We picked Kate up from camp on Friday. The very first question she asks us when she sees us is - can I come back next year? For the first hour of the trip home she told us about all the adventures she had and the friends she met and then it was lights out. She was so tired, happy, but tired.
We are now three weeks post Camp Tatiyee and it is still a daily conversation in our home. By the end of her first weekend after camp, she had printed out a "book" of pictures from camp to take to her day program and show her friends. I will often catch her looking at the pictures and talking about the activities when when no one is around. I'm not sure which activity she liked more but the go karts come up a lot in her conversations, always with a smile on her face and fist bump in the air as she tells us she won the race.
She has already started purchasing items for next years camp. She told us the theme is going to be Jurassic Park. She was never a big fan of dinosaurs before, but she is constantly on the look out for anything dinosaurs now! So far she has found three tee-shirts with either the Jurassic Park logo or a dinosaur on the front. She would like to have a new shirt for each day... we will see. She told us the color theme is orange and black. I didn't even know there was a color theme! She puts beads on pipe cleaners as a calming activity, of course she is only picking out orange and black beads now so she can share her creations with her friends at camp next year. At the camp store this year she purchased a bag with the camp logo on it. All her treasures are already packed in that bag for next year. I had to hid her suitcase or that would be packed already also.
She went shopping with a friend on Sunday and came home with a bottle of Ketchup...for camp. When I inquired why she thought camp needed her ketchup, she told me it was for the skunk they saw up there. That girl has so many stories to tell.
We recently made the decision to change day programs. I was fearful that Kate would not adjust well to the new environment. Her sister reminded me that we drop Kate off at camp she doesn't even remember to shut the car door as she runs to the cabin to see new friends, counselors and start new experiences. Yes, Kate will do fine as she has gain confidence and only had wonderful experiences at camp, and should only expect that at her her new day program.
Was the most grateful experience we ever had as a family, Was the first time my princess was in her own outside and away from us... at the beginning the anxiety was killing me but the staff were great posting pictures of she having fun, The camp is the best, can not wait for next year...
This camp is a life changing experience for my daughter. She has gained so much confidence and independence by going to this camp. The counselors and staff allow Maggie to be herself and not apologize for being who she is. She gets to experience things where she is the front and center and allows for success 100% of the time. She talks about camp all year and we count down the days till we get to return.
My son attended Camp Tatiyee this year for the first time. He had a wonderful experience, and the staff were fantastic with him. We are very grateful for this camp experience and everything Lions Camp Tatiyee does for special needs individuals.
Laura Stanley
My brother sincerely loves his time at camp and the experiences he gets there. He gets so excited because he has this special trip that others don’t get to do. For once, he gets to do the fun thing…
When his ‘camp’ signing starts, we all groan because we know that’s what he’ll want to talk about for months…
The job they do at Camp Tatiyee is so important, and inspiring for everyone involved. I promote it whenever possible.
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The biggest tell for our daughter's enjoyment and positive experience at Lions Camp Tatiyee is that she is already to go back next summer! We heard about the yummy food, the activities/games, the cabins, and ALL the new friends. Our daughter also loved the counselors and how welcomed she felt upon arrival.
Thank you Camp Tatiyee!
Our son Liam has a complex and fairly rare genetic disorder. There are very few camps and programs that can accommodate his needs or that we feel safe allowing him to attend. We came across Camp Tatiyee on a web search and it almost sounded too good to be true. Liam attended his first week of camp this summer and we were blown away. He was well cared for and safe! We could rest easy knowing the staff was well equipped for his challenges and he thrived with his peers. This has been the biggest blessing we have found and hope he can attend annually to make lasting memories. Thank you
I've been going here for the past 5 years (excluding covid), and every year I enjoy being there more and more. The staff there really seem to enjoy their volunteering even when they are worn out. The camp advisor and staff always provide such wonderful activities for all the campers to enjoy whether it be just hanging out or doing one of the many activities they have to offer. They make the campers feel at home and honestly camp tatiyee is 2nd home. They're are many other positive things I would love to say but I will keep this shirt and sweet
Camp Tatiyee provided a wonderful first camp experience for my daughter with Cerebral Palsy! She thoroughly enjoyed her time participating in archery, Go Karts, mud pit, and many other fun activities! The counselors and staff provided a wonderfully supportive environment for her to be successful in all activities. She felt cared for, had a blast, and is counting down the days until next summer!
As a parent, I appreciated the professionalism, attention to details about the care of my daughter, and genuine care and concern the counselors and staff had for my child.
A life-changing opportunity for individuals with disabilities. My son participated in the camp this summer; it was a series of first times for him, first sleep away, first camp, first dance with peers. We’re so grateful that he was able to have this experience, an opportunity to learn different independent skills!
My special needs adult son has been attending Lions Camp Tatiyee for about 20 years! This experience away from home with peers means the world to him and us as parents. While there he is always treated with upmost kindness and respect and the sense of independence he feels during this week is priceless! The camp provides meaningful activities both social and recreational. Some of his favorites are go kart, racing, swimming, creating their own play/performance and of course the dance! Each year when he returns, he talks nonstop about the experience for weeks. He tells everybody he comes in contact about his amazing week at camp.
Thanks to Camp Tatiyee and their supporters, my daughter was able to have a sleep away camp experience just like her neurotypical peers. I have fond memories of my own experiences at camp and didn't think my daughter would be able to create her own memories. Thanks to all the staff, volunteers and donors who make the camp possible.
My 11 year old daughter attended Camp Tatiyee for the first time this year. She is medically complex and I was a little bit nervous we would be turned down. Camp Tatiyee was so excited to have her attend. They were very thorough with taking care of her every need.
My daughter was SO excited to be able to go to camp like her older siblings. She had THE best week getting to do things that were adapted to her needs, but also feeling very independent. She loved the staff so much and repeatedly asks me if she gets to go back next year!
Camp Tatiyee is a super special place for our family. My daughter (age10) went for the first time this year. For the last few years she has watched her (neurotypical) brother go to YMCA camp and she has asked when she can go. I was lucky enough to hear about Tatiyee from a friend and get the application in in time for this year. My daughter had a blast. We are more than a month since she got home and she still tells people nearly every day that she went to camp...and that she's going back. She wants to go back now! We are so incredibly grateful for the camp and for the people that make it happen. What a special place.
My son had a great time. It allowed him to have independence from the family and have great experiences.
My two daughters attended Camp Tatiyee for the second year in a row. They really enjoyed the counselors and their great personalities. The activities at camp especially the games and swimming are the most memorable to them. The staff is well prepared for rain days.
THis camp is AMAZING! I have been a pediatric nurse for 40+ years, spending the last 20 years in the school setting, but only learned about this camp 3-4 years ago. The counselors are so patient, caring & kind, knowing the campers from the past several years that they have attended. Every camper is able to participate in every activity, no matter what their disabilities may be! Every week is a different group, various ages from 12 to 99 years, campers have various abilities but all enjoy archery, swimming, cooking, miniature golf, talent shows & dances! Making new friends & sharing contact info to be able to stay in touch all year round is fun for these guys! I have a friend that attended his first time 2 years ago & absolutely loves it!! He had never been away from home before, but he keeps trying to talk the camp director into making it 2 weeks long instead of just 1!!! It is all about the freedom & independence for the campers, the great times they have being with friends & having such a great time! I am so glad to have learned about this camp - not only for the several friends that are now able to attend, but to be able to work with these incredible campers during the summers!
My son Colin, who has Down Syndrome, has been attending Camp Tatiyee for almost 20 years. He started when he was a teenager and has aged into the adult program. He has a great memory, although his understanding of time is not very good. He remembers what he did at Camp, especially the talent shows where he loves to dance and perform. Every summer there are themed activities (last summer it was Star Wars.) And some of the usual camp activities,: archery, arts and crafts, wienie roasts at campfires, swimming, and field trips to bumper cars or "race" cars on a track. And within a month of returning from Camp he is eager to tell everyone that he will be going back to Camp "soon." He is a very social person and Camp Tatiyee enables him to BE social, to interact with a greater range of people. It lets him be responsible for himself and get out from under the rules and routines and family caretakers (parents and brothers). He has friendships which are renewed every summer.
We have recommended Camp Tatiyee to other families with children who have special needs and they have been equally happy with heir experiences at Camp Tatiyee.
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Colin is my now-adult son who has Down Syndrome. He has been attending Camp Tatiyee for the last 15 years, since he was in junior high school. It is the high point of his year. It gives him an opportunity to be on his own in a way that he cannot be at home. At the same time, he is well protected and supervised by a caring and trained staff. Many of the staff return for multiple years, so he gets to know them, as they also get to know him. He can show off his dancing moves at the talent show, and swim, and shoot arrows from a bow. It also gives him a break from screen time as a daily occupation. Colin is very social, and he loves the crowd of people that he gets to be part of. He lives in a very small town, and while he has friends at his workshop, and teammates at Special Olympics, his social contacts have contracted since he left high school. Tatiyee gives him a chance to expand his circle of friends again.
