Special Camps

I don't remember a time before Special Camps was "home" to me. My parents, Larry and Margaret Stephens, first introduced me in 1985, when I was 2 years old. Because of their involvement and dedication, our family participated in Summer and Fall Special Camps every year. It was just what we did. When I was 13, I got to stay the whole week as a babys... itter for another "camp baby" whose parents were volunteers. Beginning at age 14, I was a counselor for 5 years, and then a group leader for 7 years. In 2009, I became a Director, and trained under Barbara Euler, who had been the first Adult Special Camps Director. When Special Camps became a nonprofit, I served as the first Board President. I stepped down as both Board President and Director when I became Operations Director in 2020. Having grown up at Special Camps, many campers, counselors, and their families became an extension of my own family. Special Camps is more than a location. It is a group of volunteers, campers, and families who come together to appreciate, love, and encourage one another in our joys and struggles, not just at camp, but throughout the year. We welcome both new and seasoned volunteers and campers each year to be part of an experience that, by God's grace, always surpasses our expectations. It is an example of God's love and grace in action for which I am incredibly grateful. From my earliest memory, I have been a part of Special Camps, and Special Camps has been a part of me.Read More