Back in 2009, my mother told me about a camp she volunteered at years ago. At the age of 17, I found myself immersed in a two-week experience as a volunteer counselor at that Camp, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (MHKC), a summer camp for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and it changed my life.
MHKC is a place of true inclusion, where one can be and express themself fully and unapologetically; it’s a place of opportunity for new, meaningful experiences; it’s bonds that might not have been created in every day life; it’s learning new perspectives and ways of being in the world. For campers, Camp is a place for independence, socialization, and access to adventurous opportunities. For counselors, majority of which are PSU students receiving college credit for their time supporting campers 1:1, Camp is deep self-learning, building empathy and understanding, new insights around accessibility, and creating advocates in each of them.
This summer marks my 10th year on the mountain and my first as the Assistant Programs Director. Throughout the years, I hadn’t imagined serving Camp in this capacity, until last summer, when it felt like a far away dream. To my surprise and delight, it wasn’t. It’s truly a precious gift to have a career with an organization that I love and believe in. Camp is important, the work we do on the mountain is important. Through experiential education and play, we’re changing lives, campers, counselors, and staff members’.
Our annual fundraiser is off to a start and Camp needs money to make all the magic happen! If able, please consider donating any amount to support MHKC’s mission of empowering individuals with developmental disabilities through equitable access to the outdoors and recreation, and help us continue to create disability advocates in the world at large. If unable to donate, sharing this post/link with those in your life is another way to support MHKC. If you didn’t know, I love Camp, and I am deeply grateful for you for supporting this place that means so much to so many of us ❤️