Camp Lotsafun provides a variety of social, cognitive, and physical activities to focus on improving independence, self esteem, leisure education, taking turns, sharing materials, staying on task, encouraging others, patience, following directions, effective communication, and anger management. We also promote activities that teach healthy living, such as: swimming, outdoor games, and healthy lifestyles. Children, teens, and adults with disabilities are often excluded from social interactions and free play with peers due to their inability to verbally express themselves, short attention span, and lack of interaction with others. This often leads to social isolation and decreased physical activity. Camp Lotsafun provides respite care for the family, while providing recreational, therapeutic, and educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Respite care is short-term temporary care provided to individuals with disabilities to allow their families to take a break from the daily routine of care giving. Respite care can help prevent abuse and neglect while supporting the family by providing an opportunity to rest, relax, and regenerate to face the daily challenges of caring for their child. Families with children, teens, and adults with disabilities are in desperate need of respite services to provide relief for the families and caregivers and to provide age appropriate recreational and social opportunities for the participants. Due to the additional requirements of a child with a disability, families identify respite care as a basic need. Parents of a child with a disability experience amplified levels of stress due to the increased demands a child with a disability places on the family. Siblings of a family member with a disability experience stress and often receive less attention due to the additional needs of their sibling. Children and sibling of children with a variety of developmental and neurological disabilities, such as: Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Learning Disorders, Processing Disorders, Language Delay, Bi-Polar, Depression, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Mental Retardation are eligible to attend Camp Lotsafun. In addition, any child who is experiencing a cognitive, social, learning, or physical delay is eligible to attend camp. Families with a child with a disability are often reluctant to allow others to care for their child, teen or adult with special needs. The two most common reasons stated by parents are: concerns about the competence of the caregiver and feelings of guilt about leaving their child. Due to the concern surrounding the specialized needs of children, teens, and adults with disabilities, Camp Lotsafun staff and volunteers participate in an intensive week long camp training that includes first aid, CPR, disability awareness, child development, and behavior management, personal care, camp policy and procedures, and counselor responsibility. Our staff consists of students from universities, colleges, and high schools who are pursuing a career in a field of study that will support individuals with disabilities. In addition, we actively recruit individuals who show and interest, motivation, and dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Summer camp sessions are one week long, Monday through Friday beginning June 11, 2007. Camps are located near Yosemite in Groveland CA and in the foothillls of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Portola CA. Sessions for children and teens ages 5-22 are as follows: Groveland June 11-15, June 18-22, and June 25-29. Portola July 9-13, July 16-20, and July 23-27. Sessions for adults over the age of 23 are as follows: Groveland July 30-Aug 3. One to One supervision is available upon request for an additional fee.