Through a new partnership, a summer camp in Charles County, Maryland, will be able to provide children with chronic illnesses the opportunity to take part in hikes, archery practice and other fun summer activities.
Camp Accomplish’s open house was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Courtesy of Melwood)
Courtesy of Melwood
Camp Accomplish’s open house was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Courtesy of Melwood)
Courtesy of Melwood
Camp Accomplish’s open house was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Courtesy of Melwood)
Courtesy of Melwood
Camp Accomplish’s open house was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Courtesy of Melwood)
Courtesy of Melwood
Camp Accomplish’s open house was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Courtesy of Melwood)
Courtesy of Melwood
A summer camp in Charles County, Maryland, has been serving families of children with disabilities for more than 30 years, and now, through a new partnership with Children’s National, it will be able to provide children with chronic illnesses with the opportunity to take part in hiking, archery practice and other fun summer activities.
Camp Accomplish has operated for more than 30 years providing overnight and day camps for children with disabilities, but the partnership with Children’s National has expanded the camp’s focus.
“We have staff with a variety of medical specialties who work with campers with conditions such as epilepsy, autism, Tourette’s syndrome, diabetes, congenital heart disease, neurofibromatosis and sickle cell disease,” said Dr. John Schreiber, a pediatric neurologist at Children’s National and medical director for Camp Accomplish.
Without qualified medical staff, many children would not be able to have a traditional summer camp experience.
“Our partners at Children’s National are able to really talk to campers about their particular conditions and how to best manage those conditions,” said Lulu Mohler, new director of Melwood Recreation Center and Youth Services.
The newly renovated Camp Accomplish in Nanjemoy, Maryland, held a ribbon cutting and open house Saturday to meet the families who will be sending their children off to fun activities all summer long.
One of the unique features of this camp is that it is open to children who do not have disabilities or chronic illnesses.
“Families who have children with and without disabilities don’t have to send their kids to two different camps,” Mohler told WTOP. “All children can attend Camp Acomplish and have the same fulfilling and empowering experience.”
Families can choose week-long overnight or day camps where children will participate in archery, canoeing, kayaking, ropes courses, horseback riding and nature activities, sports, arts and crafts, STEM activities and more.
“We provide a great gardening experience where campers can learn to grow a variety of plants and also harvest them from the garden to prepare in cooking classes,” Mohler said.
Melwood is a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities gain employment through vocational training and also provides career development opportunities for campers.
Moeller said staff will plan specific activities based on campers’ interests.
“These campers might want to hone their leadership skills, or they might want to hone their communication skills or any other skill that will personally help them as a person,” Mohler said.
Shriver said it’s also a unique experience for staff who have had to rely on only interacting with patients inside the hospital.
“This program allows us to get a deeper understanding of who they are, what they like, what motivates them,” Schreiber said. “We’re helping them experience things they wouldn’t have without the support of our medical staff.”
This is also invaluable for campers with chronic illnesses or disabilities, as they become more self-reliant, independent and resilient, he said.
“They realize they’re tough and they can accomplish things,” he said.
The first overnight campers are scheduled to arrive at Camp Accomplish on June 23. Mohler told WTOP there are still a few spots available.
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