We Belong: Reflecting on Summer 2026

When we trace our roots back, we know that Camp Sunshine started because families wanted their children with disabilities to have an overnight camp experience just like their other children. Our founder Marcy Vanderwel knew from her work in special education ministry that the best way to have a successful camp experience was to offer a 1:1 pairing. This was not done because of camper needs, but because of the importance of relationships between camper and volunteer counselor. 

Here we are, 43 years later, and Camp Sunshine is still all about relationships. This was deeply felt this summer as we lived out our theme of We Belong. We made space for every person at Camp Sunshine to be seen and valued. We Belong is a reminder that we need each other: to grow, to heal, to thrive. We felt that every day during our summer programming. Through lessons, songs, recreation and care of one another, we walked away knowing that each camper, counselor, and volunteer recognized their belonging to one another and to the greater world.

Our capacity at each session is 60 campers, and we reserve five slots for brand new

campers - across our four sessions, that’s 20 new campers each summer. These new folks remind us that the need for a place like Camp Sunshine is great - for respite for the family but also for recreation for the camper. This past summer we had 68 new camper applications. One of our new camper families shared that, “Unfortunately we have run into some places where people like our son are not welcome. It shocks me and I have been able to keep him unaware. So "we belong" was a welcome sentiment!”

We speak often about our volunteers and one group of volunteers is our Leadership Team. These are the individuals who carry out our programming: musicians, spiritual directors, nurses, recreation leaders, etc. They often pick a single camp location (either Camp Henry or Camp Blodgett), but some cover both. During one of our counselor meetings at Blodgett, a nurse who served at both locations said to me, “I never want to forget the magic of Sunshine! It doesn’t matter where we hold camp, the magic will remain.” Is it magic? To me, it is what happens when inclusion and belonging are essential to a group of people. 

For the last couple of years, we have been asking our counselors to rate, on a scale of 1-5, their sense of belonging. While I often skim past this number, this year I looked closer and it was good to see that 98.9% of individuals said they felt they belonged. When counselors describe their 2026 experience they share things like: "This experience has changed my life in an unfathomable way. I have never felt so loved, so valued, while learning so much. I learn about myself, about the entire community, my camper personally, and how to further my relationship. I am ever so grateful and want to make this a permanent feeling in my life." and "Sunshine is a place to to use love as a verb and not a word to describe a really good cheeseburger. Where you will find friends who love and care for you as you are and not who you are or what you look like."

A few years ago, we introduced a song called Crowded Table by a group called The Highwomen. That song became in some ways our 2026 theme song. During our first Camp Henry session, our morning lessons included a “birthday party” that started out just for one person, and then grew to everyone celebrating that month, then that season, and then the whole year. We had party hats, kazoos, noise makers, cupcakes and a very long table where we tried to gather everyone around. At the end of the party, we sang Crowded Table and tears fell down many of the volunteers’ and staff’s eyes. It’s this line that gets me every time: “The door is always open, your picture’s on the wall. Everyone’s a little broken and everyone belongs, ya everyone belongs.” 

We Belong reminded us this summer that we need each other! It looks like a table with room for everyone, a door that stays open, and strangers who leave as family. Belonging is warm and welcoming. It is also a choice we make every day. It means looking out for one another, letting others look out for you, and breaking down the walls that leave people out.

Let's take what we built here and carry it with us, into our homes, our communities, and our everyday lives, and offer belonging to all.