Able Camp

Able Camp is for adults 18+ with special needs.

July 25 – 29, 2025

Able Camp is specifically designed for persons with special needs. It is not about disabilities, but rather about abilities! Christ has called us to love God and to love our neighbor as He has loved us – without conditions or limits – it is in celebration of that perfect love that we come together at Able Camp.

In this setting we are reminded that our neighbors don’t all look, or sound, or think the same way we do. Able Camp is about forming a community that loves us just as we are. It is about attempting to emulate that perfect love God has for all of His children. Our goal at Able Camp is to establish, at least for a few days, a community of unconditional love, compassion and acceptance.

During Able Camp, the campers take part in several different activities i.e. swimming, arts and crafts, talent night, and much, much more. What is not easily expressed through words can be read on the camper’s faces—filled with amusement and delight. Each camper, faced with their own set of circumstances, work through their challenges to take part in a camp that allows them to have fun, learn new things, and most importantly, just be an ordinary person.

*Please be advised of the following:*

• Camp Hardtner does not currently have the resources necessary to fully care for overnight campers who:
  • Rely on the use of supplemental oxygen during daytime or nighttime
  • Require enteral feedings (utilize a Gastrostomy Tube)
  • Have other complex medical needs which require care by a nurse with advanced/specialized training
• Electricity at Camp can (and does) go out more often than at your home.
  • This can last from minutes to hours to days
• Given our rural location:
  • We are at least 30 minutes away from a hospital
  • Emergency medical services (ambulance) can take up to 45 minutes to arrive

A Successful Overnight Camper at Able Camp Should:

• Be able to traverse non-sidewalk, uneven terrain with or without assistance.
  • While some of the campus has sidewalks, a successful camper needs to be able to traverse across uneven grass, gravel, uphill/downhill — whether or not they use adaptive equipment such as a wheelchair, walker, or cane.
  • Camp Hardtner has a spread out campus that straddles the top of a hill
    • Travel from area-to-area can be upwards of ~350 yards
• Desire to participate in games, crafts, and other scheduled camp activities.
  • We have a structured schedule that is carefully crafted by our staff. Our goal is that your camper participates in our program, with accommodations and support based on their needs. However, our camp philosophy centers around community–everyone participates together in everything.
• Has reliable form of communication to convey wants and needs–whether verbal, non-verbal, or with an assistive technology device.
  • Your camper needs to be able to receive and understand instructions for safety and participation.
• Be in good general health and able to handle the daily aspects of the camp day.
  • Be able to tolerate higher outdoor temperatures and sun exposure
• Be able to maintain a respiratory status independent of supplemental oxygen or other devices.
  • This is due to the nature of our program, our location, and our limited ability to accommodate a respiratory crisis.
• Be willing and able to contribute to a positive community.
  • This includes being respectful of other campers and staff, refraining from inappropriate language and conduct, and abiding by all Camp Hardtner rules and regulations.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding the suitability of Able Camp for your camper.