THE FOUNDERS’ MESSAGE
“Courage to Care”
What an amazing, joy filled 2025-2026 camp season! Our final session, the creative “In Community” Camp, sponsored by the Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation, brought the season to a wonderful close with new adventures, lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. Now, we are excited to begin the 2026-2027 camp season!
Celebrating The Giving Campaign
Thanks to The Giving Campaign, sponsored by Grampy’s Charities, and the generosity of a Step Up Match sponsor, every gift made during the campaign will go even further to create more camp memories in the 2026-2027 season. Your support will help reduce the wait time for campers to return, allowing more adults with special needs to experience the joy, friendship, and belonging that Trailways Camp provides.
Exciting News for Island Families
We are thrilled to share that Sanibel Captiva 100+Women Who Care has awarded Trailways Camp a grant to launch Day Camp Experiences beginning in September 2026.
These new opportunities will prioritize returning campers from Sanibel and Captiva resident families, along with family members of those who live or work on the islands. Day camps will celebrate community partnerships with island businesses, non profit organizations, and public officials while bring the Trailways experience even closer to home.
Trailways Forward…
The Trailways Camps, Inc., Board of Directors has acted to strengthen the long term sustainability of our camp programs.
1. A Strategic Vision for Growth has been adopted. The 2026-2028 Strategic Plan establishes building blocks to guide well managed growth
2. The Trailways Camps, Inc. Endowment Fund has been established. Friends who have expressed interest in making a lasting impact through estate planning, appreciated assets or future gifts are invited to become members of the Trailways Camps, Inc. Legacy Circle. We welcome the opportunity to share how your legacy gifts can help sustain Trailways Camp for future generations.
3. Preparing For Tomorrow –an Operating Reserve Fund Policy has been adopted to protect against a potential impact of unforeseen environmental or external challenges that might threaten ongoing camp operations.
THANK YOU
Everything accomplished is possible because of friends like you. Thank you for believing in our mission, volunteering your time, supporting our campers and giving caregivers the priceless gift of respite. Your generosity creates opportunities for adults with special needs to build confidence, friendships and lifelong memories while providing families with peace of mind.
Together we are making a lasting difference–one camper, one family, and one act of kindness at a time.
Happy Trails!
Sharon & Jerry Miller,
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 day camping experiences!
Thank you Sanibel Captiva 100+Women Who Care for hearing the need and responding with a generous grant to launch day camping experiences. This new program launch will prioritize island residents and island employees with family members who are adults with special needs as well as island businesses, non profit organizations and public official partnerships.! The wait time to return to camp now exceeds five years—-day camping opportunities reduce the waiting times for camping experiences.
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.