My daughter Keira has been going to Camp Tatiyee for many years now. Pam and her staff are so amazing with all our kiddos. Keira looks forward to camp every year.
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Camp Tatiyee provides so many opportunities for the campers to explore new interests, learn a new skill or hobby, participate as a valued team member, meeting new friends and reuniting with old friends. The staff are highly trained to ensure a safe and secure environment while the campers have a wonderful time away from their usual situation making lifetime memories in a loving environment.
Our daughter has been attending this camp since she was in the 7th grade. She is now 27 years old. I can’t say enough good about Camp Tatiyee. She looks forward to camp every year. All she talks about starting in January is camp. It gives her a break from the everyday life of things and it gives her a break from me, her mom. We are together 24/7. She has made life long friends there as well.
As a parents perspective, it is the best place in the world. We know that when we drop her off there, she is completely safe and well taken care of. But most of all she is truly loved when she gets there. All of the staff are amazing and I can’t say enough about the Director Pam. She has been doing this for well over 20 years. She knows what she’s doing. She knows how she wants. It ran and she knows how to get it done. She is also extremely picky on who she hires as staff and I think that’s amazing.
This year when my husband and I dropped our daughter off at camp as I was leaving I was doing the happy dance. It spread like wildfire before I knew it. There were three or four of us parents doing the happy dance and singing and hooping and hollering as we were leaving. Next year I hope the happy dance spreads to even more to more parents. I can say that the new parents or caregivers that were dropping their kids off were amazed at how happy we were as we were leaving. For us this is the only true break we get from our daughter. You see they have a no tolerance policy for electronics. That means no phones. No iPads no nothing. It gives our daughter a chance to reset. It is an amazing difference when she does not have that phone for a week . It’s so amazing and I’ve started doing it at home. But this way she focuses on camp and nothing else. No worries no stress no drama!
We would be completely lost without Camp Tatiyee! Even in 2020 when everything went south they stayed open. But instead of in person camp they did it over the computer. So they made sure these guys got that interaction they needed. It was a blessing for so many that had their lives turned upside down that year.
We LOVE LOVE LOVE Lions Camp Tatiyee!
Hi, I am a mother of three children with cerebral palsy. I was fearful to send my children anywhere for someone else to take care of them because I was afraid they couldn’t love them or take care of them well enough. Camp Tatiyee is a kind and caring Camp, who are wonderful with my children. They take care of their needs and show them the best of time! My kids have been going there for the last 10 years and I still remember the first day. My daughter showed up there. She was so excited and said “they have crutches like me!” They would choose this camp over Disneyland any day! And we have to plan our whole year around the week of camp. So grateful for the incredible counselors and leaders! My other daughter actually got to be a camp counselor this year and loves it. She grew up wanting to be a counselor at camp Tatiyee!! It has become a part of our family.
Hello!! Lions Camp Tatiyee!! It’s Charlotte Merrill, I just want to tell my story to you guys. I am 19 year old and I have cerebral palsy, Doctor said that I will never walk, talk, and get married in the future! I am approving those doctors wrong. I have
Ataxia too which means “I lose balance at any second without any warning” I also have falling and breaking bones in the my life. I dreamed of walking since I was 7 years old, my grandpa got me twinkle shoes to help me, when I turned 8 I got baptized, I have hard times of walking sometimes. You know what? I kept on practicing on walking with crutches, walker and with my mom and dad, my physical therapist and others… I walk with crutches, sometimes walker and I have a wheelchair. I graduated from high school of 2022! Now I’m going to college, studying acting and I’m in a college play called “Hello Dolly” I been working on acting in plays since I was a little girl. My very first and biggest role was “into the woods” I was, granny for CCPA when I was a little kid. I am dreaming of acting in Disney movies and on Broadway musicals. I am so grateful in life because I look back of everybody who helped me to walk in my past I am now walking with crutches, talking. I have graduated from high school, now in college. I am now accomplishing my life I have hiked Havasupai in 2017! If I am doing those things, you can do it too. I am doing motivational speaking all over, I am speaking about doing hard things, let’s be friends, don’t be afraid of, just be who you are. Faith over fear is important! I give so much Credit to Camp Tatiyee. I have been going there every summer for the last 10 years. I have made good friends and I love the camp counselors who have given me direction and loved me. Thank you for helping and being such an important part of my life and helping me to be successful. Love you
I first went to Camp Tatiyee as a counselor when I was just out of high school in 1983. I fell in love with camp and all the campers and staff! Some of the best times of my life were spent up there over many summers! The chance to make a difference for the special needs population is great, but it also enriched my life so much as well!
After I became a nurse, it was on my bucket list to go back to Camp Tatiyee as the Camp Nurse. I have been able to fill in as the nurse a few times so far, as I still work full-time and it is difficult to dedicate to a whole summer! Being the nurse gave me a new respect for all the campers and the challenges they face every day! The staff at camp are truly selfless people and they work incredibly hard to ensure each camper has the best time of their life each and every summer!! Each week I have spent at camp has brought me great joy and I have continued to learn what true joy in life really means!
Hi, my name is Ruben Villa I am 39 years old. I’ve been coming to Camp for 21 years never had a bad experience. I consider it like a second home to me. I have nothing negative to say about Camp Camp has been a blessing to my life, and it always will be.
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Read moreLions Camp Tatiyee is well worth it for campers who are trying to get out for the summer. Camp tatiyee helps campers like me to be more active and meet new people who are just like me and willing to get out of my comfort zone. The staff is professionally trained and all the staff have postive and outgoing personality to them! I've gone couple of times and I'm always excited to go back and meet amazing people there. So if your wanting a wonderful camp to send someone. Camp Tatiyee is the camp for you and your family!
Hi my name is Ember Book I have been going to Lions camp taityee since 2018, now I am in college but my first year of going to camp I was in a really dark place with my depression, but camp taityee made me feel like I had a community and that I belonged somewhere! And I loved the community so much because the counselors and other staff made me feel so welcome that I now come back every year because I gain so much independence and joy from going to camp every year! So if you can please help out this amazing nonprofit so, people like me can keep going to camp every year!
I went from being stuck in the city to traveling to the forest. I had no idea that joining Camp Tatiyee would mean switching my whole direction for life. I was afraid of the outdoors... and within weeks I was inside the mud pit racing campers for the fastest time through the track! I made unforgettable memories, and got some pretty sweet pictures!
Camp Tatiyee has been nothing but wonderful to me and my family, I have been involved with Tatiyee for years now, and my 2 siblings have been campers there during their deaf week! They don't stop talking about camp until they are back there again. The environment, the people, the genuine connections you make are like no other. I don’t think i could find a place as real and genuine as Tatiyee anywhere else in the world.
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Camp Tatiyee has always been an amazing experience for me, as well as my family! This is a place i have grown up with for most of my life and it has changed my life in ways i would have never expected!
Our Sidewalk Ministry loves sending our Special Needs folks to Camp Tatiyee each year.
A grownup girl shared these memories: I enjoyed new/old friends, archery, dance, crafts, making heart star shaped cookies, swimming cowboy rodeo toss, food like pizza, tater tots, eggs, hot dogs, hamburger. Nice counselors talked to me. My roommate and I talk and share makeup. We are sisters in Jesus' eyes. We pray and Talk about God. Pablo didn't know Jesus died on a cross for our sins. He said, "I put God in my first place." Pam was very nice to me.
We will continue to send this girl, her younger brother, and mom to Tatiyee.
This was my son's first experience with camp, and he loved it!!! It was so hard to drop him off and say goodbye but once we picked him up he was so happy and did not want to leave! :) He made us promise that we would bring him back every summer!! Pam and her team were thorough with his medications and any concerns we had. They had numerous nurses on hand at all times and triple-checked the instructions we left for them. Camp Tatiyee and the staff far exceeded our expectations!! Will will forever be grateful for the experience our son had!!! THANK YOU, Pam and Staff!!! See you next year!
If you're looking for a fun place that puts their campers at the highest priority, then you've found your match! Camp Tatiyee not only offers a variety of activities such as archery, arts and crafts, swimming, role playing; they provide a safe and happy environment for all ages and all disabilities. Every camper is treated as a person and the focus is on the camper having a great time and not their disability. Each camp and year has a theme. One year it was Christmas in July and this year was movies. When I went to pick up my brother from camp, he talked the whole entire 4 hours home about all the friends he made, the fun he had, the friends he made previously how they were all doing, and how he can't wait until next year. Thank you for taking great care of my brother and we will see you next summer!
