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Camper smiling and holding a thumbs up while waiting to scale the rock wall. Group of campers kayaking for the first time since the COVID pandemic began in 2020.

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    April 19, 2021

    An Update from Camp President

    Dear Friends,

    It is an understatement to say that we are looking forward to providing a safe, fun, life-enriching experience to children and young adults with special needs and chronic illnesses this year. While “normal” may still be slightly out of reach, we recently hosted our first group of campers in over a year. The staff was relieved, ecstatic, and emotional to once again serve the children and adults who need and benefit from the unique services we provide.

    Even prior to the pandemic, however, safety was Camp Aranzazu’s highest priority. Shortly after opening our doors in 2006, we met the American Camp Association (ACA)’s rigorous standards for accreditation and have continued to do so ever since. I am grateful that the ACA now has provided Camp Aranzazu and thousands of other camps with detailed guidelines and comprehensive educational resources regarding how to operate safely in the current environment. We have used these guidelines to develop protocols and procedures specific to Camp Aranzazu and are excited that so many of our partners have signed up to return.

    While we have had numerous challenges over the years, this latest one made me realize just how uniquely vulnerable Camp Aranzazu is. There are the people we serve — almost all of whom have serious, life-threatening, chronic illnesses and conditions. Then there is our coastal location, which makes us vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms. Our commitment to underwriting much of the cost of camp also makes us vulnerable, as we are dependent on the communities we serve to help us raise approximately $1.2 million each year so that as many children and adults as possible can benefit from our unique form of therapy. And, lastly, there is the way in which we deliver our services. While it never would have been considered a vulnerability before last year, being in close proximity has always been part of the magic of camp — spending days together, sharing meals, laughs, sleeping quarters, sports equipment, everything.

    All that said — I also know that Camp Aranzazu is as resilient as it is vulnerable. Maybe it has something to do with our mission and the people we serve. The board and staff know how to practice what we preach. We bounce back. We see the challenges, agree on a path forward, and start moving in that direction.

    So in that light, Camp Aranzazu’s Board of Directors recently agreed to launch the Camp Aranzazu Resiliency Fund Campaign. The Resiliency Fund is a permanent endowment that will provide a stable, predictable source of revenue to support both the maintenance of the Camp’s facilities and the underwriting of camper fees. A very generous donor has pledged $1 million outright and has offered to match all gifts made to the Resiliency Fund by December 2022, up to $2.5 million. Our goal is to raise a total of $10 million by December 2024.

    While our goal is ambitious, reaching it will be transformational for the Camp. It will ensure that we always will be able to address the unmet social, emotional, and physical needs of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses, regardless of whatever new and unique challenges arise.

    If ever there were a time to ponder what matters most and to think about the legacy we each will leave behind, it is now. I look forward to working with you — our loyal and generous friends — to help make this big dream come true.

    With gratitude,

    Virginia C. Ballard, President

    For more information on Camp Aranzazu’s 2021 plans, you can check out our April Camp Connections newsletter.

     

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    In Other News

    Summer camp volunteer pictured smiling with camper.

    Monday, March 29, 2021

    While our staff understands the work we do and the need for our unique form of therapeutic recreation, our families and partners are the people who witness the impact of camp first hand for children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses.

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    Amanda, Amelia, and Carleigh are dressed in different types of yellow costumes and clothing with yellow props to pull together a monochromatic portrait.

    Monday, April 05, 2021

    Our fearless programming trio including Amelia Haslam Smith, Amanda Praet, and Carleigh Mitchell give life and purpose to every single activity our campers are exposed to at Camp Aranzazu.

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    Camper and Amelia make peace sign with fingers and smile at camera during t-shirt tie-dying

    Monday, April 12, 2021

    At the end of staff training, and before campers arrive, we close our training session with a ceremony to recognize how much our staff has accomplished and to get them in the mindset for what comes next, which is ultimately the best part, our campers!

    read more

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    Rockport Adventure Day Camp

    St. Mary's Hall - San Antonio

    The Bag Ladies - Rockport

    Women in the Wild - Rockport

    Thank you for choosing Camp Aranzazu!

    Community partners are nonprofit organizations that choose to host programs at Camp Aranzazu.

