Our Mission: To offer camps to adults with developmental disabilities, enhancing their lives through recreation, socialization and life skills education.
CampBlueSkies.org
SUMMER/FALL 2017
THE TRUE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CAMP BLUE SKIES’ SUCCESS A note from founder Dick Sesler Friends. Partners. Connections. Those words represent a defining aspect of the continued growth of Camp Blue Skies. Along with a steadfast core team and hard work, our achievements are a result of human connections to volunteers, campers, parents/caregivers, organizations, colleges, foundations, and businesses. This newsletter is full of examples of the power of friendship. A few deserve special notice: Domtar returns as Camp Partner We were thrilled last year when Domtar became our first ever Camp Partner. A dozen employees volunteered and experienced firsthand the impact of their company’s donation. Domtar CEO/President John Williams also joined our Board of Directors. This year, the Fort Mill-based company will again sponsor a session of camp in North
Carolina. Not only does this make camp possible, Domtar employees get the opportunity to learn more about adults with developmental disabilities while providing more role models for our campers. Connections grow with Georgia colleges When we decided to offer a session for adults with Williams syndrome, we hoped to find educators and colleges as strong as Dr. Jerri Kropp and Dr. Brent Wolfe at Georgia Southern University and Dr. Trina von Waldner of the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy. We struck gold at Clemson University. Under the leadership of Dr. Gwynn Powell and doctorate student Lisa Olsen, Clemson students were critical to the successful launch of our Camp Blue Skies-Williams Syndrome. On Page 3, you’ll also read about the contributions of students from West Georgia Technical College’s nursing program and Mercer University College of Pharmacy.
Our supporters Along with dedicated volunteers and support from foundations and businesses, Camp Blue Skies relies on individuals who generously donate or participate in Hoops For Camp NCAA Bracket Challenge and Hooked On Camp Fishing Derby. The Blue Skies Boosters group in Charlotte added a Cornhole For Camp fundraiser this year to benefit our Send A Camper To Camp Campaign. Find out how many campers will have their expenses covered from this fundraiser on Page 2. Inside, you’ll also learn about a Charlotte teen who made 30 walking sticks for our nature hikes and the expected — and unexpected — connections we made with Pi Kappa Phi’s The Ability Experience in North Carolina and Georgia. We thank all of you for your gifts and your time. We count you among the “World’s Greatest!”