My son has been attending Lions Camp Tatiyee for many years. He looks forward to it every summer and talks about it constantly. It has boosted his self-confidence and in turn he has started to open up and feel feels comfortable in various social situations, not nervous and anxious. I believe that attending Camp Tatiyee has allowed him to feel like himself and be like himself. He is grinning ear to ear at Camp Tatiyee in this photo!
Camp Tatiyee brings the joy of summer camp to people with special needs. In an inclusive and safe environment, families and campers come knowing they will be cared for and loved by their peers and staff alike. This warm, supportive environment is a place unlike any other and works to bring joy to those who are truly “just like us.”
My sisters have gone to this camp for years and every year they come back happier than the prior year. They love the activities, the friends, the counselors and getting out of The Valley heat. Thank you Camp Tatiyee for creating an amazing experience where individuals of all abilities can feel safe and have fun!
I attended this camp as a camper from 1988 until 1998 then was staff summer 1999 until 2001. I now volunteer during deaf week when I can. I have always had a soft spot for this place for many reasons. Pam Swanson has the biggest heart I know and she is always making sure camp makes everyone happy. The staff there is always young and full of spirit. I see a variety of campers every year. New campers arrive with a slouch in their shoulders, worried about staying at this place for a week, but come Friday, those very campers are in tears about having to go home. I always see them wishing camp would go on longer. This camp is one of the few places I look forward to working at for free every year. Some of my best summers were at this place, so I am always wanting to help make it the best place for everyone else too. Keep it up, Pam and family! Love you all!
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I went to Camp Tatiyee as a camper from 1988 until 1998. I became staff and worked there as a counselor in 1999 and 2001. In 2008 and 2012, I was a volunteer for the deaf week. The place is just an amazing one to be as both a camper and staff. When I was a kid, I would spend all year looking forward to the week deaf children went there. I have made so many friends over the years there. The day camp was over and we all had to go home was the worst. We had to say bye to friends, the staff, and the camp itself. The place itself is so full of life that it is alive itself. We can see the trees get bigger over the years and the place evolving to accommodate every camper. Pam, the director, is an amazing person with the biggest heart and the most patience I have ever seen. Not even the most difficult camper (me) could break her. I really wish I could have gone this past summer but due to a stupid decision I made, I could not, which broke my heart. I hope I will be able to volunteer next summer and contribute to the camp for all the experience I had there as a kid and as an adult. This camp needs all the donations it can get so that it can touch more hearts and inspire the uninspired.
I am a C.O.D.A and coming here is a great experience. They have great and friendly counselors and wonderful and fun-filled activities. If you're deaf, a C.O.D.A, or disabled, I definitely recommend Camp Tatiyee.
This camp is such a blessing to all who attend. Everyone who is involved with the care of the campers shows love, care and acceptance to all. My son loves coming to camp. All the activities are so much fun. He feels like he belongs and thrives while he is there. He talks about it for weeks after he is home. Thank you Camp Tatiyee!
Lion's Camp Tatiyee Inc provides camp opportunities for persons with varying diabilities. Sessions are provided for different age groups and different disabilities. Our daughter attended the session for Intellectually Challenged Adults. She had a great time. When we arrived to pick her up she wanted to stay longer. This says a lot about the camp because usually she looks forward to getting home when out of town. She had many projects made at camp and was so proud to show them to everyone she could. When we asked her if she would like to go back to camp next year she excitedly responded. "Yes, I do!"
Our daughter, Macy, has been going to Camp Tayitee for 15 years. She started when she was still in elementary school and is now an adult. Although she is non-verbal, when we talk about camp her eyes light up and she gasps with excitement. It gives us much joy to know that Camp Tatiyee is a place she loves, with people she loves. She was unable to attend for two years due to the pandemic and when we pulled in under the archway when she was able to return tears of joy ran down her cheeks. We are supporters of Camp Tatiyee and want everyone to know what a special place it is for so many. -Stacy D.
View Ella video attached.
Gisella "Ella" Giambalvo, age 10
Attended Deaf/CODA Week
Tara (Mother) feedback
All 4 of my children have attended this camp, all with different degrees of hearing losses, two have aged out, now the two younger ones attend and love it. It started when my oldest was I believe 13, she is profoundly deaf in one ear and moderate/severe in other ear but is not culturally deaf as she can speak and hear, she struggled to find others that's just like her. She originally refused to attend deaf/coda week, it was a struggle to bring her to this camp, at the end of the week she didn't want to go back home as she loved it so much that she couldn't wait to return. She has met other people with exactly same degree of hearing losses as her that were raised orally like her. She felt that she fits in which makes my heart happy. It helped with her identity, She has made lifelong friendships from this camp! Ella age 10 is the only hearing child which makes her a CODA (child of deaf adults) as her parents are deaf. She has been attending this camp for years and also didn't want to go home. My youngest who is 7 attended this camp for the very first time this summer 2022, he has profound hearing loss in one ear and mild/moderate in his other ear. I am currently working on getting him to use sign language, I want my son to see that there are other children with same hearing losses as him and the method they choose to communicate, oral is the method he prefers, but as a deaf mother, I want him to be exposed to sign language and deaf culture. Please continue donate to Lion Camp Tatiyee so we can continue this tradition.
I have worked with the blind and individuals with special needs for the last 20 years. The program that camp Tatiyee provides for special needs individuals to enjoy, participate, and create extraordinary experiences they will never forget is amazing.
The commitment by their leadership team and a highly trained staff to make each persons camping experience special is inspiring. The care, love, and engagement they make creates a connection with each camper. That requires a unique passion to serve these special needs individuals.
Camp Tatiyee has offered a lifetime experience for thousands of individuals over the decades by providing each person a one-of-a-kind camping adventure. This takes a tremendous amount of support by Lions Clubs throughout Arizona, business, and corporate sponsors as well as grants. It is a team effort that continues to impress me and anyone who has visited the camp.
Jim S
Having managed programs for special needs children for over thirty years, I have always been impressed with the quality of the programs Camp Tatiyee provides. Their facilities are well maintained and designed to specifically support the type of campers they serve. I have found their staff and volunteers to be well trained, dedicated to the program, and committed to providing everyone with the very best camping experience possible. In addition, their efforts and operations are supported by the Lions Clubs of Arizona, which provides assistance with funding and volunteers. Awesome!
All the councilors and campers are like family. The camp is AMAZING. The councilors and staff are always there to help and are awesome.
Camp Tatiyee is an amazing place. It helped to shape the person I am today. I first went to work there for the summer as a young teenager. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it ultimately became a defining experience for me. I found it to be a place where everyone is accepted and seen as equal no matter your abilities. It's a place where those who are told "you can't," can. So many of my happy memories relate back to Camp Tatiyee. And because of Camp, today I'm a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Blind. I absolutely love my profession and I don't think I would have gone down the path of special education if not for my experiences at Camp Tatiyee. I will always cherish the four summers I worked at Camp Tatiyee. It's a place that brings love, hope and laughter to so many.
Camp Tatiyee not only changes lives but changes perspectives… something arguably more powerful. I strongly believe in the power of friendship that Camp Tatiyee installs in its campers.
Every week I see familiar characters come to camp… one of which is the newbie, someone that has heard about the value of a Tatiyee camp experience or has never been away from home or both. Someone that ultimately is nervous (rightfully so). The newbie doesn’t know what to expect of this place other than pine trees and new experiences.
Next is the returner. The returner is bouncing with joy and excitement for the week to come, the returner has been coming anywhere from one summer to thirty summers.the returner is greeted by many familiar faces not only of fellow campers but from loving staff. The returner is quick to befriend the newbie who hasn’t been to Tatiyee knowing what it’s like to be in those nervous shoes.
I watch as how the newbie becomes the returner each week, and that not only fills me with joy but is incredibly powerful.
So many great things I could say here! I grew up attending this camp in the summer, starting when I was about 8-years old. Being a disabled individual with a spinal cord injury, feeling accepted and understood was hard to come by. This camp changed all that! The staff was always so well educated and loving. Always able to cater to each person’s individual needs. We did so many activities and had the true camp experience. I even learned new things myself such as sign language and learned about other disabilities. I loved the atmosphere, being around others that walked in the same shoes I did, and everything the camp stands for. To this day, at 32-years old, some of my most loved memories are from my summers up in the pines at Camp Tatiyee. This camp changes lives and provides opportunities for the disabled that we wouldn’t normally be able to get elsewhere. Thank you Camp Tatiyee for all you’ve done in my life, and continue to do to this day in the lives of many. This place is a true blessing.
