When you think of July in Georgia, you probably think HOT and HUMID! For me, July in Georgia brings

to mind words like: camp, fun and excitement!! This July 18-22 marked the eighth annual ACA Youth

Camp in Warm Springs, Georgia. This year we had a record 61 campers, five junior counselors and

17 counselors and staff. “This camp offers a life-changing experience for many young people with limb

loss,” says Outreach and Special Events Manager Vicki Foster. Many first-time campers have never

met another person their age with limb loss. One of the major outcomes of this program is the ability

for young amputees to learn from each other.

An outsider looking in at this program may first only see it as a camp for youth with limb loss. But it is so

much more. This camp isn’t about being different or what a camper can or can’t do. This program offers

campers a chance to be themselves, and, for a few days each year, it gives them a chance to be just like

everyone else. Each year we hear from campers and parents who want to tell us what an amazing program

the camp truly is. Comments like “Because of camp, I am more confident about who I am” and “Camp

helped me to meet friends that know what I am dealing with” help to show what a huge impact this camp

has in their lives.

Another unique element of this program is the fact that many of our counselors are past campers

themselves. This gives campers a way to interact with and be inspired by older role models. This

year the camp introduced a junior counselor program. This program offers a chance for youths

to develop needed leadership skills to help them eventually become full-fledged counselors.

Many months of planning and hard work from ACA staff and volunteers go into making this camp

happen. Partnerships with organization such as BlazeSports, Friends of Warm Springs Fishery, Innova

Disc Golf, Stunts-Ability, the Professional Bowlers Association, U.S. Paralympics, and the Orthotic

and Prosthetic Assistance Fund helped to create exciting activities for all campers to enjoy. This year,

in addition to activities that have been a hit in the past, such as canoeing, swimming, fishing and quad

rugby, we also introduced tennis and disc golf. David Smith, a Hollywood stuntman and director of

Stunts-Ability, introduced some campers to the art of acting and stunts. This year, the camp also had

several sessions where campers could sign up for activities that interested them. Next year, we hope

to introduce even more new and exciting activities.