest gift.

Jesus charged each of us to care for and love one another, so that every person would be treated with dignity and respect. Camp Able is not about what we “can’t” do, whether camper or staffer, the focal point is what we can do! Our prayer is that you will join us, as camper or staff member. Discover the richness in the diversity of human beings—this is truly a life enriching experience for all who participate.