Since moving to Arizona a year ago I was attending meetings as a member of Sun City Host Lions club. When my husband and I heard about Arizona Lions Camp Tatiyee we said let’s learn more. We took the trip to Lakeside,AZ. for the tour of the camp from Executive Director Pam Swanson at this point the camp had been shut down because of the COVID pandemic so there were 26 faithful staff members still hanging in at the camp making videos on YouTube for the campers to stay connected to camp. What a wonderful thing. The counselors were also chipping in with many maintenance projects. We both knew we were hooked then and could see many projects we were able to help on. Camp Tatiyee is Entirely about Campers entirely free- of - charge. Coming soon- Camp Tatiyee will be available for rent on Airbnb. You can make a difference in a campers life by donating to camp Tatiyee.org/donate you’ll be happy you did, we were!
My daughter worked at Camp Tatiyee as a counselor many summers during high school and college. Her experiences at Camp Tatiyee undoubtedly led her to a career in special education. I had the opportunity to visit her one summer while she was working at camp and will never forget the love, care and camaraderie that the staff provided to each other and every camper. I was humbled beyond words….Camp Tatiyee is a gift of unmeasurable humanity that keeps on giving year after year.
Please support this most worthy organization.
Lions Camp Tatiyee is a place that epitomizes charitable work. It provides people of all ages and all disabilities a chance to experience a summer camp experience like non-disabled people have enjoyed - and it does it at no-cost to the camper. This not only provides the camper with a week among others "just like him/her" but it provides the campers care-giver with a week where their life doesn't revolve around the needs to their disabled loved one.
Camp Tatiyee changed my life. The culture, the love, the respect for one another and the willingness to be adaptable. This camp holds space for those who might feel like they aren't represented, respected or loved for who they are. The management and the representatives that work each summer truly bring joy and openness. Another thing I am quite impressed by is the willingness to accept that things need to change based on the dynamics of the whole, Listen to all and everyone has an opportunity to share to hemp make things work. That is growth .
My son, Brent, had Cerebral Palsy and needed total care, he was non-verbal and non-ambulatory. He attended Lions Camp Tatiyee for over 30 years. He loved camp! He considered it his annual summer vacation from life as usual and from the heat of Tucson.
He got to go fishing, ride in a go cart, go to the casino and be with friends he had met in years past. He participated in talent shows and other activities. The care he was given at camp was outstanding. Even when he had to start using a feeding tube they did not bat an eye, they just took care of it. Brent got so much self esteem during camp. Brent passed away this past June, Camp Tatiyee was a highlight in his life. Thank you Camp Tatiyee!
Camp Tatiyee changes lives not only for the lucky campers who attend but for their families. As a parent of a special needs child I was naturally a bit apprehensive about entrusting the care of my daughter to the camp staff for 6 days. My daughter, who was somewhat timid had never even been on a sleepover before! When we returned at the end of the week we hardly recognized the vivacious, confident young lady that greeted us. On the 3 hour drive home our daughter regaled us with tales if her many new expereinces - dancing, go-karts and a talent show! She went on and on about the host of new friends she had acquired, many of whom she is still in contact with these sixteen years later. I credit Camp Tatiyee and its fantastic staff with giving my daughter the springboard she needed to embrace herself and become the amazing, loving and tenacious person she is today. My heartfelt gratitude to all who make Camp Tatiyee possible!
I had the pleasure of working at Camp Tatiyee 25 years ago and then meeting the current director of Camp Tatiyee 10 years after that. There is no other place in the world where people can be celebrated for their unique gifts and differences. If you need a reminder that the world is filled with beauty and kindness… visit camp!
Last year was my son's first year attending summer camp. He just loved camp so much and I cannot wait to head back this next summer! They were incredibly accommodating and having the nurses and camp employees available helped ease my mom fears.
This place will always have a special place in my heart. I worked here for 10 summers and loved every minute of it: it's my home away from home. Camp Tatiyee is a place that brings you quality fun, adventure and a community with a whole lotta heart. There's not a lot of places like this anymore, and did I mention--it's completely free? Yes, go now!
I worked at this camp for three summers. First I will say that this is a tight-knit community. The camp director and program directors ensure everyone is on the same page about how things are run in camp. Second, I will say that the counselors put their heart and soul into this camp and it is near and dear to everyone who has worked here. Third, for the campers I have seen so many campers who have come here that first were in a shell and they didn't want to participate in the activities or socialize with others, but by the end of the week it felt like every camper was chatting with somebody or enjoying themselves in one form or another. The staff at Camp Tatiyee really do care about everybody and they actively seeks ways to engage the campers in every activity. If you decided to come to Camp Tatiyee or bring your family member here I can promise you the staff will be amazing, the programs will be out of this world, and whoever stays at Tatiyee will love it for life!
I always answer the call when they need volunteers. No matter what they want me to do I feel blessed to have helped.
My daughter Lucy has attended Tatiyee for several years now. She has always enjoyed her visits and has made friends there. The staff is amazing, always caring. The camp goes above and beyond and I appreciate all you have done for my daughter and the other campers.
My daughter has gone the last 3 years. She loves everyone there. She really appreciated the online camp this past year, but really wants to head back to the mountains as soon as possible.
When COVID hit, Camp Tatiyee went online! My girls really enjoyed all the activities offered virtually. It was great to see them adjust and still offer great programming for our kiddos!
The leadership and staff at Camp Tatiyee have a passion that surpasses anything I've ever seen. They go above and beyond to give campers experiences that they never thought possible with their disabilities. It's a magical place!
We love Camp Tatiyee! Our son was an older teen when we found out about this gem in the pines. We knew he would have fun with the full calendar of activities and social events. We were excited for him! What we couldn’t have anticipated was the way that it helped with his desire for independence. The week away from us gave him a taste of making his own decisions in a safe environment. He came home wanting to make more choices, do more on his own, and set goals for himself. He has looked forward to camp each summer and we just love the fun and growth that we see in him. When we drop him off each summer for the week, it feels like we are dropping a kid off at college in his dorm room and he feels that way too!
I have 2 children that have been going to camp Tatiyee for a couple summers. They had never been away from me for a week at a time. They both absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back. I will have 3 children go next time for the week. Plus it gives me a break. Would love for parents to have a week at camp. It looks amazing. Kids always have a great time and look forward to seeing friends and meeting new ones. Tatiyee will always be a place the kids look forward to every summer.
This past summer was my first time working at Lions Camp Tatiyee and it was an amazing experience! Staff and admin team are wonderful to work with, the campers are a joy! And the place itself is so beautiful and a welcoming environment :) I can’t wait to work there again summer of 2020!
My daughter is a counselor at Camp Tatiyee and it has changed her life in so many positive ways. Her love for the camp and campers is everything. She’s always wanted to be a dentist and now she’s been a caregiver for an autistic boy after school and is learning sign language to have her dental practice be a unique practice focusing on patients with special needs. We are so blessed that she found such wonderful people and inspiration at &camp Tatiyee
I've had the absolute privilege of working here last year. It was my first summer at Camp Tatiyee, and it's changed how I perceive the world around me. I have gained a new perspective working with campers and working alongside other counselors. In a world that can seem a bit crazy at times, it's comforting to know that there will always be this place that emits so much positivity into the world.
Working at Camp Tatiyee the past 2 years has really had an influence on how I perceive the world. Working here really changes you as a person and I will be forever grateful for my experiences at camp!
My first year at Camp Tatiyee was a blast! The staff are incredibly assistful and caring. They devote more than 100% of their time to every camper that comes through and I'm so incredibly proud to have worked with all of them.
I've worked with Camp Tatiyee for about two years now, and it quite honestly changed my life for the better. I've been given the chance to assist campers with special needs and make sure they have as much fun as possible. This experience has opened my eyes to another world and taught me valuable skills and advice for my future. The environment presented is very welcoming and includes many different activities that campers don't always have to opportunity to partake in, such as the dance and baking. Campers always enjoy themselves and it's a pleasure to see them interacting with others and having a great time. I truly don't believe that I'd be the person I am today if it weren't for this camp.
This is the most amazing camp in that they service so many different types of children and adults with challenges you can not find this type of camp just anywhere. The staff and people involved are the very best at what they do and are like family and treat the children like family members. You can feel the the way they do things and the level of kindness as soon as you meet them they will go beyond to help and once your child gets home they can not stop talking about how camp is so awesome. I can not say a nuff goods things about this camp.
I have been a board member since 2005. The experience provided to campers is an amazing adventure in a truly magical place. It is so heartwarming to provide this opportunity for over sixty years.
Camp Tatiyee has truly changed my life and shaped me into the person I am today. I have worked at camp for the last 2 summers and plan on working at camp for the summers to come. It has taught me patience, love and trust. I am so thankful for camp!
I am so incredibly thankful for this camp! It has taught me how to deeply trust, love, and care for others. Tatiyee is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people who inspire me to be the best version of myself. I can not thank Camp Tatiyee enough for changing my life.
Tatiyee is the most influential experience of my life and has helped me become the person i am today. It is the highlight of my year each summer and I cannot imagine where i would be without it.
