Foundation for Dreams

Our mission is to celebrate the abilities and develop the strengths of children with special needs and chronic illnesses ages 7-17 by collaborating with families to provide individualized result-based goals, family support, and recreation in a camp environment.

Our overall vision is that all individuals with special needs have every opportunity to learn and grow, leading to more productive behaviors, meaningful relationships, and a more comprehensive profound skill set. Our Dream Oaks Camp program is unique in that we are the only one of its kind in the Southwest Region of Florida providing year-round residential and day sessions for children with special needs and chronic/terminal medical conditions including (but not limited to) autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, Down syndrome, ADHD and cancer patients.

The BishopParker grant provides financial support that allows us to focus on operations of Our Dream Oaks Camp program that provides children with special needs exposure to a quality results-based program that allows them to engage in adaptive activities, learn new skills, and develop productive behaviors.

We plan each theme and activity with the mindset that each child will participate and take on many new challenges by focusing on what the child can do, rather than their limitations. Daily adventures include, but are not limited to: arts and crafts, music and drama, yoga, scavenger hunts, aquatic programs (swimming and canoeing), boat rides, sports and games, nature studies, therapeutic horseback riding, and many other fun camping activities and experiences.

As the child attends Dream Oaks Camp, staff and parents collaborate to identify 2 individualized targets for the child to progress towards while at camp. These fall within four domains: social interaction, activities of daily living, behavioral skills, and health/hygiene. By focusing on each child’s strengths and abilities, staff members facilitate these goals throughout each session and encourage campers towards success.

Of the 700 children anticipated to be served, 685 will meet or progress towards individualized result-based goals set by the parents, and derived from within one of the four domains: behavioral, social interaction, activities of daily living, or health and hygiene skills.