Fact Sheet
Camp Barnabas exists to offer awesome, life-changing camp experiences to children who have been robbed of them by disability or disease. In summer 2012 we will provide acceptance and love for almost 1,500 campers, empowering them to live lives of ability. We were founded in 1994 as a non-denominational Christian summer camp that allows people with disability to be participants, not observers, in the world around them. We are a 501.c.3 not-for-profit organization.
Financials: The camp operated under a $1.5 million budget in 2010 with almost $5.7 million in assets. In May, 2011 we completed an almost 7,000 square foot medical center
debt-free. This facility serves our expanded camper population and
will be used by an area organization in our off-season to provide free or
reduced-fee health care to qualified residents of our community. In 2007 we completed construction of 21 new camper cabins. Over 60% of our campers receive at least a partial scholarship. Donations of any size are appreciated and essential to the day-to-day operations of camp.
Camper Qualifications: Any person who would not be able to participate in the activities at a typical summer camp without adaptation would probably qualify for Camp Barnabas. This includes people with medical, physical or developmental disabilities and children with syndromes, rare diseases or any serious chronic illness.
Summer camp: Each session of camp includes specific groups of people based on diagnosis.
In summer 2012 we will conduct 13 sessions of camp at four different locations across the United States - our flagship campus in Purdy, Missouri (Camp Barnabas Purdy); Shell Knob, Missouri (Camp Barnabas - Point 11); Cordova, Tennessee (Camp Barnabas - Memphis) and Medina, Texas (Camp Barnabas - Deer Creek):
Camp Barnabas-Adult Friends - Developmentally disabled/autism (Ages 18 - 45) - June 1 - June 7*
Camp Barnabas-Point 11 - Developmentally disabled/autism (Ages 7 - 25) - June 4 - June 9
Camp Barnabas-Challenge Week - Physically disabled (Ages 7 - 15) - June 9 - June 15
Camp Barnabas-Young Friends - Autism/Developmentally disabled (ages 7 - 15 ) - June 17 - June 23
Camp Barnabas-Adventurers Week - Physically disabled (Ages 16 - 35) - June 25 - July 1*
Camp Barnabas-Heroes Week - Autism/Developmentally disabled (Ages 16 - 25) July 7 - 13*
Camp Barnabas-Soaring Hawks - Chronic diseases (AIDs, hemophilia, sickle cell, Crohn's, cancer, diabetes and others) Blind, Deaf/Hearing impaired, Asperger's (no PDD or ODD) - (Ages 7 - 25 - Blind campers ages 7 - 35) - July 15 - July 21
Camp Barnabas Memphis I - Chronic diseases (AIDs, hemophilia, sickle cell, Crohn's, cancer,
diabetes and others) Blind, Asperger's (no PDD or
ODD) - (Ages 7 - 25) - July 15 - July 20
Camp Barnabas Memphis II - Developmentally disabled/autism (Ages 7 - 25) - July 22 - July 27
Camp Barnabas-Bridge Builders - Autism/Developmentally disabled (Ages 7 - 15) July 23 - July 29
Camp Barnabas Deer Creek I - Chronic diseases (AIDs, hemophilia, sickle cell, Crohn's, cancer,
diabetes and others) Blind, Deaf/Hearing impaired, Asperger's (no PDD
or ODD) - (Ages 7 - 25) - August 1 - August 6
Camp Barnabas-Champions Week - Physically and Developmentally disabled (Ages 7 - 25) - August 1 - August 7
Camp Barnabas Deer Creek - Developmentally disabled/autism (Ages 7 - 25) - August 7 - August 13
For more information about the children served in each session of camp, go to www.campbarnabas.org/summer2012 and click the divisions listed on the left of the page you are interested in learning more about.
* Siblings are invited to all sessions EXCEPT Camp Barnabas - Adult Friends, Camp Barnabas - Adventurers Week, and Camp Barnabas - Heroes Week. All other sessions include siblings in a very special program. The sibling program was created by a person that is a sibling of a very special sister. Along with several other siblings and professionals the curriculum for the sibling program was designed to be a full week of fun and opportunity for the child that lives with a person with special needs.
Cost: Enrollment fee: $55
Tuition: $700
Sponsorships: Partial sponsorships are available for families who are in need of assistance. You may apply for a sponsorship during the enrollment process. Enrollment is completed online by going to
www.campbarnabas.org/summer2012 and answering the questions there to find the best week of camp for your child.
Activities: Camp activities vary at each site but may include swimming, field games, arts and crafts, canoeing, rifles, archery, fishing and other outdoor adventures. Camp Barnabas MO has a fully-accessible high ropes course. Participants utilize adaptive equipment and programming in all activities.
Staff/Volunteers (Christians in Action): Each cabin has two paid summer staff members screened and hired through recruitment at churches and colleges. Volunteer staff ages 16-29 work with campers in a 1:1 ratio and siblings 1:3. Volunteers age 14-15 help with clean-up in the kitchen and other areas of camp. Other volunteers help staff the kitchen and assist in the general maintenance and operations of the camp.
Medical Services: Volunteer medical personnel fill 8 registered nurse and 2 physician slots each term. These medical professionals provide around-the-clock, on-site care to the campers and staff. On an average day, there are 138 visits to the health center with around 47 routine procedures performed, including injections, IV’s, cathing and foreign body removal. Nurses dispense well over 900 medications daily and ensure that campers are provided quality medical care and attention.
For more information on Camp Barnabas, please contact our office at 417.476.2565 or email
info@campbarnabas.org .