Oh where do I start....I worked as a counselor and water safety instructor at Camp Tatiyee for 10 years. I remember how cool it was to see 10+ wheelchairs lined up next to the pool while the campers had total freedom of movement in the water. I was thrilled to walk with a camper in the pool, he felt taller and full of joy. I had so many wonderful days and weeks there. I moved so that I could live closer to camp for a few years. I now live far away but Camp Tatiyee is always close to my heart. I wish I had photos and videos to post, but I was at camp before digital was big and phones did not take pictures.
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Wish I could give 10 stars! This is an amazing camp that provides for a great time for campers of all ages and disabilities. I was lucky enough to work here for 10 years.
Hi My Name is Angela Thomas and I have been going to Camp Tatiyee for 20 + years it has been a blessing it teaches me self confidence and not to take myself to seriously I Love it and highly recommend it
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This is one of the best nonprofits in the state of Arizona, providing life-changing experience to those with disabilities.
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AMAZING nonprofit doing Mitch needed work for the special needs community of Arizona! Could not recommend them more highly.
I grew up going to the tatiyee camp every year, it brings me joy when I see all of my deaf/hoh friends for an entire week, incorporating lots of activities, crafts and so much more that is deaf friendly. It’s truly an amazing camp. I am still friends with all of them!
Max loves Camp Tatiyee! Pam Swanson and the whole organization embody the ideals of selfless loving service. Special needs people & their families love & need Camp Tatiyee.
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I work at Camp Tatiyee and this camp is magic. For the week that campers attend they are so well loved and taken care of. The staff is extensively trained and working here has been the best experience in my life.
Our son has attended Camp Tatiyee for about 6 years now. He loves it! And he looks foward to it every summer. It is an amazing program! It has given our son opportunities and experiences other wise he could never have. We are truly thankful!
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Our son is 20 yrs old. He has attended Camp Tatiyee for about 6 years now. He looks foward every year to go back again. What an amaizing opportunity is this for our son and other kids like him. It's a great program! They are so well organized, full of activities for the kids, amazing staff and volunteers. We are forever thankful to everybody who makes Camp Tatiyee posible!
Our 21 yr old daughter was bornmissing her left arm just below the elbow and has cerebral palsy, leaving her in a wheelchair and is total care. She had stranger anxiety for the first decade of her life due to doctors and therapists, who were doing their best to help her grow and learn in the healthiest way possible. Camp Tatiyee is an enormous help and strength to her and she is able to mix and mingle and has great memories of Camp. She will return next year for the 7th time and she’s excited every year to go. Great job Camp Tatiyee and super kudos to the loving, caring, fun staff.
My Special Needs child looks forward to Camp Tatiyee, beginning the day she comes home from the camp she just attended. This place is WONDERFUL ! Staff treats campers like the special people they are. The wide variety of activities is amazing. Cook out-Pool-skits-dance-Crafts-Archery-and hikes keep the days hopping, and that's just the few I know about. Please contribute to this camp. It's the only camp I know of in Arizona and it's FREE, so all Special Needs children and adults can go. I love that place and so does Tomacina.
Camp Tatiyee is the best camp in the whole wide world. The staff there is so professional and fabulous with all the kids. This is a wonderful special needs camp, where the kids get to enjoy themselves with other special needs campers and get to do so many fun activities, like archery, swimming, riding go-carts, etc. Pam , the camp director, is so exceptional at her job, taking care of all the kids and running the camp with a great staff. My son looks forward every year to coming to this camp. Great Camp! 5 plus ********
I have visited this camp three times now, and have been consistently impressed with the Director and staff who are so caring and professional too. The unique opportunities they provide for each camper enhance their quality of life immensely.
My boys attended for the first time this past summer. It was a dream come true, to find an inclusive place where they could both attend camp together and each have their unique needs met. Camp Tatiyee is truly one of a kind. We are all so grateful.
Our son Drew's first year. He had such a good time and looking forward to attending again next yearv
My name is Kimberly I have gone to camp for two years and I hope that i will go next year. I have Cerebral palsy and i also know Sign Language. I found out about camp from Berlin. My first time at camp i was scared because I had never been to a camp in my entire life. The counselor are great.
AZ lion's camp has givin me independence.
Camp tatiyee is the best camp ever. The staff is fabulous and cares so much about the kids. Even though the kids have a disability you would never know it as this camp. All the kids get to enjoy so many fun activities and games. Best camp ever.
Pam, the director is so caring and wonderful.
Fantastic camp.
My daughter had a fantastic first summer camp experience this past summer at Arizona Lions Camp Tatiyee! We had never allowed her to go before but reconsidered after hearing great things about it from a former camper who attended for years in the past. She would love to go again next summer and have another wonderful time with fellow campers, awesome camp staff, and fun activities.
I can't thank you enough for camp soar. After my children lost their dad in August, it was a blessing for them to be invited out to this camp for grieving children. They had a good day and we appreciate it. Thank you to all the sponsors who made this possible as well as all those who volunteered their time and kindness. God bless you. Karen Howell
Our daughter with multiple disabilities goes to Camp Tatiyee....absolutely LOVES it!!! She's not only gained new friends but her independence has increased a ton. ❤️
Our son, Harry, has been a camper for three years at Camp Tatiyee, and started this experience at age 8. Not only does the camp enable a child to experience a world beyond the confines of his hometown, it enables the parents to have time away from the 24/7 vigilance you must have with a special needs child. The camp staff is comprised of leaders in the field, as well as young adults whose passion is to pursue careers serving the community of special needs. The camp's setting is ideal, and amongst the pines and accessible cabins, children have an adventure in nature pursuing activities that can range from archery to swimming to cooking to science....unlimited organized opportunities to make friends and grow your self-esteem and independence. Camp Tatiyee, quite simply, is a blessing.
Client: my Son DEVIN Willard went to the camp for several years he could have lived there too! That’s where he met some of his best friends and I met a Mom that’s has been like sister to me through the camp!! It’s the best
My daughter Lucy has been going to Tatiyee for several years. She is excited to go back every summer and see her camp friends. Every year when we arrive she rushes to hug the returning camp staff. She always has a great time and looks forward to returning. The camp itself is a beautiful facility. This place is truly awesome and makes a huge difference in my daughter's life and of the others who attend.
All I know is the huge, beaming smile on the lovely face of my camper friend when her family posted photos of her at Camp Tatiyee, plus their testimony of the joy she ecperienced. Thank you for providing this wonderful place for such deserving kids to have the time of their lives.
My son is 10, and is hard of hearing. We just found out about the camp. He attended his first year this past summer (June 2017) and he had such a great time. He made new friends and learned so many new things. He can't wait to go again next summer.
Our son Taylor has been going to Camp Tatiyee for years. When we asked him what he'd like to tell people about camp he said:
"C'mon down and meet your camp family. It's my favorite week all year. Everything is so fun, I love to do the talent show! The food is so delicious my mom says my belly gets bigger. Everybody should go to Camp!"
Tatiyee has been a godsend to my daughter, it allows her to play, socialize, interact with peers and adults without me-mommy, looking over her shoulder. She is allowed to 'camp' in safety and security. One of the best things about Tatiyee is that they have never charged for the 'kids' to go, and many parents/caregivers cannot afford this treat/excursion without this. Looked at other places, but Lucy loves this place and starts bothering me every spring now on when she gets to go to Lion King camp. I truly wish there were more places like this out there.
I ❤️ Camp Tatiyee! My son, Ben, is 11 and has spina bifida and has gone for four years now. He was so scared to go the first time, but when I picked him up at the end of the week, he had had such a good time and had developed so much confidence. Ever since then, he is so excited to go to camp every summer.
The staff are amazing. It’s so clear that they love what they do and loves the individuals they are serving. In the world, it feels like there is so much he is excluded from because of his disability, but at Camp Tatiyee, he is just one of the kids and gets to have experienced that would otherwise be unobtainable.
My son loved going this year! It was his first year and I was hesitant dropping him off but he had a blast, made friends and felt comfortable . He doesn't make friends easily and wanted to be with other kids that were "like him" . It was a great experience and he's already looking forward to next year!
Lion camp is probably the best camp I've ever been to in my life , best childhood memories , I even meet and make friends at the camp, the staffs are very friendly and supportive. I went there every year for 6 years
I was a camper
It is the worth drive. Worth it.
I will never forget this camp ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
One of the best camps around! I went here growing up and I have so many great memories of all the summers I spent here! I got to experience things that I normally wouldn't have been able to do. The staff is amazing and dedicated to each and every camper! Thank you Camp Tatiyee!
