PROGRAMS
SUMMER CAMP
THE 2023 CAMP SESSION WILL BE HELD AUGUST 20-26. Therapeutic and educational camp session for hundreds of HIV/AIDS infected/affected youth. Campers, age 5-17, enjoy horseback riding, go-kart racing, swimming, arts/crafts, miniature golfing, concerts, boating, basketball, tennis, volleyball, a camp-wide carnival, cooking and our annual dance and talent show! The camp week includes separate programs for younger campers (age 5-11), older campers (age 12 & 13), teen campers (age 14 & 15), counselors in training, leaders in training (age 16) and junior counselors (age 17).
MENTORING PROGRAM
This program offers an experiential learning environment for young adults whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS and empowers youth to understand their full potential as caring and compassionate citizens through the development of a mentor/mentee relationship.
HIV/AIDS OUTREACH & EDUCATION
Camp Dreamcatcher staff, volunteers and members of the “Teen Speaker’s Bureau” provide HIV/AIDS education and community outreach. In 2013, members of our Teen Speaker’s Bureau, volunteers and staff members provided outreach to 58 middle schools, high schools, universities and community groups throughout the year, reaching 6,000 people.
TEEN LEADERSHIP RETREAT
The Teen Leadership Retreat is a program for 15-17 year-olds and is held at Camp NorthBay in North East, MD. The program started in 2003 with the goal of providing additional support to teens as they faced the physical, emotional and social challenges associated with HIV/AIDS.
CAMPER TO COUNSELOR PROGRAM
This program was just launched at the Teen Leadership Retreat at Camp NorthBay in May of 2019.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
The Phoenyx Scholarship was established in 2022 to honor the memory of Gennifer Robinson. Gennifer served as a counselor with our Leaders in Training from 2019-2021. Her legacy will live on through the Phoenyx Scholarship for college bound Leaders in Training.
COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS
Spring and Summer Internships are available with flexible hours and may include nights and weekends. Interns can complete 120 hours during the camp session in August. Responsibilities will include program planning, data entry, coordinating volunteers, co-facilitating groups and programs, assisting in fundraising and counselor training and all of the behind the scenes responsibilities of a small, non-profit organization.
ADOPT A FAMILY
The Adopt-a-Family Program was launched in 2004 and has served over 2,300 children! The process begins in late October when wish lists are distributed to the children and families served by Camp Dreamcatcher. Over 800 donors have been involved in this program since its inception and over 11,000 gifts have been distributed to the children at the holiday open house in early December. 98% of the children served by Camp Dreamcatcher live in low-income households and the Adopt-a-Family Program makes dreams come true for them each year.