St. Joseph’s Family Camp Welcomes All, by Katie Netze
It is already getting warm outside when the vans start rolling into the parking lot. People stumble out, some giddy with excitement from a night of eager anticipation, others still rubbing the sleep from their eyes after a long drive. There are people of every age from infants in arms to septuagenarians, all coming together for the same purpose: to celebrate their Catholic faith with others affected by disability. This is St. Joseph’s Family Camp, a one-day camp initiative by the Diocese of Winona-Rochester designed to make the summer camp experience more accessible for families affected by disability.
The camp is hosted at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville, MN, an open access camp designed as an inclusive experience allowing those with special needs to participate alongside their family members in fun activities both indoors and out. Here there are paved trails for mini golf, a tractor pulled wagon with roll-on/roll-off ramps and space for wheelchairs, wide aisles around tables and chairs, a quiet lounge with reading materials and beds to decompress, a private bathroom for attending to personal care needs, and even a zipline with an adaptive seating option. As a day camp, families are relieved of the burden of packing for overnight needs, and the shorter duration makes it easier for for families who may not have the stamina for a multi-day experience.
Everything at the St. Joseph’s Family Camp is designed to help families spend time together, no matter how disability affects them. The camp was originally conceived by families as we discussed the barriers to participating in traditional camp offerings, such as sleep away camps or vacation bible schools because of the level of assistance our children required. While there were options for the individuals with disabilities to attend camps, and other camps allowed a parent or personal care attendant to assist, there weren’t many opportunities for entire families to participate together. As any family affected by disability can tell you, it is something that affects everyone: from finances, to travel, to social interactions. I once heard a saying that stuck with me over the years of navigating life as the parent of a now-adult child with special needs: “[as a family] you’re only as mobile as your least mobile family member.” At this camp, everyone has more options to go places and experience things together.
At the St. Joseph’s Family Camp, having a family member with a disability is the norm. During Mass there may be families walking or standing around the perimeter, on the floor, or making noise, but here, the chaos and distractions are part of celebrating Mass together, and here, it is anticipated and understood. Gone are the sharp looks, or parents tag-teaming attending Mass in shifts instead of worshiping together. The ways our families are affected by disability vary, but the common ground of understanding unites us in the best possible ways of compassion, empathy, and welcome. In addition to celebrating Sunday Mass, there will be opportunities for Reconciliation with specially designed Confession guides that include options for non-verbal individuals, and a rosary procession led by sisters from the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará.
After Mass, word gets around that the zipline is opening soon, and families make their way across campus to a specially designed adaptive zipline. This is just one of a variety of adaptive activities available during the Family Choice time which also includes indoor crafts, animal encounters, basketball, racquet sports, self-guided scavenger hunts, hiking, tractor pulled wagon rides and mini golf. A busy morning of activities goes by quickly and soon it is time for lunch. Our families needing to prepare food are welcomed back into the chapel space where we have a refrigerator, microwave, and high-powered blender available, while others proceed to the dining hall where the camp chef has taken into account the dietary needs of our attendees. Once everyone has their food ready and is gathered together in the dining hall, our camp chaplain says the blessing before the room bursts back into excited chatter about the morning activities and how families plan to spend their afternoons.
The afternoon flies by faster than the zipline and, all too soon, the arts and crafts flowers have been laid at the feet of Our Lady following the rosary procession. Families exchange phone numbers and email addresses before saying goodbye and piling back into their vehicles for the drive home. Another St. Joseph’s Family Camp has come to an end, but the memories our families have made together and the new friendships with people who understand the unique journey of being a family with special needs will help sustain us through the coming months.
The St. Joseph’s Family Camp is a day camp designed for families affected by disability sponsored by the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors, the camp is free for families to attend. You can find out more about the St. Joseph’s Family Camp at the diocesan website at https://www.dowr.org/events/st-josephs-family-camp
Katie Netzel is a freelance writer, disability advocate, and the Camp Coordinator for the St. Joseph’s Family Camp. She lives in Rochester, MN with her husband, two children, and their golden retriever, Gray.