Fact Sheet

Camp Barnabas exists to offer awesome, life-changing camp experiences to children who have been robbed of them by disability or disease. This summer we will provide acceptance and love for almost 1,300 campers, empowering them to live lives of ability. We were founded in 1994 as a non-denominational Christian summer camp that allows people with disability to be participants, not observers, in the world around them.  We are a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization.

Financials:  The camp operated under a $1.6 million budget in 2008 with almost $5.1 million in assets.  We are finished with all cabins, but still raising funds for the last four cabins that were built on temporary financing.  Over 60% of our campers receive at least a partial scholarship. Donations of any size are appreciated and essential to the day-to-day operations of camp.

Camper Qualifications:  Any person who would not be able to participate in the activities at a typical summer camp without adaptation would probably qualify for Camp Barnabas. This includes people with medical, physical or developmental disabilities and children with syndromes, rare diseases or any serious chronic illness.

Terms:  Each term of camp is one week long and includes specific groups of people based on diagnosis:

Term 1: Developmentally Disabled  (Ages 18-45). Returning campers older than 45 may enroll.  NO SIBLINGS     
Term 2: Physically Disabled  (Ages 7-15)
Term 3: Autism/Developmentally Disabled (Ages 7-15)              
Term 4: Physically & Developmentally Disabled (Ages 7-15)
Term 5: Autism/Developmentally Disabiled (Ages 16-25) NO SIBLINGS
Term 6: Hematology/Oncology, Burn Patients, Chronic Illnesses, Diabetes, Sickle Cell, Hemophilia, Amputees, & Craniofacial Syndromes  (Ages 7-17)
Term 7: Autism/Developmentally Disabled (Ages 7-15)
Term 8: Blind/Visually Impaired & Deaf/Hard of Hearing (Ages 7-25)
Term 9: Physically Disabled (Ages 16-35) NO SIBLINGS

Siblings are invited to all terms EXCEPT Terms 1, 5, & 9. All other terms include siblings in a very special program. The sibling program was designed by a person that is a sibling of a very special sister. Along with several other siblings and professionals the curriculum for the sibling program was designed to be a full week of fun and opportunity for the child that lives with a person with special needs.

Cost:   Enrollment fee:  $50         Tuition:  $600

Sponsorships: Partial sponsorships are available for families who are in need of assistance. You can apply for a sponsorship at the end of the enrollment process.  Enrollment is completed online by going to www.campbarnabas.org/onlineregistration .

Activities:  Camp activities include swimming, horseback riding, field games, arts and crafts, canoeing, rifles, archery, fishing and other outdoor adventures. Camp Barnabas has a fully-accessible high ropes course. Participants utilize adaptive equipment and programming in all activities.

Staff/Volunteers (Christians in Action):  Each cabin has two paid summer staff members screened and hired through recruitment at churches and colleges. Volunteer staff ages 16-30 work with campers in a 1:1 ratio and siblings 1:3.  Volunteers age 14-15 help with clean-up in the kitchen and other areas of camp. Other volunteers help staff the kitchen and assist in the general maintenance and operations of the camp.

Medical Services:  Volunteer medical personnel fill 8 registered nurse and 2 physician slots each term. These medical professionals provide around-the-clock, on-site care to the campers and staff. On an average day, there are 138 visits to the health center with around 47 routine procedures performed, including injections, IV’s, cathing and foreign body removal. Nurses dispense well over 900 medications daily and ensure that campers are provided quality medical care and attention.

For more information on Camp Barnabas, please contact our office at 417.476.2565 or email info@campbarnabs.org .