Our Mission: To offer camps to adults with developmental disabilities, enhancing their lives through recreation, socialization and life skills education.
CampBlueSkies.org
SUMMER 2019
GEORGIA ON OUR MIND
Smiles from our recent sessions at Camp Twin Lakes, our Camp Partner in Georgia
Help us celebrate 10 years of fun, friendships and memories Inspired by my son Brent’s love of summer camp, I started Camp Blue Skies in 2009 for adults with developmental disabilities who often become isolated as they get older.
And now it’s time to celebrate! Our 10th Anniversary Jubilee kicks off Sept. 26-27 with our Hooked on Camp Fishing Derby. What else do we have planned?
Fast forward 10 years to see what Camp Blue Skies has become. “Camp is as much fun as Christmas!” said one camper. If you’ve attended or volunteered, I’m sure you have experienced that sense of pure joy yourself.
Celebrations and special souvenirs during camp for campers and parents/ caregivers Blue Skies Bash Friend- & Fund-Raiser on Nov. 1 in Charlotte 10th Anniversary Jubilee celebration on Feb. 22 in Charlotte for volunteers, sponsors, and supporters
I am humbled by the hundreds of people – campers, parents, caregivers, volunteers, students, and donors – who have supported our work and who have become like family. I am overjoyed when I read cards and letters from campers about what camp means to them.
I fight to hold back tears when a parent or caregiver tells me how much they enjoyed a well-deserved, much-needed break, or when volunteers say that the experience changed their lives and increased their understanding of people with developmental disabilities. Thanks to all of you my dream has come true.
Hope to see you or hear from you as we commemorate this milestone!
Dick Sesler, Founder
NEW WEEKEND CAMP SET FOR DEC. 6-8 PAGE 3
SUN, SWISHES, AND THE LONG TOSS SIZZLER
More than 100 people attended the Cornhole For Camp fundraising tournament April 27 at Triple C Brewing Company in Charlotte. It turned out to be a perfect spring day for a cornhole competition. The 28 teams, 17 sponsors (a record!) and attendees raised over $10,000 for our Send a Camper to Camp fund and will help fund two cabins of campers. Stanley Lewis and David Benfield, playing on the Board Sharks team for Fairfield Chair Co., a Title Sponsor, won the $500 Grand
Prize and championship medals. This year, we added a consolation prize for the winner of the Losers Bracket. Teammates Charles Sheard received a Triple C swag bag and Brandon Cook received a $25 cash prize. The big sensation of the day came at the end with the Long Toss competition. Players got three bags/attempts for $5. They moved back two feet with each successful toss (meaning bag through the hole). Charles Sheard won with a 38-foot toss.
His prizes were $100 and a $25 gift card from Triple C Brewing Co., an in-kind sponsor. Special shout-out to superstar volunteers Claire Bingham and Macy Daves who worked the Long Toss – without breaks – from 2 to 4 p.m. Claire also volunteers at our camps and serves on the Camp Blue Skies Foundation Board of Directors. For more highlights and sponsors, visit CampBlueSkies.org/cornhole.
This year, Camp Blue Skies partnered with WeWork in Charlotte. Members and their friends competed in the WeHoops League for great prizes – including a cool trophy – and bragging rights for the next year. WeWork, with three locations in Charlotte, provides shared workspaces and services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups, small businesses, and large enterprises.
Thanks for the Slam Dunk Players this year helped us blow through our fundraising goal of $15,000. The total raised: $16,460. Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Camp Blue Skies NCAA Bracket Challenge:
1st Place: Corey Allen 2nd Place: Jim Blecke 3rd Place: John Winter 2
Corporations with teams in the Camp Blue Skies League included Catawba Lands Conservancy; Cushman & Wakefield – Atlanta; Cushman & Wakefield – Charlotte; Flagship Healthcare Properties; Lincoln Harris; NewStyle Communities; Piedmont Office Realty Trust; PwC Carolinas Advisory;
PwC FS People & Organization; and Troutman Sanders Charlotte. Check out the final standings for individuals and teams at CampBlueSkies.org/hoops.
