Partnering Programs   

Many campers benefit from Rochester Rotary’s camping partnerships with other local not-for-profit organizations serving children with physical disabilities. We provide the facility and programs – our partners provide the campers, the caregivers and much of the fun! Our list of current community partners keeps growing and includes the local agencies listed at the right.

 

 

    

American Diabetes Association Partnership

The Rochester Rotary Club has a longstanding relationship with the Rochester Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. Although ADA entered into a partnering relationship at the Sunshine Campus in 1998, the organization has been using the Sunshine Campus for many years. ADA serves children and teens with diabetes in the Greater Rochester Area. 

The ADA Camping Sessions at the Sunshine Campus includes two, one-week sessions, held during the camping season. Campers with diabetes spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of ADA and Rochester Rotary. Approximately 110 campers with diabetes (per session) will spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of ADA and Rochester Rotary. As with all partnerships, Rotary supplies quality programming for campers, while the partnering organization provides caregivers for their constituents. 

ADA is unique in that it hires staff for its session at the campus. If you would be interested in working as a counselor during either of the ADA Weeks at the Sunshine Campus or would like a camper application, please call the Rochester ADA office at 585-458-3040. You may also find out more about the American Diabetes Association by visiting their web site. 

Camp Joy Partnership 

Just as the name would have you believe, Camp Joy at the Sunshine Campus is a joyous time for all involved. Sponsored by the Lutheran Church of Reformation, Camp Joy has a longstanding relationship with Rochester Rotary. Camp Joy has used the campus for its religion-based programs for many years. Camp Joy serves adult campers with disabilities in the Greater Rochester Area and has been an official Rotary partner for sixteen years.  

The Camp Joy Session at the Sunshine Campus is during the summer camping season. Approximately 100 adult campers with disabilities will spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of Rochester’s Lutheran Church of Reformation and Rochester Rotary. As with all partnerships, Rotary supplies quality programming for campers, while the partnering organization provides caregivers for their constituents. 

This is a camping program for adults, age-appropriate activities, along with traditional camping activities are offered for campers. You may also find out more about Camp Joy by contacting Joan Van De Wall at 585-454-3367. 

Heritage Christian Services Partnership

Heritage Christian Services is one of Rochester Rotary’s first partnerships at the Sunshine Campus. A partner for eleven years, Heritage Christian Services has used the Sunshine Campus to run successful, religious-based programs for its campers year after year before a partner relationship was established. 

Heritage Christian Services serves people with developmental disabilities through group homes and day rehabilitation programs.Heritage Christian Services utilizes the Sunshine Campus for two one-week camping sessions. The first session in August is for children served through Heritage Christian Services Respite Program.  This was a new pilot program in the  summer of 2003. Twenty-five children attended the campus for a week camping session. What a wonderful week!  This program has now become part of our summer calendar and is continuing to grow. 

Heritage Christian Service’s Session at the Sunshine Campus is during the summer camping season. Campers spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of Heritage Christian Services and Rochester Rotary. As with all partnerships, Rotary supplies quality programming for campers, while the partnering organization provides caregivers for their constituents. 

Heritage Christian Services is unique in the sense that it structures its camp session around religious-based activities, along with the traditional summer camp activities. You can find out more about Heritage Christian Services by visiting their web site. 

Mary Cariola Children's Center Partnership 

Rochester Rotary is proud of its partnership with the Mary Cariola Children’s Center, an agency of the Al Sigl Center. 2012 will mark the seventeenth year of Rotary’s partnership with Mary Cariola at the Sunshine Campus. Mary Cariola Children's Center serves children with physical and developmental disabilities in the Greater Rochester Area. 

Mary Cariola’s session at the Sunshine Campus runs during the summer camping season. Campers with physical and developmental disabilities spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of Mary Cariola Children's Center and Rochester Rotary.  

As with all partnerships, Rotary supplies quality programming for campers, while the partnering organization provides caregivers for their constituents. 

Muscular Dystrophy Association Partnership 

The Rochester Rotary Club has a longstanding relationship with the Rochester Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Although MDA entered into a partnering relationship at the Sunshine Campus in 1998, the organization has been using the Sunshine Campus for many years. MDA serves people, ages 7-18, with muscular dystrophy across Upstate New York. 

The MDA Camping Session at the Sunshine Campus is held during the summer camping season. Campers with muscular dystrophy spend an exciting week at camp, thanks to the work of MDA and Rochester Rotary.  As with all partnerships, Rotary supplies quality programming for campers, while the partnering organization provides caregivers for their constituents. 

MDA is unique in that it relies on volunteers to staff its session at the campus. If you would be interested in volunteering during MDA Week at the Sunshine Campus or would like a camper application, please call the MDA camp coordinator, Parvati Dombkowski, at the Rochester MDA office at 585-424-6560. You may also find out more about the Muscular Dystrophy Association by visiting their web site. 

Reach for the Stars Program 

Reach for the Stars is an annual education and awareness camping program offered to students from the Rochester City School District.  The program is held in June at the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus in Rush, New York. Currently, the Reach for the Stars program is funded by the Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) organization which provides funding for all of the Rochester Rotary Club’s charitable activities. This unique camp experience is provided at no cost to the Rochester City School District students and teachers who participate. 

The Rochester Rotary Club, in cooperation with the Rochester City School District, began the Reach for the Stars program in 1992 with 140 campers from our pilot school, School #9.  Currently, the program includes four schools (the WIN Schools, Rochester City Schools #3, #8, #9, and #29) and more than 650 students.  The Reach for the Stars program addresses drug education and awareness needs for younger, at-risk, urban students.  Rochester Rotary and the Rochester City School District work closely in preparing the students through team building and conflict resolution for many of life's challenges. 

Camp Haccamo 

Camp Haccamo will be hosting their summer program at the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus August 6-24. Camp Haccamo is a partner program for children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities. This program is supported by the 15 Monroe County Rotary Clubs and provides a free camping experience at the Rochester RotarySunshine Campus. For more information contact Amy Nicolis at 585-381-5710 or alnicolis@camphaccamo.org at the Camp Haccamo Office.  

 

 

 
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