Arc of the Ozarks summer camp offers campers with disabilities ‘a summer with no challenges’

On a humid afternoon in late July, half a dozen goats from Rafter C Rodeo grazed on a patch of grass, either unaware or indifferent as campers brushed them, petted them or simply watched them with wide eyes.

When it came time for the campers to go inside and swim, one participant elected to stay outside with the goats.

They went swimming every day, but this was the only day they had goats.

It had already been a busy day: That morning, all the campers had visited Incredible Pizza before the restaurant opened its doors to the public. Once they got back from the trip, smaller groups took turns visiting the goats, swimming and playing in the gym.

Each day, the campers go on a community outing, go swimming, eat lunch and make crafts — typical summer camp experiences.

But this wasn't your typical group of campers: They were all part of  Arc of the Ozark's summer camp, "No Limits" — a very fitting name, according to Rebecca Dula, whose 16-year-old daughter Claire has been attending camp since she was 7.

No Limits serves those ages 6 to 21 with a range of disabilities and conditions including Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and chromosomal disorders. Some campers use wheelchairs or feeding tubes.

These disabilities or needs can be difficult to address in many summer camp. But here, the campers don't need to worry about that.

"They get to have the summer that all the other kids get to have ... they get to have a summer with no challenges, there is no issues," Dula said.

Amy Holland and Liz Dressler, director and assistant director of the Arc's education and recreation program, respectively, just marked a decade of running the camp.

"They're great kids," Dressler said.

Great staff also play a role in the program's success, according to parents.

"(The staff members) have a passion for it," Dula said. "I want Claire to go where people love to work and want to be with her. If they hated it, the kids would know."

Camp provides more activities than most parents could manage

Dula joked that she often debates with herself whether or not to spread the word about No Limits.

"I’m like, 'OK, do I tell people about it, or do I not?' Because I want to keep it a secret," she said with a smile. "Inevitably, I end up telling everyone because I don’t want people to miss out on this opportunity, because it’s not often that your special ed kid, special needs kid, disabled kid, whatever word you want to fill in, gets to have a summer like no other."

And the camp keeps its participants busy: "Every day they field trip. Every day they swim. Every day they eat lunch. Every day they craft. I could not keep up with that if I wanted to, doing it every day from 9 to 3," Dula said.

The community outings also allow participants to have experiences they otherwise wouldn't, either due to lack of opportunity or fear. The groups go bowling, boating in Stockton and visit Wonders of Wildlife, among other field trips.

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"We have kids who have never been able to go to a movie theater. And we get them there and the parents are just like, ‘You got them to sit in a movie?’" Dressler said.

While cost can also be a barrier to access, a sliding scale ensures parents never have to worry, Dressler explained, which is a boon considering all the activities campers participate in.

"It goes by your income — that's huge for us. I couldn’t afford a lot of these trips they do. One of the trips would be like a month thing for me," said Denise Pimentel, whose son has attended the camp for the past year.

Since he started going to No Limits, Pimentel said that her son has "come out of his shell a lot. He’s talking more, using his vocabulary more, being more adventurous, making new friends."

More than fun, program aims to help campers grow

Ensuring that campers grow their skills is a main element of the program.

At No Limits, each camper has personalized goals to work on throughout their session, and that the staff charts their progress each day. The focus is often on social or coping skills or building independence.

"We still do have goals that they work on during the summer time. It’s helpful because sometimes during the summertime — they're working at school on these goals — and if they don’t work on them, they lose them," Holland said.

Since many campers come back year after year, the staff gets to watch them grow.

"We’ve had kids that start at six years old here and go through 21, and to just see them grow and see the things they’ve worked on" is so rewarding, Dressler said.

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Two campers from staff member Chris Winzen's first year still attend No Limits.

"I just got to see them grow up through the years and it’s been pretty incredible to see what they do and how they’re doing," Winzen said. "It’s really cool to see them progress.”

Amanda Lampe has seen 8-year-old daughter Avery grow in the three years she's attended camp.

"I love that she comes here. It helps her build independence because she gets time away from family with other people, and they take her on different activities," Lampe said. "She's on her own without family there, so that helps to build her independence."

Camp is just as meaningful for staff

Even in her fourth year on the staff, Hope Moore gets as excited as the campers about No Limits.

"This summer program is my favorite place to be for the summer," Moore said. She had connected the owner of Rafter C Rodeo Goats, Cassie Lininger, with the Arc.

That excitement and care doesn't go unnoticed by parents.

"The people they hire here are sent straight from heaven. Like, I don’t know how they find these people, but every year we get someone who is above and beyond our expectation," Lampe said.

At other camps, Lampe said, staff will sometimes focus on the negative that happened during the day. But picking Avery up is like "picking her up from family."

"They love all the good and the hard, they love all of that. The great thing about that is they focus on the good," Lampe said. "They love all of that, but they focus on the good."

Many staff members are also teachers — like Winzen, who is a physical education teacher. One camper is actually a student of his during the school year.

"I get to see just a totally different side of (that camper) outside of the educational aspect of it," Winzen said, explaining that while the camp structure is still there, it's a lot looser than school. "He’s having so much fun, and it’s great to see him open up a little bit more. He’s usually pretty quiet in school, so getting to see him with other people besides his classmates, is a really really good thing."

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This summer was the first as a staff member for recent Evangel University graduate Natalie Steyn.

After earning her degree in special education, she just wanted "to work with an organization that really wants to reach out and be a place where kids with disabilities can go and have a safe place."

At the end of each 4-week session, parents and guardians come together at the Timothy Grant Newman Activity Center for pizza, music and a slideshow of the campers.

"This is my favorite part. And actually, we're really excited because we didn't get to do the party at the end these the last two years with COVID," Holland said. "This is everyone coming back for the first year, and we get to see all the families. It's really awesome."

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Arc of the Ozarks puts on camp for individuals with disabilities