My son Joey has been going to Camp Northstar for a few years now.. Every year around March or April he starts asking about, talks about it and shows his love for it. The whole team of Volunteers are amazing people and Camp Northstar is fantastic. Joey does not want to go anywhere else!!!
My son started as a camper with Camp Northstar and now is a CIT. I can not begin to tell you how much the Camp has helped him in his self-esteem and in his personal growth. He looks forward to going, it is his time to himself and he is allowed to be who he is without ridicule. He does not have the luxury of this every day. All his life he has had to overcome obstacles and criticism. Camp Northstar allows him to shine and he finds he has a purpose and always comes back home with some new experience and can't wait until it is time to go back. I look forward to Family day and seeing all the campers and volunteers. They always appear to being having a good time but at the same time they are learning about each other and themselves. Camp was one of the turning points in my son's life. I feel very luck to have my son involved in it and it is a positive experience for anyone who gets involved. I
Camp Northstar is truly a magical place for everyone involved. As a volunteer, it gives me great pleasure to know that I am making a small difference in the world of our campers with developmental disabilities. For the campers, it gives them an opportunity to be with their peers, develop new friendships, have new experiences and most of all JUST have fun. For the families, it gives them an opportunity to have a week “off” knowing their children are in a safe, fun environment.
I will always remember my first year at camp when a family dropped off their two children. They were so worried and concerned because it was their first time away from home. When they picked up their children, the joy in those parents’ faces was incredible. They saw their two children running around with their new friends and having such a good time. I was “hooked” and have volunteered every year.
The best week of the year. My son Jonathan has attended the camp for several years and looks forward to each new adventure. The camp allows him to mature and develop his independence. As a volunteer, I have as much fun as the campers, because they lift your spirit, give you energy and help you to enjoy each day.
My son Joey has had the opportunity to attend Camp Northstar for a few years now. It is the highlight of his year!! He talks about it all year long-the wonderful volunteers and Linda and Jerry just make this the most fun, memorable experience each year. It is such a positive atmosphere from the first minute they arrive as well as the nightly "awards" it brings such happy tears to my eyes to watch these young people hold hands and get get so excited that they may win an award-you would think it was the academy awards! There are so many fun activities for the kids to list and I am truly thankful for the great memories my son has and will continue to have from this wonderful camp! Thank you Camp Northstar-The Calandra Family
I started as a volunteer for 3 days and got hooked. I also have a daughter,Laura, who attends camp. Laura lost her father and has made many friends at camp that she can talk to about her loss. It has made a big difference in her independence as well as her social skills. I volunteer as a counselor but let Laura have her space while there. When Camp finishes, Laura is already planning her next year at Camp and what she will sing in the talent show.After several years I am now a board member as well and seek to bring kids who have never been to Camp that experience.
My daughter Kate Finlay has had the great opportunity to attend Camp Northstar a few times over the years. The week away with her peers, counsolers and volunteers gave her the help she needed to open up and participate in all the fun activities offered. She especially enjoyed the talent show, softball and swimming. The camp is a tightly and professionally run organization with competent and caring volunteers.
I have been with Camp Northstar from the very beginning, when the idea first came up about starting a camp, to help deciding the original camp site. It was a labour of love then and it continues on today more than ten years later.
It is a camp where children and adults with disabilities can enjoy a week of fun, laughter, and the companionship of their peers. Laughter and cheers are the sounds you hear coming from the campers all day long from the different activities offered to them.
I promised three years ago when I moved to Las Vegas that I would returnto New York every August to continue being a part of Camp Northstar and it is a promise that I have gladly kept and hope to continue for as long as possible.