Camp Summit has acquired a new permanent home for its year-round camping program in Paradise, Texas. The camp serves nearly 2,000 children and adults with a range developmental delays, physical or sensory-impaired disabilities (Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down syndrome, Autism, blind, deaf and more).
“This purchase of our forever home will help us increase our capacity, meet the needs of our existing campers and their families as well as our future campers,” said Camp Summit CEO, Carla Weiland. “We are primed to become a premiere, nationally-recognized service provider for people with disabilities.”
Camp Summit will continue to operate at its leased 117 acres in Argyle, Texas. The move to the new campus, the conference center property formally known as Garrett Creek Ranch, is planned for early 2016.
“Over the past several years, we had been looking for a long-term solution for Camp Summit,” said Josh Coleman, Chair, Board of Directors. “When Howard and Leslie Schultz approached us about the Garrett Creek Ranch location, it was our answer.”
With due diligence and initial renovations planning completed, the Board of Directors moved forward with an offer in early 2013.
“The board and staff has worked very hard to develop long-range development and fundraising plans, to make this dream a reality,” said Coleman. “We owe many thanks to our donors, to Woody Grossman, our capital campaign chair, to Jennifer Staubach Gates, who led our early capital campaign efforts, and especially to the Schultz family for everything they have done.”
“We’re now working to identify donors who can help us reach our $10 million “Opening Gates” Capital Campaign goal,” said Grossman, the father of 10-year Camp Summit camper. “We have a great start, and we welcome others who would like to join us.”
Camp Summit’s legacy began as Camp Soroptimist in 1947, as one of the earliest camps for campers with disabilities. Only a handful of camps in the United States offer camping programs for campers with disabilities. Even fewer offer programs with no upper age limit. Freddy Cobb is celebrating his 69th birthday and has been coming to camp for 61 years.
As an independent non-profit organization, Camp Summit accepts campers without regard to the severity of their disability or financial ability.
Campers come to Camp Summit in search of an overnight camping experience with traditional activities that are adapted to the campers’ abilities. This includes horseback riding, swimming, modified ropes course and zip line, arts and crafts, and nature studies. Many of our weekly sessions end with a dance.
For more information about Camp Summit and the schedule of camping sessions, please visit www.campsummittx.org or call 972-484-8900.