CLARKSVILLE, TN – Summer is a time for family vacations, trips to amusement parks, and other recreational activities for many, but for adults with complex disabilities there are not a lot of options for recreational activities geared toward their needs. Camp MARC, which stands for Many Associations of Remarkable Citizens, has been serving adults with complex disabilities from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee since 1962. On 26 June 2024, the staff of Camp MARC gathered at Brandon Springs Group Camp in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area to prepare for the 62nd year of camp!
While their campers participated in daily activities which included: arts & crafts, music & drama, sports, swimming, and boats. There was also an all-camp movie night, a cabaret talent show, the Camp MARC Olympics, a themed dance, and an awards ceremony that brought camp to a close. But what is Camp MARC all about? How did it start, who runs it, and what makes it so special?
How did Camp MARC start?
Camp started with a few pioneering parents that wanted their children with complex disabilities to be able to enjoy summer camps like their neurotypical peers. At its inception, camp spanned two weeks. The first week was for children and the second week was for adults. Over the years, the cost of operating camp became too great, and the board elected to focus their efforts on adults with complex disabilities because the adult community with disabilities is often forgotten in regard to recreational opportunities like a summer camp.
Who runs camp?
Camp MARC is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization that is run by a board of directors. The staff of Camp MARC consist of 16 CORE Staff (Camp Director, Assistant Director, four Nurses who see to the medical needs of campers and staff, and program facilitators) and 48 volunteer counselors (who see to the day to day needs of campers). All of these people work to make Camp MARC the best week of the year for 100 campers they serve each summer.
What makes Camp MARC so special?
To put it simply, the people are what make camp so special. Camp MARC wouldn’t be what it is without the campers it serves, the Core Staff that work throughout the year to plan the activities, or the counselors that volunteer their time, year after year, to make sure camp is the best week of the year for their campers. For the staff, they keep coming back because of the campers.
Reed Rushing, who started as a counselor more than 40 years ago to earn a college credit toward his degree in special education has served on the Core Staff for more than 30 years in various capacities. Now Rushing is one of two Core Staff members that facilitate the swimming activities at camp, says he keeps coming back to camp for the “smiles, hugs, and the memories” noting that attending camp, “feeds my soul.” Rushing added that many of the campers look forward to camp all year long. For many campers, Camp MARC is how they spend their vacation. In fact, some campers save all year long so they can come to camp.
Kelsey Skaggs, a volunteer counselor for the past 13 years, shared that “camp has always grounded me. Being a detective in law enforcement, I see the worst of the worst in the world – camp shows me the world has an abundance of pure love, and it reminds me year after year that there are amazing humans…” Skaggs went on to say that the “lifelong friends she has made, and the pureness of the camper’s love makes camp special.” Adding, “There’s a whole group of people that the world sometimes forgets about, and Camp MARC thrives on making that community of people feel special, loved, and remembered every single year.”
It isn’t just tenured staff members that feel this way. Cloe Crosby, who just completed her 3rd year as a volunteer counselor said that “camp is so welcoming. It’s infectious to be around others who are so selfless and care so much about making it the best time for the campers.” Second year counselor, Greyson Chantler added that, “Camp MARC is more than just a camp, it’s like a family reunion. Everyone knows everyone somehow, and even the ones that don’t are warmly welcomed into the camp family.”
For some, camp is a family affair. Linsey Johnson, who has been attending camp since 2005 shared, “I saw my parents and brother leave for camp and just couldn’t wait till I could go with them!” Johnson’s parents, Chris and Lynne Hardesty met at camp in 1987 when they were young. Over the years they both spent time as members of the Core Staff with Lynne serving as camp director for 13 years before stepping down and joining camp’s board of directors.
Johnson says that attending camp, “fills my happiness bucket to the brim, there is just no place like it in the world. It is so special to be able to take a week away from the craziness of this world and just focus on bringing joy and happiness to this wonderful population.”
Meghan Payne, another member of the Core Staff who has been working with camp for more than 20 years. She started as a counselor and was soon joined by her siblings Sarah and Will who serve as counselors for a number of years. Now, Payne shares camp with her sons, Kevin, Dustin, Brian, Romer, and Kennedy.
Like many of the people who have been working at camp for a long time Payne says she keeps coming back to camp because, “it’s part of who I am.” She goes on to say, “It’s amazing how one week every year has impacted my life in such a profound way. What we do in that one week a year is so profound, I really can’t imagine not coming back to camp. Camp taught me that all people have value and that it truly is a gift to serve people who, to those who don’t understand, can’t repay you. But, for those of us that do know, we receive their unconditional love and acceptance.” Camp is a lot of hard work. Payne explained, “It’s fun and exhausting. It’s a place where we can all come together and be silly one moment and then have a life changing moment with a camper the next.”
Jeff Bond, who has also served camp in multiple capacities for more than 30 years now brings his children as well. Bond says, “this population sometimes can feel shunned or overlooked. But not when they are at camp. They become the focus of so much love that I have to believe that is why they [campers] come back every year.” Echoing what others have said Bond added, “The truth is this: they also shower me with their love, and it rejuvenates my spirits.”
Why don’t you come along?
You may be asking what you can do to help make Camp MARC the best week of the year for their campers. The answer is simple, give! You can give your time as a volunteer counselor and help tend to the day to day needs of campers. If you are unable to volunteer your time, you can help by making a monetary donation, or by donating needed items that are used throughout the week. To learn more about Camp MARC, visit their website at www.campmarc.org. You can also email your questions to info@campmarc.org. To keep up with the latest Camp MARC news you can also click HERE to like them on Facebook!