    ACE Afterschool Program for Aransas County Independent School District

    Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce

    Cristo Rey Jesuit - Houston

    DFW Dance Hub - Dallas/Fort Worth

    Fulton Learning Center Birding Team – Rockport

    Girl Scouts of Victoria

    Keystone School – San Antonio

    Onxy Engineering – Corpus Christi

    Portland Chamber of Commerce

    Regents School of Austin

    Rockport Adventure Day Camp

    Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce

    Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Rockport

    Sparkling City Chorus – Corpus Christi

    St. Paul’s UMC Houston

    The Student Conservation Association - Various

    St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel - Kingsville

    Texas Ornithological Society - Various

    Texas Parks and Wildlife - Various

    Women: It Begins with Us - Houston

    Yorktown Baptist Church - Corpus Christi

    Financials

    Camp Aranzazu is extremely grateful for all the support given to our organization and is committed to cultivating trust with our campers, partners, sponsors, donors, board, and volunteers.

    Audited Financial Statements

    2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015

    Form 990s

    2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015

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    We are committed to fulfilling our mission and maintaining the trust of our friends, donors, partners, campers, and families.

    Camp Aranzazu is proud to have a four star rating from Charity Navigator, which evaluates the financial health, accountability & transparency of non-profit organizations. Four stars is their highest rating.

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    Host Committee

    Dee Dee & Steve Robinson, Chairs 

    Jennifer & Fields Alexander

    Elizabeth & Daryl Allen

    Kim & John Bonner

    Dee & Jeff Boswell

    James Brolan

    Stephanie & Ernie D. Cockrell

    Ned Crady

    Don Fernbach

    Tom Fish

    Katherine & Bobby Hatcher

    Bill Hightower

    Leigh & Jack Kins

    Tracie & Terrell Palmer

    Katherine & Brian Parsley

    Al Pratka

    Tim Reilly

    Steve Rothbauer

    Ward Sheffield

    Culver Stedman

    Patia Strickland

    Reagan Swinbank

    Prissy & John Watson

    Julie Williams

    Host Committee

    Shannon and Jon Turner, Co-Chair

    Blake and Perry Finger, Co-Chair

    Heather & Harry Affleck

    Betsy & Wally Baker 

    Sage & Rowe Blount

    Mills & Tres Buchek

    Sarah & Will Caruth

    Mary & Hunter Conger

    Liz & Chris Dewar

    Caroleene & Bobby Dobson

    Jolie & Meade Flavin

    Tifini Furst & Paul Golibart

    Katherine & Matt Gainey

    Shannon Gunn & Chris Hosner

    Allegra & Hunter Hawkins

    Trish & Clint Hennessey

    Gretchen & David Herrmann

    Brendan Herrmann

    Sally & Roger Hill III

    Camille & Clark Mandigo

    Nicole & Rob McClane

    Muffin Moorman 

    Kristan & Tom Northington

    Courtney & Chip Percy

    Katherine & John Smelko

    Chaney & Tripp Stuart 

    Jeanne & Kelvin Tatum

    Ashley & Rad Weaver

    Jodi & Michael Wood

    Christen & George Wommack

    Zazu Host Committee

    Traci McLester Arellano

    Darrell Atkins

    Frank Bay

    Robin and Jeff Floyd

    Cindy and Larry Forney

    Holly and Tom Forney

    Melissa and Charles Hall

    Gloria Hicks

    Chip Jenkins

    Robert Kelley

    Scott Meares

    Chris and David Nesloney

    Bob Shockney

    Britni and William Key

    Bob Shockney

    Ashley Rhodes Smith

    Camp Aranzazu Reservation Inquiry

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    Thank you for choosing Camp Aranzazu!

    Camping partners are nonprofit organizations serving special populations. Camp Aranzazu underwrites up to two-thirds of the cost of camp for these partners.

