You were meant to be at camp!

Hope Heals Camp is a time of respite, resourcing, and relaxation for entire families affected by disabilities. We strive to holistically serve every member of a family unit, so we build our daily programming around the unique needs, abilities, and ages of every participant.

Adults and young adults will enjoy times of worship, teaching, and small group discussion, while kids and teens experience a wide range of fun in recreation, arts and crafts, music, and Scripture exploration. Kids age 3 and under will be cared for in the onsite nursery. Afternoons are filled with more play for the kids and special gatherings for the men and women, plus a few hours dedicated to rest.

At night we’ll celebrate together at some amazing parties, eat a lot of good food, and—most importantly—build lifelong friendships with other campers and volunteers.

Each camper with a disability can opt to be paired with a Compassionate Companion (CC), a new friend to serve as a helper, encourager, and buddy throughout the week. All children 8 and under (with or without disabilities) will also be paired with a buddy, so camper parents can rest easy and be fully present during their own programming.

Hope Heals Camp exists to serve individuals and entire families affected by disability. If you or your family member have a disability of any kind, you are invited to apply as a camper. Eligible applicants include:

• families with a child with disabilities

• families with a parent with disabilities,

• a couple with a spouse with disabilities

• an individual with disabilities accompanied by a friend or family member who is the main point person to aid in medical care and toileting

Please note that a camper with disabilities MUST be accompanied by a friend or family member for the full duration of the Camp session. To be eligible for consideration at Camp, you must submit an application for every person who wants to attend Camp, not just the individual with the diagnosis.

We are not able to serve campers with significant psychiatric disabilities or campers who have posed physical danger to themselves or others in the recent past.

Yes! Young children (with or without disabilities) are welcomed to attend with their families. Preschoolers (birth to 3 years) are placed in a nursery setting for lots of play and easy nap time coordination.

Absolutely! If you require the assistance of an additional caregiver or nurse, we are happy to accommodate that request. Caregivers and nurses will be lodged at Camp in your family’s hotel-style room. Because of limited lodging capacity and high demand, we ask that you only bring additional caregivers and nurses if absolutely necessary.

Please include caregivers and nurses on your family application.

Because of high demand and limited capacity, each camper family is eligible for one session of Hope Heals Camp per summer.

Absolutely! If a member of your family would like to serve at Hope Heals Camp, they can indicate that preference by applying for a volunteer session. To learn more about what it looks like to serve at Hope Heals Camp, visit our Volunteer Info Page.

Please note, anyone who applies as a volunteer will be asked to pay or fundraise a tuition to attend Camp. A family member who applies as a volunteer does not guarantee the rest of your family a spot as Campers.

Our Compassionate Companions (CCs) serve as your loved one's buddy at Camp and will accompany your camper to programming and free-time activities. CCs are not responsible for any medical care or toileting. CCs will be paired with campers based on age and gender. All CCs are over 16 and have been vetted through an application process and background check.

We understand that all campers have unique situations and some may not desire to be paired with a companion, but we highly encourage you to consider opting into a Compassionate Companion pairing. These relationships are the heart of Hope Heals Camp.

All campers attend Hope Heals Camp for FREE! You are only responsible for the cost of travel to and from camp. We ask that camper applicants pay a $10 application fee per person to secure their spot. It will be refunded if we are unable to offer you a spot at Camp.

If you are offered a spot at Camp but do not accept it, or if you cancel your reservation at Camp before arriving, your application fee will not be refunded.

Applications will be available for one month, from January 21 to February 21, 2025. You must submit the full application for each family member and pay the application fee ($10 per person) to be entered into the Camp lottery.

A camper with disabilities MUST be accompanied by a friend or family member for the full duration of the Camp session. To be eligible for consideration at Camp, you must submit an application for every person who wants to attend Camp, not just the individual with the diagnosis.

Camp applicants are weighted in the registration lottery as follows:

• One entry if you have previously attended Hope Heals Camp

• Two entries if you are a first-time applicant to Camp

• Three entries if you have previously applied for Camp, but were waitlisted

Hope Heals Camp takes place at Camp McDowell, a beautiful, accessible retreat center in Alabama’s Bankhead National Forest. Camper families will stay in air-conditioned private lodging—a hotel-style room with 2 queen beds and a private bathroom. All lodges have a full kitchen (refrigerator, oven, microwave, and dishwasher) and laundry facilities.

If you have more than four family members attending Camp, you may be 1) placed in multiple rooms or 2) placed in a single room and asked to bring a sleeping bag or air mattress.

WiFi is available in camper lodges and in all major gathering spaces at Camp McDowell.

Certified service animals are welcome to attend Hope Heals Camp. We want our campers to have what (and who) they need to succeed! All other pets need to stay home. You can FaceTime them.

You are fully responsible for the care and management of your service animal. They should wear an identifying vest or harness at all times, and should never be left unattended. If any damage is caused to camp property or the property of another participant, you will be solely liable for picking up the tab and making things right.

The camp facility serves delicious food and is able to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. If you have further dietary needs, you will have access to a full kitchen, where you can prepare your own food.

Please note that the camp facilities are NOT able to accommodate diners with Celiac’s disease since cross-contamination cannot be prevented when the kitchen prepares bread from scratch.

Yes. Each camper with disability is paired with a Compassionate Companion (CC) who will act as a friend and helper throughout the week, but CCs are NOT responsible for any medical, toileting, or transfer needs of the campers. Parents, spouses, and family members of campers are responsible for all medical, toileting, and transfer needs.

A small Medical Crew of registered nurses, physical therapists, and/or physicians will be present at Camp. These medical professionals will only treat minor illness and injuries. If a camper requires urgent medical attention, emergency services will be contacted.

Airport: The nearest airport is Birmingham, AL (BHM), which is about an hour south of Camp McDowell. The Atlanta airport (ATL) is about a three hour drive from Camp.

Directions: Camp McDowell is located at 105 Delong Road, Nauvoo, AL 35578. Once you turn from Highway 195 into Camp McDowell, follow Delong Road to the Welcome Center. Turn right onto Speaks Way. Keep driving until you reach Hall Hall on your left, then send one member of your family inside to check into Camp.

Transportation: We aren’t able to arrange individual airport transportation, but we’d bet someone in the Hope Heals Camp Facebook Group would love to give you a lift. Renting a car, or hiring an Uber or Lyft are options, as well!

All campers are responsible for their transportation to and from Hope Heals Camp.

• Comfortable warm weather clothes

• Walking shoes and water shoes

• Rain jacket and/or umbrella

• Hat

• Bug spray

• Sunscreen

• Prescription medication and medical equipment

• Extra oxygen (if needed)

• Special dietary food or snacks

• Wheelchair and/or walker

• Stroller for small children

• Bible, notebook, and pen

• Bathing suits

• Pool towels

• Toiletries

• Cameras, phones, and chargers

• Pack-n-Play or pallet or small children

Campers will arrive at Camp between 2 and 4 PM on the Monday afternoon of their registered session. Camp will end by 10 AM on Friday.