Kostopulos Dream Foundation Camp Kostopulos

Since 1967, Kostopulos Dream Foundation (Camp K) has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for people of all abilities through education, recreation, and growth opportunities. Our services are available to people of all abilities, levels of income, and place of residence. Our year-round educational programs provide opportunities for our students to improve their physical fitness levels, learn healthy lifestyle skills, access and enjoy their community, the arts, sports, and adaptive recreation.  We encourage them to stretch their imaginations, learn practical life skills, learn problem-solving skills, maximize their potential for independence, and build healthy bodies, minds, and spirits.  We also focus on valuable, 21st Century skills, including self-confidence, self-control, persistence, flexibility, adaptability, curiosity, initiative, communication, and collaboration.  The benefits from our programs create a ripple-effect, impacting not only their lives, but the lives of their families, friends, and ultimately our entire community.

Camp K serves individuals with disabilities including physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments, as well as special medical needs.  Our services are available to people ages 4-89.  Over the course of a year, we will serve more than 3,500 individuals with special needs. In addition to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, our programs provide much-needed respite care to both these individuals and their families/caregivers.

At Camp K, we believe that “everyone can”.  We see what they can do on a regular basis, as they participate in the activities at Camp K.  Camp K shows the students, families, caregivers, and our entire community, what our students can accomplish.  We are changing the paradigm for our students, their families, and the community as a whole, as we demonstrate what they “Can Do”.  This will open the door to expanding the horizons for this vulnerable population, and help to increase their levels of independence in all areas, including financial independence.

Some of the specific skills and ability increases that we see include:  increased ability to focus, increased eye contact, improved problem-solving skills, improved communication skills, ability to follow directions, physical endurance, willingness to participate/try new things, trunk control, and increased mental, emotional, and physical strength.  Additionally, our students demonstrate an increased ability to interact appropriately in social settings.

Our year-round programs include:

• Residential Summer Camp – Campers spend 5 days/4 nights at Camp K, where they interact with and ride horses, climb/traverse the high ropes course, explore and learn about nature, swim, fish, canoe, hike, and many other fun, recreational activities.
• Trip Camp – Campers spend 5 days/4 nights journeying to local destinations, or nearby sites of National, historic, or scenic interest, including destinations such as Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, Zions National Park, Moab, St, George, and Bear Lake.
• Summer Day Camp – Campers spend 5 days at Camp K, where they interact with and ride horses, climb/traverse the high ropes course, explore and learn about nature, swim, fish, canoe, hike, and many other fun, recreational activities.
• Partner Day Camp – Partner Camp provides the Camp K experience for kids in elementary school, who do not have special needs.  We believe in inclusion. Partner Camp allows the kids to spend half of their time at our Partner’s facility, and half of their time at Camp K participating in outdoor learning adventures and nature education.
• Community Educational Programs – Activities consist of enrichment and educational programs, including: arts and drama, music, culinary arts, bowling, horseback riding, holiday parties, themed mini-camps, dances, and many other activities with an emphasis on learning new skills.
• Specialty Educational Programs – Activities allowing for an extended learning experience, lasting 8 weeks.  All activities are designed to teach new skills and foster skills for independence.  Examples include bowling leagues, creative arts, drama, equestrian skills, cooking, and more.
• Equestrian program – Riding lessons and Equine Therapy are provided year-round. Equine therapy helps build confidence, communication, trust, social skills, impulse control, and boundaries, as well as increasing physical strength and balance.
• Vocational Rehab – Students learn the skills necessary to enter the workplace, including hands-on experience to mock a real work environment.  Outcomes include increased confidence, appropriate social skills/customer service, basic financial literacy, increased attention span and concentration, decreased number of prompts and supervision needed.
• Work Experience – Students to use the skills and knowledge gained in the Vocational Rehab program, and gain real work experience by working at Camp K during Summer camp.  They work side-by-side with our summer staff, receive a paycheck, and practice their finance skills.
• Team Leadership Training – identifies strengths and weaknesses of groups, break down barriers between individuals, improve creativity and problem solving, and improve communication.