THE FOUNDERS’ MESSAGE
“Courage to Care”
The 25/26 year has begun. The registration and application process is well underway. Here is what is happening at Trailways Camp! We need your help to provide camper scholarships during the Fall and Winter camp sessions.
We offer our camps with only a $75 Registration Fee but each spot requires scholarship donations to cover lodging, meals, tailored activities, individualized nursing, dietary, personal care, and mobility supports that enable all campers to fully participate and experience the joy that is Trailways Camp. Please consider a scholarship donation for a camper, or for a health, safety or quality need during this upcoming season.
For those camper applicants who will continue on a waiting list to return we would like to offer a Fun Day. These provide a taste of camp life, filled with fun and friendship connections while they wait. Your gift –small or large — is needed to help make (reconnection) dreams come true for them.
Grampy’s Charities launched a $50 K Match campaign in partnership with Trailways Camp for the purpose of adding more camp sessions. We are deeply grateful to Grampy’s Charities for believing in the mission of Trailways Camp. The gifts from Trailways Camp donors and the $75,000 Matching Gift from Grampy’s secures funds for two camp sessions that will follow in the Winter 25/26 and 26/27 season.
Thank you for dreaming with us, for serving, for giving, and supporting adults with special needs and their caregivers. We wish you Happy Trails.
Sharon & Jerry Miller, Founders
Thank you Grampy’s Charities for your continued encouragement and support for Trailways Campers. Jim and Jonatha Castle are supporters of families and those providing caregiving support for adults with special needs. Visit https://www.grampys.org to read more about this amazing team leading an amazing organization.
Did you know that we have a You Tube Channel? If you subscribe you will always be able to be aware of any new video’s from the Camps or “I AM SPECIAL” events. Just go to You Tube, the handle is @trailwayscamps
EVENT & CAMP HAPPENINGS–Sharing our gifts and talents
Are you ready for our horse experiences?
Thank you Chapel by the Sea for providing a grant to renew and upgrade horse experiences for all campers who come while maintaining care standards for the animals who serve us. New safety helmets in several sizes for those who are without medical restrictions to mount a horse and have a led horse experience. A new Mounting Block. For those who are not able to sit atop a horse, we have Mini Horse Entertainment through Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, and pony hand painting experiences. We are so grateful for this very special donation that will benefits all Trailways Campers.
Benjamin G. Miller “Joyful Spirit Award”
A tradition that is part of each Trailways Camp Session is the Awards Assembly at which campers themselves are recognized for the gifts they bring, the achievements reached, and the most remarkable character reflections visible during the gathering. This tradition is carried forward to the Annual “I AM SPECIAL” Camper Reunion & Birth Day event. There are four Founders Awards—one of which has been The Birth Day Closest to that of Benjamin Miller. Upon thoughtful and spiritual reflection we made the decision to release this award, and to establish a new award going forward.
Benjamin lived each day as a joyful spirit. Disappointments or frustrations on a day never carried forward to another day. He loved His Lord and loved each person created by Him. Loving others, serving others, participating in relationships with others were at the core of who he was. This new award recognizes these exceptional characteristics in a participating camper. The new award recipient is chosen and presented by the Founders We now have an Academy of “Joyful Spirits”. All are celebrated at the Annual “I Am Special” Trailways Camper Reunion.