In my opinion this is one of THE BEST camps around. My son, Seth Ross, would tell you that if he could he would live at camp. It is one of the things he looked forward too more than almost anything. This camp continually amazed me with their love, kindness, and ability to simply think outside the box and make things work for each camper (adjusting and transitioning as needed.) There was never the idea that something could not be done, rather it was more of a, "How can we make this happen" and then taking the steps to make it happen. I NEVER worried about my son when he was at camp. There are no true words that can convey the amazing experience of this camp and the people that make this camp the awesome place it is for campers, counselors and families. This camp continually had my son doing things that I did not think were possible. They were able to empower Seth to encourage him to be independent. Camp was the BEST place on earth and I can never Thank you all enough for the many years in which you embraced, encouraged and challenged my Seth.
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This is a very unique camp that is designed for and to assist those who have challenges. The camp focuses on a different age and different challenge offering 6 day sessions designed for that specific group attending. They have a 85% return on counselors. Many of those counselors and volunteers continue forward and on into the medical fields becoming doctors, nurses, advocates and educators. Furthermore, this is the only camp that a person cannot age out. So when someone with special needs enters the adult world and many resources disappear, this is on that remains. This was my sons favorite place in all the world...if he could, he would have lived here. That says so very much to me.
My son has been going to camp since he was 7 years old (1982). That first year, he had never been away from home except while in the hospital after our car accident the year before. We picked him up on Saturday after a week at camp. He was so happy to see us. Twenty or so miles down the road, he was ready to go back to camp. He was able to participate a couple of times when they had the two week long camp for adults. he really enjoyed that. (So did I.) He looks forward to going every year. He enjoys the counselors and the other campers. He enjoys the activities they have for him. Pam's husband was his counselor the year Pam met her husband. If we could figure out a way for him to stay all summer, he would stay in a heart beat. Thank you to Pam and the rest of the counselors.
Camp Tatiyee is a place of inclusion and empowerment. All summer, campers and staff alike are accepted, supported, and enabled to reach their fullest potentials. At camp, we never ask "Can / if so-and-so can do xyz task or accomplish xyz goal?" ...Instead, we say "How can we work as a team to support the individual so that they can accomplish the goal?". That's the power of Tatiyee. There are no limitations that hold our campers back. Everyone has a voice, everyone has a choice, and everyone is capable- no matter the labels placed on them by society. Working at Tatiyee has changed my life forever and I am so thankful for it.
Our son is deaf and utilizes bilateral cochlear implants. He has attended Camp Tatiyee two years is a row, and can't wait for next summer! At camp, he is surrounded by kids he can relate to. He loves the opportunity to make new friends each summer. Since first attending camp, he has a group of friends he regularly communicates with, they all support eachother so well. In addition to the support system he has established, our son has gained confidence and independence. He loves the programs and activities at camp, and is very fond of the counselors, who are amazing with the kids. He aspires to be a counselor one day!! The experience our son has received from Camp Tatiyee is priceless! We are so very thankful to have the opportunity to send our son to CAMP TATIYEE!!
My daughter has attended Camp Tatyee for many years. It is the one thing she looks forward to year after year. The day after camp ends she starts asking how long it will be until camp starts again. The volunteers are wonderful. The camp engenders friend making. The activities are varied, there is something for everyone. God bless the Lions for working so hard to make this happen. The volunteers and staff work overtime so that the participants have a great experience.
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My daughter, Chrissy, has attended Lions Camp Tatiyee for four years. The camp is all she talks about from the time she leaves camp until she attends the following year. The activities are varied from archery to fishing to campfire sing-alongs. What really makes the camp special is the caring people that work all summer long to give these special needs people the best possible experience. I don't know how they service such a wide range of disabilities. All I know,is that they do it in a very professional and caring manner. The highest compliment that we can pay the camp is that we can not find anything to offer to improve the experience for our daughter.
Our son, who is now 18, has been going since he was about 8 or 9. It's something we all look forward to every year. The friends he makes, the energy and compassion of the camp councelors and the various activities make every year a memorable one. This gives him opportunities that he'd never have otherwise. We LOVE Camp Tatiyee.
I have a disable and never got to do nomal things that my sisters did like go to camp until i found out about camp tatiyee and it means the world to me to get the privalge to go. The staff are real nice and treat us with respect and i feel loved for who i am.
I heard about this wonderful camp from my dad. He worked there as a counselor way back in the eighties, and it has become a family thing with my two older sisters and I coming here as counselors, and four younger siblings attending as campers. Camp Tatiyee is a place for campers and counselors alike to grow as a person in a safe, fun environment!
When my dad was in college, he worked at Camp Tatiyee for one summer. After growing up hearing stories of how Tatiyee changed his life, I am now a special education teacher, a counselor for 5+ summers, and a sister of returning campers (including my brother with DS). This camp is a beautiful place that teaches everyone--campers and counselors alike--to live and love to the fullest potential.
My brother has attended Camp Tatiyee for 32 years and looks forward to going every summer
This camp is awesome!
Amazing camp! They care about the individuals they serve and love unconditionally! My daughter looks forward to attending every year and enjoys every minute of it!!
This camp, staff & counselors work so very hard & love dearly what they do...the amount of compassion & dedication they have is like none other I've ever seen! They fully give their hearts in all they do to give the campers the best experience they can have every summer! The campers excitedly wait all year for their time to get back there! I've seen the camp in action & it's a gloriously beautiful experience to have the pleasure of witnessing. I have also had the pleasure of having hundreds of wonderful stories shared with me & have come to know allot of the campers by name that attend the camp every summer through these stories. The staff & counselors teach them, instill positivity & praise, & let them experience activities that most people would never think possible of a child with disabilities....they strive to instill confidence in each & every one of them & let them experience the joy of their accomplishments.
This camp, staff, & counselors are the very best...hands down! You can feel the love, care, positivity & so much more, flowing throughout the camp & all that are there....even through videos & pictures! They all deserve so much greatness & recognition for the magical times they give the children that keep them wanting more & coming back every year!
I first heard about camp tatiyee through my roommate Sara Boehme and her mom after they told us about it I wanted my mom to sign me up and that's what she did I had a blast
My son, John, has been attending Camp Tatiyee for the last 12 Years. John looks forward to going each year. It is his one place where he is without family supervision and gets to be free of us 'mothering ' him. The staff at Camp are pleasant and loving. They keep John safe and let him express himself through their activities.
We are blessed to have a place where our special needs children can attend "Summer Camp".
Thank You CAMP TATIYEE!
We are so blessed to have the opportunity for my son to attend camp each year. He looks forward to it long before it's time to go. It is a vacation for him, a place to have social contact with a lot of others just like him. He is comfortable there and doesn't feel threatened. The counselors are loving and kind and all the activities are so doable and fun for him. It's a place where he feels like he belongs. It is well organized and when checking in and out goes very smoothly. We are very grateful to have Camp Tatiyee in our lives.
This camp is the best camp we have ever been blessed with. They are so good to our daughter while at camp and after camp is over. They are caring, compassionate and knowledgeable about all kinds of disabilities. They cater to the disability that you might have. I don't know where we would be without this camp. It gives our daughter a chance to be just like any other typical camper.
My 13 year-old son has been to Camp Tatiyee the past 2 summers. He has Autism and is developmentally delayed. The first year we took him and dropped him off was really hard for me as a mom, but when we picked him up at the end of the week he was so excited to tell us all about it. He had the time of his life, made some friends, and became a little more independent. The second year was easier to leave him, knowing that he would have so much fun and be well taken care of. The staff was wonderful and caring and we hope to bring him back again this summer.
My daughter, Mariah, is 14 and has cerebral palsy. She needs total care and assistance. Mariah cannot walk, sit up, feed herself, or even roll over in bed. She has been going to Camp Tatiyee since she was 10yrs old.
Camp Tatiyee is one week long in the summer. The counselors are amazing and take good care of Mariah. It is the only time that Mariah can go and be away from me and my mom (grandma takes care of Mariah when I'm at work) and be herself and make friends on her own and have new experiences with out us. THE ONLY TIME.
And she loves it! Camp Tatiyee has all the normal camp activities: swimming, flag raising, archery, s'mores, rock climb wall, camp song. Except the activities are adapted for the disabled. The camp is very special in that they are designed specifically for special children with disabilities. Each week is open to children with different Disabilities. For example: one week for blind children, one week for deaf children, one week for children with multiple disabilities. Which is incredible for the children who may think they are alone in their struggles until they meet cabins full of other children facing the same struggles.
I cannot put into words the incredible joy that this camp brings Mariah, and I and our family. It is a magical place filled with incredible huge hearts of the volunteer counselors dedicating their summers each year. Truly magical. Anyone would understand if you could see my daughter's smile when she arrives at Camp Tatiyee.
My granddaughter has cerebral palsy and has been to Lions Camp Tatiyee for six years. She has made friends with fellow campers and counselors. Mariah is a homebody, she doesn't like to go anywhere, but when you mention CAMP TATIYEE she lights up and want to know if her bags are packed yet.
It's a great place that shows Mariah she is not alone in her disability, that there are others just like her, so she has become more social and helps new campers adjust to their new adventure.
