Camp Promise—Every Child In God’s Imageby Jeffrey Ort
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Jeffrey Ort |
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BCM World Staff: |
What is more reminiscent of the carefree days of childhood than summer camp? Times spent around the campfire. Swimming at the lake. Hanging out with friends old and new. Learning a new skill like archery or canoeing. These are the stuff of which lifelong memories are made. But children with special needs are too often left without the opportunity to experience the joy and fun of a week at camp. Enter 
Since 1990, Camp Promise has been providing an opportunity for all children to attend summer camp, regardless of physical, mental or emotional needs. Geared to special needs children and adults, Camp Promise makes every effort to help each camper participate in all that camp has to offer, as well as give him choices to do the things that interest him the most. If a wheelchair camper wants to experience a canoe ride, staffers work together to get him into a canoe and take a spin around beautiful Peterson Lake. A camper with a spirit of adventure can try the ropes course and soar on the “Flying Squirrel” as high as she is comfortable. Campers experience many other typical camp things, such as archery, crafts, swimming and burning marshmallows over an open campfire.
Camp Promise staff believes that every person is made in God’s image, and their great crew of counselors, service staff, cooks and nurses are dedicated to helping campers understand that they are valuable with gifts and abilities to use for God and their community. Helping clear a table. Singing in a choir. Performing in a drama or sign language choir. Helping another camper, or spreading the joy of a smile. Camp Promise provides a safe environment to develop these new skills where campers can experience unconditional love and acceptance while making new friends and enjoying times spent with old ones. 
During its annual two
weeks of camp, Camp Promise has served many children and families in its 16
fun-filled summers, hosting about 50-55 campers from the Flathead Valley and
beyond. Big Sky Bible Camp recognizes the impact camp has on children with special needs. Their goal is to
expand facilities to allow Camp Promise to run for most, if not all, of the summer. This will allow both camps to run side-by-side, showing other Big Sky campers that kids with disabilities enjoy camp as much as they do.
Families touched by special needs can be encouraged that there are places like Camp Promise, where children are accepted, loved, and encouraged. If you parent such a child, visit Camp Promise and make those summer memories that last a lifetime.
