Very soon, Camp Loyaltown will be buzzing with creativity and joy as campers arrive for another memorable summer in Hunter, New York.
Camp Loyaltown is a sleepaway camp for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Sessions range from one to two weeks. Each day is filled with activities campers can choose, from arts & crafts and swimming to talent shows and campfires.
“Camp Loyaltown is where your child can be who they are,” said Savita Sharma, the Director of Family Support Services and Camp Loyaltown.
Ninety percent of campers are returnees. Among them are siblings Eddie and Justine Bortell. Eddie has attended camp for over 15 years, while Justine is entering her third summer.
“It’s a good experience,” Eddie said. “It’s very interesting. I like the international counselors. They’re fun.”
Many counselors travel from around the world to spend the summer at camp. Eddie has learned about many countries, including England, Pakistan, Mexico, and Poland. Dances, new languages, and soccer are just some skills he’s learned.
“I do have a lot of nice counselors,” Justine agreed. “They always braid my hair.”
Like the campers, many counselors also return year after year, inspired to reconnect and continue building relationships.
“The staff is highly motivated,” Savita said. “They want to know more about the campers, too.”
Eddie enjoys many activities while at camp, including performing arts and working in the dining hall.
“I serve my friends coffee,” Eddie said. “I serve my sister.”
While they value their time together, Eddie and Justine also spend time with their own friends.
“They’re just fun to talk to, and we have a lot of things in common,” Justine said of her camp friends. “We like to swim together. We play games, do stuff like that.”
Justine also enjoys the theater and going to the farm to pet the animals and feed the cows.
“It’s wonderful,” said their mom, Donna. “When they come back, they’re so happy, and they have all these stories that they’re sharing.”
Their dad, Ed, has seen their confidence grow each year. While Eddie and Justine are at camp, Ed and Donna enjoy day trips and keeping up with their children’s camp adventures through daily photos shared through the online photo management tool, Waldo.
To learn more about Camp Loyaltown, please visit https://www.citizens-inc.org/camployaltown/