The annual fishing derby fundraiser on Sept. 26-27 at YMCA Camp Harrison kicks off our 10th year of providing camps. Anglers have the option of arriving Thursday afternoon to fish from the shore and enjoy a tailgatestyle dinner. Boats are filling up quickly. Interested? Email Mary@CampBlueSkies.org or visit CampBlueSkies.org/hooked.
Weekend Camp set for Dec. 6-8 near Charlotte Camp Blue Skies will offer a new Weekend Camp for adults with developmental disabilities on Dec. 6-8 (FridaySunday) at YMCA Camp Thunderbird near Charlotte. Camp Blue Skies is partnering with Levine Jewish Community Center and YMCA of Greater Charlotte to recruit volunteers
and provide programming. “As a result of our success, we have reached capacity at the four camps we host in March and October. There is always a waitlist,” said founder Dick Sesler. “Our hope is that a Weekend Camp will alleviate the waitlist and provide opportunities for campers who work or who may
not be interested in a weeklong camp.” Priority for attending will be given to:
New campers Campers who were waitlisted and did not attend the most recent NC and/or GA sessions. Campers with work or personal commitments preventing them from attending a 5-day session. Applications open Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. (EST). The camper fee is $100. YMCA Camp Thunderbird, accredited by the American Camp Association, is about 20 miles south of uptown Charlotte. Athletic fields, basketball courts, and challenge and ropes courses are just part of the year-round adventures for campers.
News from Camp Director Jim Guimond: Video will make fitness a click away I’m thrilled to share the news that the Balance Your Body program soon will be available on video. Thanks to financial support from the Williams Syndrome Association (WSA), a film crew taped a Balance Your Body class in March during the Williams Syndrome Camp. The video will be featured on WilliamsSyndrome.org, CampBlueSkies.org, YouTube, and Facebook. Watch your inbox and our social media for the official announcement. Special thanks to fitness professional Ryan Bost for helping lead the class and campers Brent Sesler, Jeremy Foster, Becky Shue, Morgan Starkman, Holly Ryles, and Chase McGarragher for appearing in the video. As a volunteer, and using my expertise as a fitness professional, I created the Balance Your Body program in 2014 to be a fun exercise routine that campers could easily
make part of their lifestyle. The early Balance Your Body routines used inexpensive stability balls and lively music to get campers moving, help strengthen core muscles, and increase balance. Camp Blue Skies introduced the program as a free choice activity to gauge interest. Campers loved it! Balance Your Body became a regular camp activity, and I’ve updated the routines to include team building and additional components to build more life skills. Terry Monkaba, Executive Director of the
WSA, asked me to teach Balance Your Body sessions at the 2018 conference in Baltimore. It was such a hit that Terry asked if we could video a class and make it available year round for campers. Campers can watch the Balance Your Body video in the safety of their home to make exercise a daily activity between camps. More videos with variations are planned. My goal is for this first video and others to become go-to resources for adults with developmental disabilities hoping to be fit for life. 3
Circle of L
ve - Our Volunteers
Thank you to the dedicated persons who have recently given their time, love and support, all priceless gifts. Both Sessions Casey Carver David Caswell Hannah Colwell Michael Coulter Nick Doris Q Hilbert Neal McKinney Chinedu Okoh Debby Rea Kiona Ross Doug Sheffield Mavis Stevens Dan Sturzenbecker Becca Taunton WS Session Ashley Alexander Caroline Ashley Keri Barrientos Ryan Bost Karen Breth Emily Cluen Millie Cox Tom Cox