Her favorite things to do at Camp Tatiyee are #1 go carts, of course, swimming, talent show and naturally Thursday night dance. There are many more activities, those mentioned were just a few of the fun things to do, they even have rock climbing among other things. But I think the best part are the counselors,volunteers let's face it the entire staff that keep this camp going.
Camp Tatiyee is an amazing place to be, according to veteran camper Mariah, and I would have to agree.
Awesome camp for my deaf and coda daughters! They have learned so much and definitely helped with their self esteem;) they cannot wait to return next summer!
Great place for special need kids to be able to enjoy life learn new things and have so much fun. Counselors and staff there are wonderful. The kids are able to be kids and not worry about their disabilities and enjoy things. Pam and her staff of counselors are fabulous.
Camp Tatiyee is my daughter's favorite summer activity! She talks about it all year long and then has such a great time when she finally gets to go. It is the only sleep away from home activity that we really feel comfortable with due to the high level of competency and compassion / understanding of the staff and camp counselors. I hope that Camp Tatiyee will be around for a long time because I know it really benefits so many people in Arizona.
Our daughter loves Camp Tatiyee and has been going for three summers in a row now. She talks about camp constantly and looks forward to it for the entire year; then she has the time of her life when the day arrives that she finally gets to go! The camp staff and counselors are excellent mentors and caretakers. The camp programs and activities are very engaging and memorable. She loves it so much and comes home with a fresh outlook on life and a real sense of independence. Thank you Camp Tatiyee!
I love going to this camp you get to meet so many people and you get to do so many cool activities with your friends in the mountains
My daughter who has DS; has attended the camp for the past four years. She has grown so much after each week stay at camp. She has come back with the most fascinating stories about her time at camp. She has a place that she thinks of as her second home. I am so grateful for all of the hard work Pam and the staff put forth when working with the camp participants.
This has been by far the most rewarding community service experience I have had in my 35 years as a Lions International member.
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Lions Camp Tatiyee is there for the special needs population of Arizona, to provide a week where the campers can be accepted for just being themselves. The camp has, for over 50 years, never charged a fee to campers, and relied totally on community support. The camp provides a highly professional, yet crazily fun camp experience. They have recently re-certified their ACA accreditation. I have watched the young counselors train, and work. My faith in the youth of the 21st century is restored !
Lion Hans Groot
Phoenix Valley of the Sun Lions Club
My son is Downs Syndrome and had an opportunity to attend Camp Tatiyee. I was the type of parent that could not be away from him and always guarded this special angel. With heart problems, wheelchair bond, scoliosis and little ability to communicate it was hard to trust someone with his care. The staff was outstanding and he loved every moment at Camp Tatiyee. The change to be excepted with his peers and not stand out in the "normal" world could never be replaced. Children like my son, require 24/7 care and would you not believe as a parent, how much the respite time means to have a place where you can trust professional, trained staff with your child. His heart condition took his life but his experience meant so much to me, I became a board member in hopes to provide more opportunities for persons of special needs to attend this one of a kind camp.
As a Lion when I first moved to AZ. and heard of Camp Tatiyee I went to visit and was so impressed that I ran for the Board of Directors. I was a board member for 12 years. I was so impressed with the staff and all the other people that worked there. I would visit with the campers and see how happy they were and afteer meeting them in the Phoenix area they would recognize me and talk about camp and how they couldn't wait for next years session. To see the impact the Camp has on these individuals brings a lump to my throat.
Lions Camp Tatiyee is there for the special needs population of Arizona, to provide a week where the campers can be accepted for just being themselves. The camp has, for over 50 years, never charged a fee to campers, and relied totally on community support.
This summer was my first year working at Camp Tatiyee as a counselor and I absolutely fell in love with everything. My life changed so much within those eight weeks and being their for all the campers was incredible. The campers and staff taught me so much about life; they are so accepting, so loving,and so real. Camp Tatiyee holds a special place in my heart and I can't wait to go back next summer and see all those bright smiling campers performing at the talent show, dancing the night away at the dance, and sharing stories that truly have impacted my life. I am so blessed for Camp Tatiyee it is truly a gift.
Arizona Lions Camp Tatiyee is an incredible place where lives are changed on a daily basis. It is fully accredited by the American Camping Association and continues to pass that test with flying colors! The camp serves children and adults with disabilities from the age of seven on up. The disabliities covered are everything except aggressive behavior. Fully staffed every year with two nurses and a counselor pool that continues to return year after year (each is trained in dealing with some aspect of special needs) tells you immediately that is in an awesome place that meets the needs of all involved and then some. The families are given a respite week with the rest of the family while their handicapped member is in the best hands possible. The campers are never ready to leave when the week is over because they have been so engaged with activities that stretch them to attain new skills and confidence ranging from swimming in a heated handicapped accessible pool to archery, acting, arts and crafts, science adventures, nature walks, fishing in the "ole fishing hole", Go Kart racing (as a passenger of course), baseball, basketball, acting, arts & crafts, dances for the older groups, to even rock climbing that they go home much more self-assured and confident than when they arrived. All of the weeks at camp are by age groups and by disability groups as well. For instance, there is a spina bifida week for school age, then young adults and then older adults.
As an observer, the deaf week is the most exciting because everything can be very quiet until a loud and raucous laugh explodes as they all enjoy a joke or a funny story. Hands are constantly flying as they converse with each other and the counselors. Our counselor ratio there is one to one with wheelchairs and two to one with most other disablities. Believe me, there is no better place to be than at our Camp Tatiyee! If you have the opportunity to do so , come to camp to see for yourselves!
As a counselor for a couple of years and a guest nurse for a short time one summer this camp is very dear to my heart. It is a camp that changes the lives of campers, staff, volunteers, and families of people with special needs! For some of the campers this may be the most exciting event of the year, time they get to focus on their abilities as individuals and not worry about their disability. For some of the families it may be one of the few times of the year they can get "me" time because they get a much needed break from caring for their loved one.
This camp is truly one of the most amazing places for so many people! Much needed donations touch the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people every year.
Words fall very short when describing the life long impact and joy that Tatiyee brings to the lives of all involved. i work at Tatiyee and the level of selflessness in the staff blows me away. They truly put campers first in everything, and it is beautiful to see. We do it all for the campers because they change us and push us to be better at our jobs and better human beings. Lion's Camp Tatiyee is important because it provides a safe place for people to find themselves.
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I volunteered at camp Tatiyee and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life! I had the privilege of taking part in fire drills during safty week, and I was blown away by the compassion, professionalism and love demonstrated by the councilors and staff. The campers look forward to their one week of camp all year, they feel loved, respected and free at camp Tatiyee. This camp nestled among the trees in Pinetop, AZ is a beautiful place where heaven touches earth one week at a time.
The benefits to the campers is life changing but you do not realize the impact on the family and the staff. Just one day will change your life too.
I have been working at Lions Camp Tatiyee for 3 years now and adore everything about it. It not only changes the lives of people with disabilities but the lives of everyone else involved. This includes families, friends, donors, caretakers, and those who live around the camp. Lions Camp Tatiyee is what I call "A Slice of What Life Should Be Like."
Words are inadequate to describe the meaning of this Camp to those that attend. You must visit to feel the full impact on the lives of the campers and their families. It is a privilege to assist in supporting Camp Tatiyee.
My daughter has attended Camp Tatiyee the last two years. It was her first time away from home last year and she and I were both nervous as could be. She had a seizure after my husband and I left and the nurse contacted me right away and reassured me that she was fine. I knew after that, that she was in great hands! She couldn't wait to go back the second year and is already talking about next year.
Arizona Lions Camp Tatiyee is the most amazing place I have ever been. I spent seven summers there as a camp counselor, and now volunteer interpret every chance I get. The experiences that Lions Camp provides for the physically and mentally challenged populations are incredible. This place has taught me more about compassion and humility than any other place or person on earth! Just thinking about the wonderful things that happen there puts a smile on my face. Please take a moment to check it out.
I started working at Lions Camp Tatiyee in the kitchen when I was 15. When I thought of working at a camp, of course it sounded like fun but I had NO idea how much the people who attended the camp and the staff I would work with would impact my life. After serving in positions as counselor and a leadership position for five years, I continue to return to the camp to volunteer to see the returning campers enjoy the best week out of the year. This is a place for individuals with disabilities to try new things, be independent, begin/maintain friendships and experience life in a safe and loving environment. My early years at camp confirmed my career path of working with people with disabilities and I am now a special education teacher. I thank God for Camp Tatiyee and for all the people it brings happiness to.
