1. First, fill out our camper application.

2. Submit your refundable $150 deposit (the link is at the end of the camper application).

3. Schedule your camper interview. This is a time for the Camp Brightside Director and DSAA Executive Director to meet your new camper applicant or connect with your returning camper applicant. These interviews will be in person in January. 

4. After the interview, you will be notified about acceptance.

5. If accepted, you will receive an email to submit the remaining amount due for camper registration.

6. If not accepted, a full refund of your $150 will be completed.

Who is Eligible for Camp Brightside? 

Camp Brightside is designed for individuals with Down syndrome.

The following are eligibility requirements: 

✔ To keep campers grouped at similar developmental levels, our age range for Camp Brightside is now 14–21. Please note that your camper must be 21 or younger for the entire week of camp.

✔ Campers must be willing to stay with a group at camp, adapt to group living routines, and participate in high-energy outdoor camp activities, with possible exposure to high heat. 

✔ Campers must have no aggressive or threatening behaviors toward other individuals at camp. 

✔ Campers must be able to communicate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ consistently to counselors at camp through words, gestures, signs, or a communication device. 

✔ Campers must be in good health and show no signs of communicable disease or open wounds. 

✔ Campers should be toilet-trained and only need assistance with toileting (transfers, hygiene, clothes, reminders, catheters). Campers in diapers for occasional accidents can be managed, but frequent changes cannot be accommodated. 

Sleep away camp is not the right fit for every child. Through the process of an interview and application review, the Camp Brightside Director will determine if camp is the right fit for your child.

Yes, this camp is only for individuals with a Down syndrome diagnosis.

Yes! Campers will be dropped off on Sunday and picked up on Friday.

Accommodations/Cabins 

Campers will stay in camp cabins, which are air-conditioned and have attached bathrooms. The cabins and bathroom facilities are wheelchair accessible. Approximately 9-10 campers and 4-5 staff stay in each cabin; some cabins may be split in half based on the needs of the campers. Beds are provided, but campers should bring their own linens and pillow (see packing list in handbook upon acceptance). 

There will be 3 campers to every 1 counselor.

Campers will be grouped by age and gender. For example, there will be an 18-year-old boys' group and an 18-year-old girls’ group. Their group will be their bunkmates, and they will travel throughout their camp day together.

The day starts with a camp-wide breakfast in the dining hall, then cabins have a couple of activities ranging from arts and crafts to boating.

Around noon is camp-wide lunch again in the dining hall and followed by a rest hour. After resting, cabins have more activities with snack time.

Dinner is camp-wide, and after dinner, there is an evening activity. Evening activities could include a talent show, a camp dance, or a bonfire. After the evening activity, groups return to their cabins, get ready for bed, and prepare for another amazing day at camp!

Schedule 

Each day at our Camp Brightside is packed with fun! Campers will be divided by cabin, and each cabin’s schedule will vary slightly. Each cabin will rotate through activities such as horseback, arts & crafts, farm, zip line, archery, etc. 

7:00 Wake up 

8:00 Breakfast 

9:00 - 11:00 Camp-wide Pool 

11:10 - 12:20 Activity 1 

12:30 Lunch 

1:30 - 3:20 Rest Time [snack at 3:00] 

3:30 - 4:30 Activity 2 

4:40 - 5:40 Activity 3 

6:00 Dinner 

7:00 Evening Program 

9:00 Back to Cabins 

10:00 Lights Out 

Campers will sleep with the same group they are with throughout the day (by gender and age). The 3:1 staff ratio applies to the Cabin group as well.

Cabins are climate-controlled, and include en-suite sinks, individual shower stalls, and bathroom stalls.

Camp includes 3 meals a day plus a snack. All Camp Brightside groups eat together at the same time in the Dining Hall for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each cabin group has their own table and food is served family-style (on the table, not buffet).

Camp Twin Lakes kitchen staff can accommodate specific dietary needs: gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, no pork, etc.

You will have the opportunity in the camp application to indicate if your child has food allergies or restrictions.

Dining & Food Service 

All meals and snacks are provided by Camp Twin Lakes (CTL). Campers eat together in the large dining hall for all meals. Food is served family style, or in individually prepackaged containers, and menus are planned by the CTL nutritionist and food service team. If your camper has any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please inform us in advance on your camper’s application. We pass this information along to the food service team, who will provide safe alternatives for your campers. For picky eaters, a wide selection of additional options is always available – including bread, peanut butter & jelly, cereal, salad bar, fruit, yogurt, and more. If you believe your camper may require additional meal options, please contact the Camp Director in advance to make these arrangements. 

Activities are subject to shift/change based on weather and availability:

• Zero-entry pool and waterslide

• Lake-based activities: paddle boats, paddle boards and fishing from the dock

• Ropes activities (ex. Zipline, climbing wall)

• Art & crafts

• Gymnasium with full basketball court

• Outdoor sports like tennis, baseball, soccer

• Archery and mini-golf

• Drama

• Nature Hut and nature trails

• Vegetable and animal farm

Medical Care 

Camp Brightside has a Nurse on-site to oversee medical care for all campers who will reside at camp, for the duration of the camp; they will be on-call for campers 24/7. This includes daily medications and any medical needs that may arise during the week.

The camp is equipped with a building designated for care (Med Lodge) where we are able to examine campers, isolate them in case of symptoms of contagious illness, and safely store all medical supplies. The Nurse may contact you before camp to introduce themselves and discuss your camper’s care. You will also have the opportunity to meet the Nurse at Camp Check-In. During check-in, the Nurse and staff assisting will perform a brief health screening on your camper (temperature, symptoms, and lice check) and discuss all medications to be administered at camp. 

After our first two years of camp, we raised the minimum age to 14 years old based on camper and staff needs.

Our camp counselors are community volunteers; some receive a small stipend, and all do this as a labor of love. Some are professionals who work in the disability community, some are family members of individuals with Down syndrome, and some are students seeking experience, to name a few examples. All are interviewed, screened, and background checked. Additionally, all are required to attend training before camp. All staff are trained in camp policies, which are designed to provide the highest level of care to your camper. These policies include camper confidentiality, universal precautions, abuse prevention, and appropriate behavior management. We strongly adhere to the “three-person rule,” which states that staff and volunteers must always have at least one other adult present in the presence of campers. 

Camper Cell Phone Policy 

Please do not send your camper’s cell phone to camp. For the safety of all campers, cell phone devices must be left at home. We want campers to focus on building friendships and enjoying the camp experience. If a camper is found with a cell phone at camp, the Camp Director will hold the cell phone until pick up, when the phone will be returned to the camper’s parent. Thank you for your help with this policy. 

Camp Fees: 

Camp fees are $750 per camper. A $150 refundable deposit (included in camp fees) is due at the time of registration to confirm your camper’s spot. Camp Brightside does not accept third-party payments. 

Scholarships: 

With the incredible support of The Caroline Thome Angel Fund, Camp Brightside offers scholarships to campers who need assistance in covering camp fees. Please note that the maximum scholarship amount for camp is $400. All campers are required to pay the $150 refundable deposit. To apply for a scholarship, fill out this form. Camp Brightside will process your registration and get back to you with a confirmation of the scholarship and the remaining balance. Please note that your child’s camp registration will not be confirmed until you have paid the refundable deposit. 

Refund Policy: 

All applications need to have a refundable $150 deposit to be reviewed. After closing applications, the camp lead staff will reach out to schedule an interview. If your camper is not selected, the $150 deposit will be returned.