Christen DiLeonardo Dylan Ellerbee Tanesha Gibson Carrie Guerrette Johnathan Hamrick Becky Harris Laila Kashlan Chris Klein Sandy LaFevers Tiena Mann Anna Marchman Shannon Maxwell Jocelyn McDougal Janice McKinney Amanda Moseley Tracy Moubray Pat Murphy David Nauman Sheryl Niemeyer Jennifer O'Byrne Katherine Pfeifer Page Queener Allison Ross Colton Satterfield Brantley Shields
Jeremy Urekew Chris Webb Sydney Wolgamott GA Session Nathan Adams Zayd Ahmad Mariah Arnett Mallory Ayers Kavya Balaji Jon Beall Niesha Bell Sadie Binkley April Bradley Aasha Brooks Nour Burjak Lucas Clari Chad Crockford Seth Davis Mariah Dunn Cynthia DuVall Dennia Ernest Regina Ferraro Lyndsay Fisher Sahand Golpayegany
Delaney Grimm Hannah Henderson Zach Holmes Heather Honore Emma Jang Bridget Knapp Jerri Kropp Diana Langhorne Tammy Lynn Camrie Lupton Sarah Martinez Connor McKinney Antoinette Morke Meagan Moss Phil Nelms Brittney O'Meara Grace Oswald Harley Padgett Aahuti Patel Seema Patel
Becca Powell Hannah Pryor Rachel Radford Hunter Reynolds Ryan Ritchie Michael Robinson Christina Sartain April Sisco Janice Sorensen Susan Stafford Narissa Strozier Henry Tarwater Mark von Waldner Trina von Waldner Jacqueline Wabler Charlie Ward Hettie Warlick Brent Wolfe
VOLUNTEER Q&A: JON BEALL Jon Beall (left in photo) is a favorite among campers, other volunteers, and the team. Why?
He’s a lot of fun and dependable. Jon helped launch the Blue Skies Boosters and the Cornhole For Camp fundraiser. This year, he made eight sets of Camp Blue Skies-themed cornhole boards for the event. He surprised us with a Go-Pro video of the camp experience that he filmed and had edited. Jon joined the Board of Directors in 2016. How did you get involved with Camp Blue Skies? Liza Cox, the original Camp Blue Skies photographer extraordinaire, posted a message on Facebook about a volunteer need at a camp for adults with developmental disabilities in 2012. I grew up with a cousin who has special needs so this population has always held a place in my heart. 4
Plus, I had never had an opportunity to be a camp counselor so I jumped right in and I have never looked back! After about 5 minutes with the other volunteers, staff, and campers I knew this was the place I needed to be. How many sessions have you volunteered? Honestly, I have lost count, and all of the wonderful memories from the past six or seven years have started to run together. But, my best guess is that I have done a combined 9 sessions between North Carolina and Georgia. My 5-year badge hangs proudly in our home! (Jon, we double-checked: You’ve volunteered at 11 sessions over the last 8 years.) What makes you stay involved? Everybody at Camp Blue Skies is family. We get to see many of the same staff, volunteers and returning campers every year and it is really something we all look for-
ward to. The experience is also extraordinarily fulfilling and provides a great opportunity to re-charge and reset one's perspective. Camp Blue Skies campers set the best example for how to live life to the fullest. They teach me something new every session and send me home ready to face the "real world" a little differently. Any advice for someone who hasn't volunteered? Just show up. It really is just that simple. Camp Blues Skies is a place like no other.
CAMP BLUE SKIES’ HAPPY CAMPERS!
Board of Directors welcomes new members Two longtime supporters joined Camp Blue Skies Foundation Board of Directors in early 2019. Dee Schwab’s daughter Lizzie has attended nearly every camp. Dee, who lives in Charlotte, is an attorney. She also serves as a board member for Women’s Leadership Council at UNC Chapel Hill, Teach for America, and Charlotte Ballet. Claire Bingham volunteered at Camp Blue Skies as a Georgia Southern University student for four years, and she hasn’t stopped volunteering yet. Claire is a Physical Therapist with OrthoCarolina-Hickory and a member of Huntersville ARP Church, where she also volunteers. Visit CampBlueSkies.org/board to learn more about our Board of Directors.
