Camp Sunshine

Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 16

“Cost to maintain website, bank charge for a returned donation check, insurance, on line service fees and license fees. Camp Sunshine has no full time staff. Business operations are run by a volunteer board and individuals who work independently and meet periodically throughout the year. Virtually all funds collected are used to provide high quality programming for the children who attend camp. In addition to collecting donations, the volunteer board conducts miscellaneous fund raisers throughout the year. Funds are used to support camp and provide camperships for needy families. Our goal is that families should pay no more than they might pay for a typical child to attend a similar program, even though we must provide much more intense supervision and adult support to meet the needs of children with a range of disabilities. We also provide camperships for children whose families cannot afford some or all of the family portion of camp. Camp Sunshine was started by a small group of parents of children with special needs to bridge the summer gap between school sessions. Camp provides a four week integrated program out of a single location where children with disabilities can learn and have fun together rather than requiring parents to travel to multiple locations where unrelated therapies are provided. Over the past 12 years, Camp Sunshine has grown from 1 to 5 classes of children with a range of disabilities. School skills are reinforced throughout camp so children have little or no regression when school starts in the fall. Camp Sunshine trains and includes typically developing peers who participate throughout all activities. Peers not only model for the children with disabilities, but they learn and practice how to interact with other children whose communication and movement may be very different than their own. While spending time together, the children learn that they all play and enjoy the same things; a valuable lesson for everyone. The far majority of net fundraising goes to experiences for the children. A volunteer board runs all camp business operations and fund raising as a "labor of love." Camp is costly since many of the children have significant needs and require a high level of adult care and supervision. We pay for the best teachers, aides and interns we can find. Funds are also used to provide a wide range of community experiences so the children can practice their skills across multiple settings while enjoying all that a summer camp has to offer. Field trips are not only fun for the children, but an opportunity to learn and practice very valuable social and living skills. Most of our children need consistent practice and reminders with social skills such as: keeping an inside voice, waiting patiently, appropriate communication, making eye contact with others, and interacting with peers. At camp, they practice these in real life situations. Camp Sunshine was created for the children. In a world that may seem big and overwhelming, Camp Sunshine is a place where a child with a disability can find consistency, reassurance, fun and meaningful interaction with other children. We are proud to give them that opportunity.”