Adventure Camp Empowers Special Needs Kids

Each year during winter break, day camps pop up across St. Louis, letting kids burn off some of that extra energy left over from the holidays. But for many children with disabilities, camp is just one more activity in which they end up sitting on the sidelines.

Until this year.

For the first time in its history, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, which helps children with physical and mental disabilities reach their full potential, expanded its popular summer Adventure Camp to two fun-filled days in December. During the camp, which welcomed 34 guests, kids played and learned in a safe environment with activities adapted to each camper’s ability level.

According to Missy Fiore, mother to six-year-old Dominic, who has cerebral palsy, Variety’s Adventure Camps ensure her active little boy doesn’t have to miss out on a minute of fun. “Dominic can’t go out and play sports with his friends or participate in after-school activities on a regular basis,” she remarked via email. “Variety gives him the chance to do these activities because they provide a one-on-one counselor to assist him.”

It’s this camper/counselor relationship that truly makes the difference, said Barb Kramer, Program Director for Variety, “There are a myriad of programs offered during winter breaks/vacations to families and children. Yet very few have the support and expertise required to accommodate a child with a disability. Often the child with a disability needs one-on-one support staff in order to participate in activities. Camp offers Variety kids the opportunity to be like all of the other kids as they swim, play sports and meet new friends.”

Fiore agreed – while Dominic loves bowling and singing karaoke at camp, it’s his friendship with his counselors that he looks forward to most of all. In fact, she noted, Dominic was so excited to find out who his counselor was going to be, he called his counselors from summer camp to see if they’d be joining him in the winter. For children who may feel unaccepted on occasion, this one-on-one interaction is powerful in building their self-esteem.

Contributing to the camp experience

Adventure Camp is only one of the many programs and services Variety has offered to children in its 75 year history. From Bikes for Kids, which provides traditional and therapeutic bikes, to the Variety Children’s Theatre, which allows children of all abilities to let their talents shine, Variety strives to assist children with special needs every time they require assistance from birth until age 21.

For the Fiore family, Variety has made a tremendous difference in Dominic’s quality of life. Said Fiore, “Variety has paid the insurance co-pay on all of Dominic’s equipment since he was a year old, including his braces, walker and two sets of canes. Variety also paid in full for his stroller, and also provided Dominic with a custom therapeutic bike in December at the annual Bikes for Kids event. Beyond equipment, Dominic has been an active participant in a number of Variety programs such as Adventure Camp, the annual parade to kick off Variety Week, and outings to the Magic House, Science Center, and Becky Thatcher Riverboat.”

Now’s your chance to help! This weekend, Young Variety, comprised of St. Louis professionals between ages 21 to 40, will be hosting a Trivia Night at St. Louis University High School on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Tables of eight range from $200 to $320 and can be reserved by calling 314-453-0453, ext. 126 or by visiting www.varietystl.org.

By putting that random 80’s trivia and those sports stats floating around your head to good use, you can send Dominic and other children from around St. Louis to Adventure Camp in 2011 for a day of fun and a lifetime of memories.

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger forSmartParenting

Share This Story

Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL 

Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Things to Do

Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

View this event »
Storytelling in the Museum from the Missouri History Museum
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.

View this event »
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Popular Stories

Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

Continue reading »
Summer Fun in St. Louis Starts Now! Your Guide to Family Fun this June

For many St. Louis families, the start of June represents the real start of summer. That's when the summer fun really starts to kick in, and the fact that so many activities and attractions are free is just a bonus!

Continue reading »
Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

Continue reading »
7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

Continue reading »
Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

Continue reading »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Follow Us