This young volunteer wrote about the time she spent at the Rotary Camp for Special Needs Children:

My name is Kimberly Brandle and I am a sophomore at Archbishop Hoban High School.  My Mom is Julie Brandle, Rotary Club of Akron member.  This summer I participated in our school's JAM (Justice Akron Ministry)program. JAM is a three day program for students to participate in a social justice service project to build their community and grow in their faith.

Upon arrival you do not know where you will be assigned, you just know you will be helping others.  My Mom volunteered with me, when she received the assignment, she smiled, "We are going to Rotary Camp-perfect!"she said.

It was adult camp week and we were assigned to the female adult campers. We helped with campfire songs, getting from place to place, arts and crafts, lunchtime, nature/animal hour, and just anything they needed.

When I entered camp I never knew the strength of these campers or the strength within my own heart.  To say I wasn't intimidated at first would be false.  But once I started spending time with these great women I learned they were no different from you or me.  I learned a lot more than that though, like how one of the ladies would do anything she could to paint and her courage to ask for help.  The smile on her face when she accomplished what she set out to do taught me that I had strength to be able to help, but she had strength as well. It was truly inspirational.  Seeing others succeed makes us all want to strive for greatness. 

None of the people involved at the camp doubt another's greatness and that's why Rotary Camp was an awesome place to be.  Not only awesome for campers and their families to have a safe place to go, but also for the volunteers as well. Volunteers have the opportunity to help others, and learn new perspectives without doubting themselves.  You see, doubt is something we all have within us.  But whether or not we let it take over our perspectives is a choice.

"The moment you doubt whether or not you can fly, you forever cease to be able to do it"...Peter Pan

Thank you to Rotary for making this camp available to the campers and to volunteers like me.