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SOAR365’s Summer Camp at Camp Baker is getting the spotlight it deserves! Director of Summer Camp Tina Carter recently appeared on both NBC12’s About Town and FOX Richmond’s Connect RVA to share what makes this inclusive camp experience so special for children and adults with disabilities.
For his birthday wish, Brandon just wanted to catch a fish—and thanks to SOAR365’s accessible Summer Camp and caring staff, his wish came true. Now a longtime camper, Brandon has grown in confidence, made lifelong friends, and found a place where he’s safe, supported, and celebrated just as he is.
At SOAR365’s Summer Camp, the camper experience is everything. In 2024, over 400 children and adults with disabilities made their way to Camp Baker, where they would embark on an unforgettable journey. But none of this would be possible without the careful planning, dedication, and unwavering teamwork that goes into every part of the camp.
“Home” can mean many different things to different people. Whether it refers to your permanent residence, your hometown or the place where you feel most yourself and safe, having somewhere to call home is incredibly important.
Which is why SOAR365’s Respite program aims to make Camp Baker a home away from home for many, including a young participant named Sade and her family.
After a 33-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN), SOAR365 volunteer Kim Lynch brought her valuable skills to Camp Baker this summer. There, she served a group of campers who benefited from her expertise and attention to detail gained through decades of working with patients and their families.
When Kim saw counselors greeting incoming campers, she said they made “an instant connection.”
Samuel communicates differently. If you ask a question, he might answer by reciting memorized scenes from movies. Instead of having a conversation, he and his mom, Cynthia, take turns singing Do Re Mi. Both Samuel and his brother, Harper, have autism. Harper doesn’t communicate verbally, but he’s good at making himself understood.
Did you know that SOAR365’s Summer Camp recruits counselors from all over the world?
“Summer Camp has become not only an American cultural exchange, but a cultural exchange of the entire world,” says Jessica Damm, a Summer Camp supervisor hailing from England.
Rusty Graham’s favorite things are playing sports, creating art and making new friends. It’s no wonder, then, that if you ask him his favorite part of SOAR365’s Summer Camp, he says, “Everything!” Rusty, who has Down syndrome, is 27 years old and full of energy. From the time he was a toddler, he’s played sports in a variety of programs for...
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