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Thank You to Our Recent Donors We are grateful for the organizations, foundations and individuals who provide financial and in-kind support for Camp Blue Skies. This list recognizes donations from Jan. 1 to June 1, 2019. Blue Skies ($5,000+) Rob Carter Domtar Industries Harker Art Lund The Merancas Foundation Bill and Barbra Wood Zipliners ($1,000-$4,999) Linda Allman Ken Bartels and Jane Condon Citizens Charitable Foundation Larry Cooper Tom and Millie Cox Gwin Dalton Elizabeth Eaton Fairfield Chair Company Fulenwider Enterprises Odell and Cynthia Hoyle John and Mary Franklin Foundation Kristina Kiehl John Lenhart Al and Lil McAulay Donald A. Miller Allan and Bonnie Sweet Tom Webb and Katherine Heath Dude Ranchers ($500-$999) Woody and Adria Appleby John and Josephine Beall Scott and April Bradley Jerry and Elizabeth Clark Henry Decker Brock and Nicole Fankhauser Jake Jacobson Keith and Aline Robelen Pesta Finnie & Associates Doug Sheffield Trey Sheridan Paul and Julia Steffens Rebecca Taunton Pete and Lisa Ten Eyck Cabin Mates ($250-$499) Alston & Bird American Adventure Inc. Bradford and Alison Barry James Blecke Caped Crusaders 4 Cures Centerlane Capital 6
Champion Concrete Cutting John Cox Doerre Construction Geoffrey Dohrmann Edwards Assessments and Counseling, Inc. David Harker Mike Kavanagh Barbara Kilbourne Doug and Donna Knowlton Preferred Electric Real Estate Development Partners Savills Downie and Sally Saussy Chris and Holly Scheppegrell John and Mary Tinkey Mark and Trina Von Waldner Warco Construction, Inc. Weprin Family Philanthrophic Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation John Wester Helping Hands (up to $249) Brian Alcorn Corey Allen Allstate Foundation Jill Ammerman Tyler Anderson Meredith Russell Anglin Jay Armstrong Dan Arnold David Atkins Craig Aulebach Robert and Susan Aulebach Ian Barabas Sadler Barnhardt Arthur Bartlett Avery Bass Tom Bass Thomas Bauer Brian Beaver Morgan Berg Clifford Berryman Bryan Berthold Bill and Mary Lunsford Scott and Claire Bingham Allison Bittel Linda Blevins Lisa Bofenkamp Michael and Sherrill Bohon
Matt Bowen William P. Brady Benton and Alice Bragg Lane Breedlove MK Brennan Andrew and Christy Brock Stephen Brodsky Craig Brondyke Alex Brown Allen Brown Angel Brown Nate Buda Regina Burris Carter Byrum Nick Cala Brian and Dea Canova Lisa Carr Gay Cass Justin M Caudill Helen Cauthen Bo Cheek John Christenbury Philip Ciccarello Allison T Clark Chris Clark Jay Cohen Tracy Connor Cathey S. Cooper Michael Corcelli Tyler Courtney Dalton and Ashley Cox Liza Cox Charles Craighill Will Daniell Jeffery Davis Kirk Diamond Jean Dietrich Dan M Dillon Annie Dixon Janet Donahue Dave Dougherty and Anita Blanchard Trey Dove Paul Drobnitch Debra Duggan Savannah Durban Jeffrey Echt Brannen Edge Lex and Amy Erwin Steve and Janice Ezzo Ralph and Nancy Falls Walter D. Fisher Hunter Fleshood Marc Folladori Don Fortenbacher Kevin Fossum Matthew Fowler Sean Franklin
Jason Friedman Murray and Frances Fugate Elizabeth Gaffney Reggie Gaither Kelli Garca Zanne Garland Scott Garmon Gary and Margaret Smith Steve and Michelle Gassaway Tom and Alice Gavigan Read Gendler Foley George Amy Gerber Miller Getz Andrew Ghertner Dawn Gideon Peter Glover Thomas and Kathy Golembeski Amar Goli Brian and Tammy Goodman John Goodwin Lori Gougeon Wade Grace Brett Gray Patrick Grayson Brent Gribble Rex and Nancy Gribble Jim Guimond Hoover Gutierrez Hoyt and Alison Hackney Matt Hale Kathryn Hammack T. Patrick Hammeke Josh Hammer Johnathan Hamrick Michael Harris Amanda Ann Harrison Bryan Hartnett John Hartnett Lyndsey Hauck JJ Hay Tara Healy Carol Henderson Richard and Diane Henley Kelly S. Hevener Chris Hicks Fain Hicks Natasha Hillesheim
