Camp Wings of Friendship

“Wings of Friendship is a place where people of all abilities can join together to share their voices and spend time with one another. This magnificent group has given me the opportunity to be a leader, a friend, and a chance to change my perspective towards others and myself. Wings of Friendship changed my perspective. I learned how bright, talented, and wonderful each of us are and to be grateful to be the awesome me.”

Registration

Camp is Mondays – Fridays 3 activities per day

Camp has served hundreds families of nationwide since 2020
Camp was created and is led by a speech-language pathologist

12 pm – 1 pm EST | 2 pm – 3 pm EST | 4 pm – 5 pm EST

2023 Session of Camp: June 26th – August 4th, 2023

2023 Camp Wings of Friendship Registration is Closed

Camp Wings of Friendship is a virtual summer camp for teens and adults with disabilities offered at no cost to campers and their families nationwide. Campers enjoy a true summer camp experience with cabins, counselors, enriching activities, and lasting friendships. Speech-language pathology students serve as camp counselors while skilled professionals lead activities in their areas of passion and expertise.

Camp Wings of Friendship was inspired by the award-winning documentary Crip Camp, which tells the story of Camp Jened, a summer camp for individuals with disabilities that ultimately sparked the disability rights movement. When describing Camp Jened in her memoir, Judy Heumann shared how she often felt excluded and frustrated by the injustices of society. She said, “Camp was completely different. Camp was for us”, and “At camp, I didn’t have to worry about what I needed or how much help I could ask for at one time….Camp, I thought, was what it would feel like if society included us.”

The Camp was developed by The Friendship Journey and Dylan’s Wings of Change in 2020. In addition to our shared vision of a more compassionate, empathetic world, both of our Parkland and Sandy Hook communities have faced unimaginable losses. We honor Jaime Guttenberg, Gina Montalto, and Dylan Hockley in all that we do, spreading love and light in their memories.

About The Camp

Camp is a 6 week virtual summer camp for teens and adults with disabilities ages 14+ on Zoom.
Campers of all abilities from across the country can join.
Camp is no cost to campers and their families.
Camp includes weekly themes, field trips, art, theater, dance, guest speakers, cabin time, games, and much more.
Campers enjoy both large and small group activities.
Campers are assigned cabins with speech-language pathology students who serve as counselors.
Each camper will receive a camp box with “camp swag” including a camp t-shirt mailed to their home.

Sample Schedule

Camp Testimonials

Camp was the greatest experience I had in my entire life.

We learned about Camp Wings of Friendship through a friend and it was such a blessing. Our daughter was able to participate in so many fun activities without ever leaving the safe space of her room.

Thank you always for camp. My daughter has found her ‘group’ where she feels accepted and understood.

Camp Wings of Friendship has taught me how to be a better advocate for people with disabilities and has fueled my passion for serving others.

I have finally found a group where I am not judged by my appearance or the sound of my voice.

Everyone is accepted. Everyone felt welcomed.

Our daughter, who is 22 years old and has autism, has been involved in The Friendship Journey (TFJ) since its inception. Thanks to TFJ, she has been able to partake in experiences that may not have been possible otherwise, such as spending time with animals on a farm, playing ice hockey, attending performances at the Broward Center, and even participating in a virtual prom and summer camp.

We are incredibly grateful for the life that The Friendship Journey has given our daughter, and we cannot express our gratitude enough.

Everyone I met here will always have a special place in my heart. You are my new friends.

Words from Campers