This summer, more families than ever are turning to Camp Kirk for financial assistance so their neurodivergent child or teen can experience acceptance and belonging.
Thanks to the generosity of the Connor-Uffelmann Foundation, every donation made between now and June 7 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000.
That means your gift today will help twice as many neurodivergent children feel welcomed, understood, and safe.
Dean and I are more than proud to be supporters of this incredible camp.
Our involvement with Camp Kirk began about 20 years ago when we attended our first fundraiser and we were smitten.
I began to help plan the fundraising events and Dean with his band, The Binders, often provided the entertainment. In time, I joined the Board of Directors, and was thrilled to work with such incredibly dedicated and driven supporters of the camp. They deeply understood the need for such a camp and the positive outcomes it provides.
The hook for me is always the in person camper testimonials which lay bare their challenges and the skills that camp provides them.
I am personally so pleased to see the current Board and staff looking beyond the camp years, and helping campers to prepare and transition to their next phase of life after Camp Kirk. Such a magical place.
Cameron’s Story
Before Graham sent his son Cameron to Camp Kirk, he carried the worry so many parents of neurodivergent children know well:
Will my child fit in? Will he feel safe? Will anyone truly understand him?
Then Cameron came to Camp Kirk, and that worry began to fade.
When Graham looked back at Cameron’s old first-day-of-school photos, he noticed anxiety on his face. Cameron was nervous and didn’t always feel comfortable being himself at school. But when Graham dropped him off at Camp Kirk for the very first time, something felt different.
Because of Camp Kirk’s onboarding program, Cameron had already visited camp, connected with staff, and learned this was a place where he would be accepted for exactly who he was. He arrived feeling safe, welcomed, and understood.
That summer, every friendship, campfire sing-along, and new skill helped Cameron build confidence and independence. Camp showed him that the things that made him different were also the things that made him special.
That’s the magic of belonging.
Fourteen years later, Cameron now returns to Camp Kirk not as a camper, but as a staff member. For the past several years, he has gained valuable work expereince on the camp’s maintenance team. His journey from camper to Leader-In-Training to staff is a powerful example of how Camp Kirk helps neurodivergent children and youth grow in confidence, skills, and self-belief.
Today, Cameron says Camp Kirk “isn’t just a place for work. It’s a place for fun and acceptance.”
Cameron proudly shares his collection of Camp Kirk memorabilia: awards, photo albums, handmade creations, and even his very first Camp Kirk t-shirt. As he shows them off, you immediately see how much camp means to him, and how proud he is to be part of this community.
In Cameron’s early years, his family relied on financial assistance to help make camp possible. Today his father, Graham, gives back as a monthly donor because he knows firsthand how life-changing it is for neurodivergent children to have a place where they feel accepted, understood, and like they truly belong. He says he gives back as “payback” for the support he recieved from generous donors like you.
That’s the impact your support makes possible.