Clarke Hobson David Hodges Jessica Hoffman Michael Hoffman Victoria Hollidge Sam Hollis Pam Holloway Greta Holmes Bob Howell Carin Hudson Matt Icard Ed and Annette Imbrogno Benjamin Jackson Bruce Jackson Jacqueline James Peter James Lorry Jensen Jim and Betsy Williams Samuel Johnson Will and Jenny Joyner Caroline Jureller Joanne Jurich Andy and Florence Kane Sean Kehoe Mike Kemether Don and Susan Kemp Kenneth and Mary Beth McIntyre Kent and Cindy Varner Grant Keyes Jack Kidd Eric Kirsch Glenn Kolker Chris Kollme Adam Kovar Laura Kowalski Tyler Kroeschell Jon Kuskie Catherine Lacienski Andrew Laing Denise Lawless Meredi Lee Anthony Lenhart Charles Leonard Boyd Lewis Kyle Lorenz Nanette Loudon Jim Loutzenhiser Sam Ludwig Eric Machemer (Continued on page 7)
Steven Martinek Brian and Anna Matthews Peggy Matthews Bill and Sloane Mayberry Perry Mayers Jon Mayeske Angus and Margaret McBryde Jim McCarthy Ruth McClymonds Courtney McDaniel Chris McGraw Lisa McIntyre Clinton McKellar John McMann Dean McNaughton Shea Meddin Sean Meekins Nick Mellott Preston Menning Katherine Merkel Michael and Cary Sherck Jennifer Miles Rebecca Miles Damian Miller Joel and Bonnie Millikan Bill and Amy Millikan Jim and Diane Montgomery Christy Moran Douglas Morrison Danny Mueller Pat Murphy Jason Nerison Nick and Kay Valaoras Ty Niess Cristy Nine Rex Noble Caroline Nolen Hendrik and Brittany Nollens Phil and Marianne Norwood Joe O'Connor Kaeli O'Donnell John O'Halloran Thomas and Chris O'Boyle Thomas Obrien Noe Olivera James O'Neil Denise Orthen
Joseph Pangburn Matt Parkhill Jacob Parrish Patrick and Patricia Magee Sherice Patten Timothy Pavone Stephany Peters James Phillpott Rebecca Piontek Brad Pittman Kelly Plott Paige Polhill Chris Poppell Will Porter Christopher Poznick Tom Prescott Travis Presnell Brian Pritchard Bruce Propst Will Propst Kimberly Proshek Kimberly Quick Blake Rawlins Keeta Redcay Bo Reddic Seth Redfield Cathy Reed James and Kristen Reed Mark and Pamela Reeder Nora S. Renz Amy Rickeard Faith Roberts Victoria Rodriguez Dean Rogers Melissa Rogers Eleanor Rose Kerry Rose Kelly Ruiz Annette Salazar Barton Sands Jeff Sasser Steve and Tobie Sasser Rodney Scott Stephanie Scurlock Charles Sheard Cathy Sheehan Eric Sheridan Liza Sippe
Jake Sixour Brad Smith Brent Smith David Smith Phillip Smith Sherese Smith Dean Spaulding Darren Steinhilber Joey Strathe Tom and KC Strohbehn Rob Stuart Brian Styerwalt Andy Sumlin Mark and Lydia Surles Cody Svejda Charles and Leighann Swanson Tripp Tate Myles Thomas Tamyra Thomas Blair Thompson Jeff Thrall Nicole Tobin Michael Tomlinson Trish Tooley Matt Treble Austin Trout Mark and Lisa Tyler Chris Vercauteren Sabina Vuolo Collin and Christy Wade Marybeth Wade Allison Wallace Brandon Wallace Frances Wallace Piers Wates William Watts Bailey Webb John Wehmeyer George Wells Donna West Kurt Wilczek Keith Willby Carla Williams Christianna Williams John Winter Colton Witherspoon
