Monica Keller carefully placed her hand-painted rock in a small new garden in downtown Columbus Wednesday. One by one, fellow participants attending Camp with a Mission followed her, placing decorated rocks in a sandy section designated for them. This was the “official” opening of the garden just outside the Sixth Street North door of the Frank P. Phillips Y, where the special needs day camp has been held for the past two weeks. Thursday marked the final day.
“I painted mine red,” said Keller, describing her rock. “I liked doing it. I really like arts and crafts.”
Now in its fifth year, Camp with a Mission provided a camp experience for individuals with special needs from throughout the Golden Triangle area.
“Our first year we had eight (people), and this year enrollment is 25; every year it’s increased,” said Norma Jones, wearing a T-shirt Wednesday emblazoned with “Special Needs, Special Spirit.” That’s the name of the nonprofit organization that started Camp with a Mission. Jones was instrumental in establishing the group, originally known as ARC of Lowndes County.
YMCA Adaptive Fitness Coordinator Salem Gibson teamed with Jones and other volunteers to oversee camp. Highlights included swimming, bowling, arts, sports and guest speakers from places including the Columbus Lowndes Public Library and Columbus Fire and Rescue.
“We try to jam-pack as much as we can into it,” said Gibson. “We’re hoping, too, to have maybe a three-day camp around Christmas.”
Camp with a Mission would not be possible without volunteers, Jones stressed.
“They are essential. They are the heart of the camp,” she said. Several volunteers were Zachary’s staff members, including owner Doug Pellum. While the downtown Columbus eatery rebuilds after an April fire, many employees have volunteered at local nonprofits.
“All our volunteers were just so awesome,” said Jones.
A ‘great memory’
The garden plot, approximately 10-feet-by-7-feet, is anchored by a mature crape myrtle and boasts succulents and plants to attract butterflies and grasshoppers. A central stone slab painted by Gibson reads “Camp with a Mission — 2018, 2019.” Each time camp participants pass the garden, they can point with pride to a project they had a part in.
“It just warms my heart, and I can imagine it’ll warm their hearts to see their contributions to making camp great,” said Jones. “It’s a great memento, a great memory to have.”
The goal of Special Needs, Special Spirit is to provide activity, socialization, education and support to special needs individuals and their families. Planned events throughout the year also include periodic family fun days and the Gutter Busters Bowling League offered October through April. For more information, email Jones at [email protected], or call 662-352-3184.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.