Making memories together….
This new adventure is another step in growing our camp programs. Due to the lack of campground facilities during the summer months, we are thinking “outside the box” by providing a camp experience in the off season. Some of the benefits for having fall family camps are:
Gaining access to campgrounds that are not available in the summers.
The family camp allows for campers of all ages!
Families can enjoy quality time together and be surrounded by other families who understand the challenges new experiences can bring.
September 20-21
-
Camp Kitaki is the most rugged and spread out of the camp sites. If your family enjoys nature, hiking trails and hilly terrain, this camp location is for you! The dining hall features a large covered outdoor deck with picnic tables with a "tree house" like atmosphere allowing you to gaze into the forest while you eat! (weather permitting)
There are many unique things to do at Camp Kitaki that are not available at our other locations. Featuring natural outdoor play areas, a music playground, designated rock throwing, digging areas, and more!!
Feel free to explore their website for more details about the location. *Note, K&D Family Camps will have their own programming, so not all activities listed on Kitaki’s site will apply to our family camp. https://www.ymcacampkitaki.org/retreats
-
The weekend will include: hiking trails, archery, fishing, paddle boats, zip line, climbing tower, ropes course, bounce house, games, and designated areas for rock throwing, digging, and outdoor music. Of course, no camp is complete without time around the fire pit and making s’mores!
**Note - there is no swimming at this location.
-
Each family will have their own room (twin bunk beds) in a shared cabin. Bedding is NOT included. Each floor features a bathroom with multiple sinks, toilets and showers that is shared by that level. The cabins have heat and air-conditioning.
Check out the lodging here (Strader Lodge and Quad Cabins.)
-
Each camp will feature meals that are both kid friendly and easy to accommodate most dietary needs. When registering, you will have the opportunity to indicate dietary needs that will be passed on to the camp’s kitchen staff.
October 4-5
-
Nestled in the hills south of Cozad, Camp Comeca offers a variety of activities your family is sure to enjoy!
The goal for this family camp is to make memories together as a family, while connecting with other families who are raising a child with Down syndrome.
Feel free to explore their website for more details about the location. UP Family Camp will have it’s own programming, so not all activities listed on Comeca’s site will apply to our family camp. https://comeca.camp/
-
The weekend will include a number of indoor and outdoor activities including swimming, zip line, fishing, hiking trails, bounce house, archery, basketball, carpet ball, gaga pit, and more!
Of course, no camp is complete without time around the fire pit and making s’mores!
-
Overlook Lodge at Camp Comeca features motel style rooms that include private bathrooms. Bedding is provided.
-
Each camp will feature meals that are both kid friendly and easy to accommodate most dietary needs. When registering, you will have the opportunity to indicate dietary needs that will be passed on to the camp’s kitchen staff.
October 20-21
-
The Crossing Retreat Center features a more compact space where main activities are closely located. This is the most ideal location if mobility is a concern.
The space may be more compact, but there is still plenty to do at The Crossing! A few highlights of this location will be an indoor swimming pool, GoKarts and a HUGE inflatable slide!
Feel free to explore their website for more details about the location. *Note, K&D Family Camps will have their own programming, so not all activities listed on The Crossing’s site will apply to our family camp. https://www.crossingretreat.org/
-
The weekend will include a number of indoor and outdoor activities including swimming, GoKarts, inflatables, archery, mini-golf/frisbee golf, basketball/volleyball courts, billiards, ping-pong, carpet ball, gaga pit, and more!
Of course, no camp is complete without time around the fire pit and making s’mores!
**Note - there is no zip line or climbing wall at this location.
-
The Crossing Retreat Center has motel style rooms that are furnished with one full bed and one bunk bed. Bedding is provided. Each room has a private bathroom.
More information about Ackerman Lodge can be found here - https://www.crossingretreat.org/lodging/
-
Each camp will feature meals that are both kid friendly and easy to accommodate most dietary needs. When registering, you will have the opportunity to indicate dietary needs that will be passed on to the camp’s kitchen staff.
COST: $500 per family of four, $50 for each additional family member. Options are available to help fundraise for your family to attend.
SELECTION PROCESS:
If you are interested in attending a family camp, please check out the locations above. Amenities/activities vary by location.
Sign up by June 30th using the blue buttons for the camp of your choice. **Up Camp is only for families who have a child with Down Syndrome. Kids & Dreams Family Camps are for families who have a child/children with autism related conditions. Your family will be entered into a pool of interested families per location.
If you have no preference for the Kids & Dreams Family Camp location, you may sign up for both Camp Kitaki and The Crossing.
On July 1st, families will be selected using a lottery system. Selected families will be contacted and have a limited amount of time to accept/decline before we move on to the next family. Once selected, you will be instructed on how to register your family for camp!
UP - A Down Syndrome Family Camp
Kids & Dreams is thrilled to add UP Camp to our family camp options.
Purpose of this camp: We hope to provide a space for families to connect with other families that are experiencing and living through similar situations as they adventure into their lives of raising a child with Down Syndrome. We hope that relationships are formed in the confines of camp, but grown outside of camp as they continue to support each other along the way. At UP Camp families will experience abundant joy! We want your cheeks to be tired from smiling and laughing all weekend!!
Meet the Reed family and the story behind this camp: As a family, we began to pray for a life that was a little slower paced than what we had been experiencing at that time. Working as a Physician Assistant and Physical Therapist while also being parents to two little girls at the time, we felt life we were losing some intentionality with our life. Work seemed to be controlling us. So, slowing down was on our hearts for over two years. We decided to move houses, move jobs, and start making intentional decisions to help us live more unhurried. It didn’t always happen perfectly but we started to experience it, and on October 20, 2022 we received our answer to all the prayers we had been praying. Our son Jackson was born! He immediately had difficulties breathing so they took him to the NICU. After a little while it was determined he likely had Down Syndrome. This was unknown to us throughout the entire pregnancy, so we were surprised by this diagnosis at birth. But in time we were reminded that this was an answer to our prayers and Jacksons life was a gift! He was the slowing down we had prayed for. We could not rush things as his health was being so closely monitored.
Now, we are two and a half years into his life and he remains a beautiful gift! He has had a lot of ups and downs with his health, as have we as a family, husband/wife, mother/father. We are better parents, friends, employees, sons, and daughters because of what Jackson and others like him have taught us. We remain active with Jackson, his two older sisters, and younger brother! Yet, we have continually grown in our ability to live life at an unhurried pace and to ride the wave that seems to be Jacksons life.
We have a deep desire to help advocate for the Down Syndrome community but an even deeper desire to love all those in the community of Down Syndrome. We want to experience life with others as they are on the ‘adventure’ that is life with a child with Down Syndrome.
We truly mean it when we say we welcome you into our family! We look forward to introducing ourselves in person.
Kellie, Nick, Brekkan, Stevie, Jackson, and Brody