Jaysen and Ashley Witherspoon Cory Wolski Marla Wood Fran Wright Vikrant Yalavarti Marilyn Zilka Rob and Susan Zink Evergreens The following donors support Camp Blue Skies with recurring donations: Michael Coulter Becky Harris Doug Sheffield Geoffrey Dohrmann Interested in becoming a recurring donor? Email Amy@CampBlueSkies.org. Tributes Donations were made in memory of the following: Ruth Jackson Kristina Kiehl Linda Allman Donations were made in honor of the following: Brent Sesler's birthday Woody and Adria Appleby John Hartnett John Lenhart's birthday Annie Dixon and family Anthony Lenhart TJ Jackson Peggy Matthews Blake Partridge & family Nora Renz Regina Hambrick Burris The following donated to Regina’s Facebook fundraiser: Teresa Andrews Mona Jones Brawley Liz Hackney
Donnie Hill Terry Larimore Terri Jo Melton Ann Michael Robert Sarvis Kristen James The following, including Kristen, donated to her Facebook fundraiser: Lisa Ann Lacey Coffey Truette Crump Jeffrey Guyott Tbone Kline Casey Staskawicz Caroline Theresa Camille Moss The following, including Camille, donated to her Facebook fundraiser: Tim Bishop Rhonda Cook Marcie Hill Quinn Tom Sandner Jill Soulen Jill Shipley Thompson Angie Ogletree The following, including Angie, donated to her Facebook fundraiser: Nancy Carnahan Krystal Ford Marilyn Hampton Barbara Hudson Geri Ann Hudson Amy Vangemert Linda Ecklund Windes Dawn Young Seema Patel The following, including Seema, donated to her Facebook fundraiser: Jerri Krentz Kropp Sheetal Patel Sushil Patel
GEORGIA CAMPERS MEET SOME BIG VISITORS In March, over 200 campers and volunteers in Georgia visited SeaWorld-San Diego via Skype. SeaWorld Trainer Brittany Nollens served as our tour guide. Brittany is Dick's niece and the daughter of longtime volunteer Becky Harris. Brittany worked with the team at SeaWorld and Dick to set up this experience as a surprise. Campers and volunteers
thought they were going to watch the daily slideshow. Instead, with the help of technology, campers at both sessions got to meet whales and watch them jump and play. Brittany also answered questions from the campers and taught them how to talk to the whales using a special sign language. Thanks to Brittany and Seaworld-San Diego for making this magic happen! 7
2820 Selwyn Ave., Box 767 Charlotte, NC 28209 CampBlueSkies.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Find details on CampBlueSkies.org
Hooked on Camp Fishing Derby fundraiser Sept. 26-27, YMCA Camp Harrison, Boomer, NC Camp Blue Skies NC #1 Volunteers: Oct. 4; Campers: Oct. 5-9 YMCA Camp Harrison, Boomer, NC Camp Blue Skies NC #2 Volunteers: Oct. 11; Campers: Oct. 12-16 YMCA Camp Harrison, Boomer, NC Blue Skies Bash A Friend- & Fund-Raiser Nov. 1, The Barrel Room at Triple C, Charlotte Camp Blue Skies Weekend In partnership with Levine Jewish Community Center and YMCA of Greater Charlotte Dec. 6-8, YMCA Camp Thunderbird, Lake Wylie, SC
Camp Blue Skies 10th Anniversary Jubilee A celebration for volunteers, donors and supporters Feb. 22, Palmer Building, Charlotte Camp Blue Skies-Williams Syndrome Volunteers: March 8; Campers: March 9-13 Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA Hoops for Camp NCAA Basketball Challenge fundraiser Selection Sunday: March 15
Looking for the camp photos? Check out Page 5
CONTACT INFO Camp Blue Skies-Georgia Volunteers: March 15; Campers: March 16-20 Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA Cornhole for Camp Date and location TBA
704-266-2267 | CampBlueSkies.org Contact@CampBlueSkies.org Facebook.com/CampBlueSkiesUSA Twitter.com/CampBlueSkies Instagram.com/CampBlueSkies