2 minute read
Full Again
Children's Harbor camps in full session for first time since pandemic
STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY
FFor the first time since the pandemic, Children’s Harbor camps are at full capacity with 25 youth and family camps scheduled through the end of August. Returning and new campers are flocking to the beloved Lake Martin campus that caters to seriously ill children and their families.
Vicki Tuggle, chief operating officer at Children’s Harbor, said she couldn’t be happier to see the number of campers continue to climb.
“It’s the first time in four years we’re at full capacity. Because of the pandemic, it was impossible for the seriously ill campers to make it out, and they couldn’t really return until this year. Now, they’re able to come back, and we’re able to provide additional camps for other illness populations,” Tuggle said.
The surge in campers for youth and family sessions has prompted the hiring of additional employees on the Children’s Harbor team, she added.
“We have had a full staff this year. In fact, we had to add to our staff because of the number of camps we’ve had at Children’s Harbor this year,” Tuggle explained.
Children’s Harbor was established in 1990 with a generous donation of acreage by Ben and Luanne Russell of Alexander City. The facility hosts camps and organizations that serve families through The
Harbor Family Center at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. Built in the style of a nautical New England village, the Lake Martin campus at Kowaliga offers handicap-accessible lodging, dining and recreation facilities, including putt-putt golf, swimming pool, basketball, playground and more.
Along with a full roster of hosted camps, interest in family camps and retreats is growing, Tuggle said. Through retreats, families with health-challenged children can take advantage of the accessible facility to reconnect and unwind, taking a break from the stress of the everyday life of doctor visits and medical treatments to have fun.
“Our youth camps are filling up, but the family retreats are where the growth is. We have weekend availability set aside for family retreats all year long. As of now, we have just about every weekend booked through December,” Tuggle explained.
Tuggle said more family camps will be added as the interest continues to grow.
With so much activity at the Lake Martin campus, volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities. In 2022, Children’s Harbor created a volunteer group called Harbor Helpers to assist with camps, family retreats and the general upkeep of the facility.
Facing Page: Volunteers take kids in a Children's Harbor camp session for a boat ride; Below: Camp staff have a great time on the boat, too.
“By the end of the summer when we first introduced Harbor Helpers, we were just blown away with the number of people who showed up; and then, they would tell their neighbors about it. One of our volunteers said she thinks she found her purpose,” Tuggle said.
No matter the time of year, volunteers are needed on the Lake Martin campus. During various camps, volunteers offer boat rides to campers, serve meals, prepare materials for camper activities and assist with many other projects. Volunteers also help to beautify and maintain the grounds.
Volunteers work in the Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store adjacent to the camp facility, as well. Sales of donated items at the store help to fund programs and maintenance.
“The word about Harbor Helpers just continues to spread throughout the lake community. Our ability to continue hosting more camps is based on the people in our community and their willingness to help. Our volunteers continue to be the story,” Tuggle explained.
To learn more about Children’s Harbor partnerships with various organizations and/or upcoming camps and family retreats, visit the website at childrensharbor. com. Contact information for partnering organizations can also be found on the website.
Those interested in volunteering through Harbor Helpers could find more information and sign up for volunteering opportunities through the “Support Us” tab on the website.
Top: The Lake Martin campus serves patients at Children's of Alabama; Left: Camps are full again for the first time since COVID struck in 2020.