My name is Jon and I am currently work as a counselor for Lions Camp Tatiyee. I started working at camp during the summer of 2009. If you met me back in 2009 before I started working at camp, you would have met someone who lacked self-confidence. I'll admit that before camp my life had no direction. Back then I felt that my life lacked purpose. Flash forward to today, I am currently attending Grand Canyon University studying pre-medicine. One day I hope to become a pediatrician. My passion in life is helping serve the needs of others. Camp helped me discover that passion. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for my experience here. It has seriously changed my life. My favorite thing about camp is seeing campers come back year after year. Each year they come back more vibrant and over the years I see the campers grow in confidence. Today I like to thank the director of Lions Camp Tatiyee for giving me this opportunity and the self-confidence to know that anything is possible.
I have been a camper at Camp Tatiyee for going on 7 years. It is truly a gift from god. I know I would not be the person I am today without this wonderful place. My first summer I was thirteen,I had never really been to an overnight camp,let alone one designed just for kids and teens just like me. I was nervous. The counselors were immediately so welcoming and made me feel at ease. I am going again in two days and I am beyond excited. I've been counting down the days. Please don't let this wonderful place be shut down,if you give to anything,give to Tatiyee,truly the happiest place on earth?
There is literally no other organization that cares as deeply and passionately about the individuals and community it serves than Lion's camp Tatiyee. I have never met a camper who was not excited to be at camp! The impact that it has on both campers and its staff is incredible. Not only does it provide an amazingly fun and safe camping experience for individuals with disabilities to enjoy, but it also nurtures personal growth and provides lifechanging opportunities. Having been to both Disneyland and Camp Tatiyee, I would have to say Camp Tatiyee is truly THE happiest place on earth!
Review from JustGive
I have been a camper for 7 years and i love it. The staff is always wonderful everytime i have gone to camp and they have changed me into the person i have become today and it would be sad knowing that myself as well as other would not be able to attend one year because of the camp having to close down.
Camp Tatiyee has become my favorite place in the world. I have been going there since i was 10 and it has changed my life completely. the staff there is amazing every year and i couldnt imagine a world without camp tatiyee!!
I had heard about Camp Tatiyee from the amazing family that currently heads the program, as well as from past counselors, and decided at the end of 2011 to apply for a counselor position. What I thought would be a small blip in the entire series of my life's events has turned out to be the most rewarding experience of my life. Everything about Tatiyee is amazing-- being a first year counselor, it was so relieving to be able to work with a staff of former counselors that are so determined and willing to help out in every possible way they can. Working with other first-year counselors has given me (what I can tell to be already) friendships that will last my entire life, and then some. Every single camper that has come under the Tatiyee archway has impacted my life to an extreme extent. Forgive the cliche, but because of Camp Tatiyee and all the wonderful campers, counselors, and directors behind it, I have become a better human being. Believe me when I say that Camp Tatiyee is the closest thing to a heaven that this world has to offer.
Lions Camp Tatiyee is truly a unique place. The staff training and preparedness is above and beyond anything I have ever seen or experienced, even in working at several hospitals. The level of commitment and heart from staff is outstanding. Being involved with Lions Camp Tatiyee has truly changed my life in a positive manner. As someone very involved with the special needs population, I recognize just how important it is to promote independence while still maintaining safety. Camp Tatiyee is an amazing place that offers an opportunity for campers that cannot be surpassed. The complete level of acceptance and openness creates a beautiful atmosphere for individual growth. Lions Camp Tatiyee touches the lives of all who visit, from casual visitors who are touched by the pictures on the walls to those who anxiously await it's start every year.
Six years working in the kitchen and now as head cook, I have an opportunity to objectively admire what the counselors give to the campers here. It may seem trivial, but watching counselors feed their campers is an extremely beautiful thing to see. They only ever seem to be entirely focused on their camper. They make eye contact. They make them laugh. They make them happy. And I can only assume this is a fraction of the passion focused towards our campers. Camp gives our campers the things they need most, attententive understanding, patience, and most of all love.
I feel as though lion's camp is doing something to change the lives of many people with special needs both young and old. Camp Tatiyee is nothing but a group of people willing to serve and befriend anyone that can. The efforts and love shown through all the workers here is overwhelming in such a joyous way it is quite nearly impossible for campers and workers to not feel loved there. I would certainly say that with what Camp Tatiyee does they deserve so much so that they can keep giving to people with special needs, and what's so wonderful about it is that all the help they get will go to nothing but giving and that is guaranteed. Lion's Camp Tatiyee is absolutely astounding and these children and adults with special needs really deserve all that Camp Tatiyee can offer because it is a place where people with special needs can be 100% themselves and be 100% comfortable the entire time while having 100% enjoyable moments. There's no place quite like Camp Tatiyee.
Lions Camp Tatiyee holds a very special place in my heart. My grandparents, aunt, and mom were all involved with the camp when they were younger, and a few years ago I came across it and thought I could benefit from the experience. I had no idea how beneficial this place would be. I went there not knowing a single person, but within the first week I felt like the rest of the staff was my family. I gained so many special bonds with other staff and campers. It is such an amazing thing to view people who often struggle in life come to camp and open up. They gain self confidence, friends, and independence. Camp Tatiyee gave me the most rewarding summers I will probably ever have.
This is my first year working at Camp Tatiyee, but my life has been positively impacted just in the past couple of weeks. All the administrative staff and counselors care so much about the campers, and the campers just blossom as a result. One specific example I can give is last week, when we went to ride go karts with the campers--many of these people don't get to experience thrills like that very often. Some are in wheelchairs, etc., but last week, it was just such an awesome experience to see their smiles in that moment. Lions' Camp Tatiyee is definitely the organization to support!
This is my second year working at Camp Tatiyee. I was completely in love with this job after working here for just one week. Of all of the experiences that I have had in my life this is definitely one of the most impacting. There are very few things that I think could ever be more amazing or more life impacting.
Camp Tatiyee is a place that is like no other, a place that truly becomes home, even after just one week. Here at Camp Tatiyee we aspire to provide a place where special need individuals can gain confidence, independence and lasting friendships. Along with that, in Camp Tatiyee's 54 years of operation, it has never had to charge a fee. As an Admin member, we take pride in that and feel this place gives campers, families and staff a little piece of heaven on earth. My Camp Tatiyee journey began when I was just 16 years old, from then on I have grown up with some of the most joyous and selfless people I have ever met. I have learned to enjoy the little things in life, genuine kindness and that the world is a great place when you come across places like Camp Tatiyee. Today, many of the people around Tatiyee have become my family, and as an Admin member of Camp Tatiyee I have been able to witness the life changing moments that come about here; not only to campers but to the staff as well. This place is home to many and is an extraordinary non-profit that needs to be shared.
I have been a counselor at Camp Tatiyee for 3 years and I can honestly say those three summers have taught me life lessons that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else and that I have taken with me to shape my life outside of camp as well. Camp, the campers, and staff work their way into your heart in a big way if you have the privileged to be a part of this amazing experience. Even though I haven't been at camp yet this year I know the same level of dedication and excellence is there as it has been in years past and still my thoughts and love continually go out to the people there. Camp provides the opportunity for campers to experience a week enjoying life as it should be, carefree, safe, and fun. And while they enjoy hopefully the best week of their year they inspire myself and other staff to bring a positive outlook to life despite the challenges they may face.
Lions Camp Tatiyee provides the best camp experience possible for anybody and everybody. For years the camp has worked to establish the safest place in a rapidly expanding hostile and apathetic world. There is not enough praise or gratitude for the individual's who support camp in any way. Every supporter makes a difference in the lives of campers, counselors, and even for themselves.
I have been involved with Lions Camp Tatiyee since 1984. The standards they hold themselves too are beyond measure. They truly attempt to individualize and meet each child at their ability level. This organization has truly changed my life. They have operated for 54 years serving special needs children and adults all over Arizona at no cost to the families. The experience of camp with the standards of the American Camp Association make this place above all others.
Camp Tatiyee has hands down been the biggest positive influence in my life. I have had the wonderful opportunity of helping at this camp for 5 summers and it is the one place that feels more like home than my own home. The campers served here, as well as the staff working, are the most amazing people I have ever met. It is a non-profit camp that has never charged a camper a single fee and has always been able to provide the campers the best week of their life. Each and every camper comes to camp with the expectation that they are going to have the time of their lives and the staff at Camp Tatiyee works really hard to ensure this happens. This camp deserves every opportunity and every ounce of support it can get! I love this camp and all those who are involved.
I have worked at camp for the past six years and it has changed the direction of my life. For years I had to work as selflessly as possible, always putting campers first, and I felt good about myself, what I didn't understand is I wasn't changing people nearly as much as they were changing me. The campers at camp Tatiyee made me want to be a better man. We have a rule at camp to put campers first, whats funny is campers serve the staff first. After becoming an administrator for camp Tatiyee I moved to putting the staff first and enable them to serve the campers and go through the powerful experiences I continue to go through. This staff is amazing and the campers are incredible, it is a place of safety, independence, selflessness and love. This will forever be the most pivotal point in my life.