November/December Beans For Bags Spotlight: Camp Beausite Northwest
Camp Beausite Northwest was founded in 1989, we located to our currently property in Chimacum, WA, just off of West Valley Rd. in 1994. We have been mission driven from the start to provide an inclusive camp experience for people with special needs and their families. Our purpose is simple. To provide social, emotional, and educational outdoor experiences for people who would not otherwise have this opportunity. Additionally, we simultaneously provide respite for their families and caregivers. A component of the special needs world that is heavily needed and rarely found.
We serve people with special needs of all ages. Our programs start at 7 years of age and there is no age limit, like so many other camp programs. We also serve the families and caregivers of these incredible souls. For every camper that has an opportunity to attend our programs, we are simultaneously providing respite services for an additional three to five caregivers and family members. Our programs are developed to not only provide the camp component, but also the care of all activities of daily living (toileting, dressing, showering, eating) in an overnight program. We serve a myriad of diagnoses; Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Lennox Gestalt, Seizure Disorders, and Intellectual and Developmental Delays, among many others.
Geographically we serve all of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, however, roughly 65% of our campers come from Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties. Most of our camp families are consider low income and need significant funding opportunities to support the needs of their child.
CBNW knows beyond a doubt the impact that our programs have on our population and the opportunities for their caregivers and families for respite is invaluable. We can’t build enough programs fast enough to serve the need that is there. We provide a minimum of 40% subsidy for the cost of all of our programs and will continue to do so and more, as long as we can. Every program we build, fills a need of this incredibly undeserved community. In the last four years CBNW has grown from supporting around 100 campers per year to 400 campers per year. The growth of our programs from 6-8 programs a year to over 20 programs year round provides services for people ages 7 to 99+.
In the state of Washington there are over 120,000 people who are diagnosed with a developmental delay. These resources for the development of life skills are minimal at best, and the funding in our school systems doesn’t allow for the proper development of these programs with enough staffing to cover the support that is needed. At camp, we see campers who come to us in their 20’s and 30’s who still don’t have a way to communicate the basics of YES and NO. This is the base of what is needed for people with special needs. Every individual is different, and some are verbal and able to communicate their needs well, but may have never learned about their own ability to regulate what is safe, like touching a hot stove or stepping out in front of a moving car. Learning together in a safe environment with people who are learning with you, is a proven method of the development of these skills.
Our community of campers and their caregivers and families are in absolute need of direct support in the form of dollars in order to support our campership (scholarship programs). Every dollar raised through beans for bags will go towards our programs in support of these incredible families who need our support.
CBNW is excited to offer part time and full time employment and volunteer opportunities to our community. Additionally, when camp programs aren’t in full swing we function as a beautiful retreat center for weddings, reunions, retreats, and parties.
Visit our website at www.campbeausitenw.org and like us on Facebook: CampBeausiteNW and follow us on Instagram: @campbeausitenw