Camp Heyday

Camp Heyday is a one-week residential camp in operation for six days in July for 60-65  intellectual or developmentally delayed individuals. The camp is the only one of its kind in the Smith County area. Camp Heyday provides 24 hour per day supervision and assistance while offering a challenging, rewarding camping experience. Campers are housed and fed under adult supervision to ensure their safety.

Campers enjoy normal outdoor experiences: swimming, boating, horseback riding and hayrides. Each participates daily in arts and crafts, a homestead program and nature studies. The camp concludes with a meaningful awards ceremony and family night. The highlights of camp, according to the campers, are the talent show and the dance with music provided by a professional disk jockey.

Special Education teachers, certified water safety instructors, safety personnel, Junior League and community volunteers and high school and college counselors provide services for campers. Additional staff includes cooks volunteering their time from local high schools, a registered nurse and a physician on call 24 hours a day.

High school and college counselors provide one-on-one direct supervision with the campers. Counselors and at least two staff members are housed in the same cabins with the campers and participate in all activities with the campers. More than 1,400 volunteer hours contribute to the success of Camp Heyday.

Camp Heyday will be held July 25-30, 2010.