Camp Haccamo - Making the Sounds of Summer Joy

On June 10, 1956 several community members from the East Rochester Rotary, the Penfield Rotary, the Pittsburgh Rotary, and the Fairport Rotary gathered at the long-gone Country House in East Rochester. Together they solved a conundrum that many families in the area faced: How can summer camps include people with disabilities?  It was then that Camp Haccamo was born.

In this special episode of That Sounds Terrific in the (585) Nick and Christine speak with Neal Gorman, Haccamo’s board chair.

As a child Gorman would ride his bike and play near Panorama Plaza in Penfield. He was intrigued by the sounds of playing and laughing behind the shopping mall. What he didn’t know, initially, was that the joyous summer sounds he heard were from campers at Camp Haccamo.

“There's nothing like that sound, the sound of kids playing in a playground . . . It’s the sound of summer and the sound of joy,” remarks Gorman.

ears later Gorman was recruited to help out with the camp by Penfield Rotary member Don Milton. Gorman jumped at the chance to help make the camp a continued success.

The camp's mission is to provide an enriching summer camp experience for children with various needs, including those in wheelchairs, with Down syndrome, or other disabilities and challenges. Today Haccamo rents camp space from Camp Sunshine where campers (children and adults) can do all the things that summer camps offer from crafts to campfires to talent shows. The camp also boasts a treasured railroad ride that circles a garden.

During our conversation Gorman emphasized that while this camp experience is not only an important part of the summer for campers but for their families as well. The camp and its activities provide a much needed respite for caregivers who may need time to regroup or rest all while knowing that their camper is cared for and cared about at Haccamo. One family took the week to take vacation to Las Vegas. The couple has spent many years loving and caretaking to their special needs child and it had been more than ten years since they were able to get away alone. To Gorman, “that's what this is all about.”

The board is actively looking for new ways to ensure long-term sustainability of Haccamo. The camp has many needs but limited financial resources. The board and the committees are actively working on fundraising, operations, and recruitment to support the camp.

On June 7 Camp Haccamo is hosting its twelfth annual car show at the Greece Ridge Mall to earn money for camp needs. If you would like to participate or attend please visit the website here for more info. 

To learn how to help with the Haccamo Garden visit Upstate Gardeners Journal here. 

Full Episode