    36th Judicial District Juvenile Probation Dept. - Sinton

    American Cancer Society - Corpus Christi

    American Diabetes Association - Dallas

    Autism Community Network - San Antonio

    Aspire Accessories - Houston

    Brownson Home - Victoria

    Be An Angel - San Antonio

    Camp Shield - Houston

    Driscoll Children's Hospital - Corpus Christi

    Driscoll Health Plan - Corpus Christi and Laredo

    Epilepsy Foundation of Central and South TX - San Antonio/Austin

    Hope for Three - Houston

    Keystone School - San Antonio

    Mission Road Ministries - San Antonio

    Muscular Dystrophy Association - Dallas

    Periwinkle Foundation - Houston

    Respite Care of San Antonio

    Richmond State Supported Living Center

    Texas Children's Hospital - Houston

    The Tuttle School at Briarwood - Houston

    The Vine School - Victoria

    The Vine School Bridge Program - Victoria

    The Vine School Foundations Program - Victoria

    Victoria Independent School District Special Education


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    Volunteer

    Below are a list of volunteer opportunities at Camp Aranzazu. We will continue to update and add additional volunteer opportunities as they become available. Thank you for your interest!


    Special Events Support

    Camp Aranzazu holds several fundraising events throughout the year in Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Rockport. Volunteers are always needed to help make each event successful!

    In Fall 2023, our special events include:

    • Bells & Shells in San Antonio - November 15-16, 2023
    • Holiday Bells & Shells in Houston - December 5, 2023

    If you are interested volunteering at one of our special events, please email our development and communications project manager, Bianca, for more information on upcoming events.

    Maintenance of Facilities and Grounds

    Whether you are an individual looking to assist with landscaping or a company looking to make a big impact on our facilities, we can always use help more maintaining our beautiful 105-acre camp.

    If you are interested in this type of on-location volunteer opportunity supporting our 3-person facilities team, please email our facilities director, Mandy, for more information.


    Partner Camp Volunteer Opportunities

    Are you looking for ways to work directly with the children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses that we serve? Check out our camping partners who are looking for volunteers for the coming camping season! 

    Camp Aspire

    Aspire Accessories

    Contact

    Denise Hazen
    (713) 461-7200
    hazendenise@yahoo.com
    https://aspireaccessories.com/

    Camp ROCK'N

    Driscoll Children's Hospital

    Contact

    Yesenia Neil
    Yesenia.Neil@dchstx.org
    http://www.driscollchildrens.org/

    Camp TLC & Camp Little Golden Warriors

    Driscoll Children's Hospital

    Contact

    Shannon B. Broughton
    Shannon.Broughton@dchstx.org
    http://www.driscollchildrens.org/

    Activity Leader Summer 2019 Job Opportunity​​

    Every year, Camp Aranzazu hires roughly 20 college aged individuals with varying skill sets to work as Activity Leaders from mid-May to mid-August. Activity Leaders have the fun and impactful job of enriching the lives of our campers with special needs through unique camping, environmental studies and retreat experiences.

    Activity Leaders facilitate a variety of activities including, but not limited to arts and crafts, archery, high and low challenge courses, sports and games, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, sailing, swimming, nature sessions and more!

    Benefits of this paid position include room and board and the potential to satisfy fieldwork and internship requirements in various fields of study. The buttons below include the additional documentation you will need to apply for the Activity Leader position. Email your completed application, resume and two unique and completed reference forms to our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, and prepare for the summer camp experience of a lifetime!

    If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Job Description Application Reference Form


    Part-Time Receptionist

    Are you looking for a part-time job opportunity that allows you to be surrounded by nature in a supportive work environment? Camp Aranzazu currently has an opening for a part-time receptionist position on our staff. This opportunity will allow you to support our mission of enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses. To learn more about the position, click the job description below. 

    The Receptionist is responsible for overseeing functions related to the front office. The Receptionist also assists with special projects and provides some administrative support for all staff. If you are interested in the position and have any questions, please contact Lillian Anfosso, our Finance and Administative Director at lanfosso@camparanzazu.org. 

    Job Description


    Sailing Supervisor

    Imagine a position that allows you to work with campers each day and have a beautiful view of Copano Bay along the Texas Gulf Coast.

    Camp Aranzazu seeks someone with strong sailing experience to supervise our summer sailing program from mid-May through August 2019. The Sailing Supervisor will ensure that Camp Aranzazu provides a safe environment for children with special medical, physical, emotional, social or financial needs to experience sailing. Camp sessions include day camp sessions, as well as residential sessions that last from one to six nights. If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Make sure to check out the job description below. To apply, email your resume to Amelia Haslam. 


    Job Description


    Summer Art Instructor

    Do you have a passion for providing fine arts education and working with a committed staff of people dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses?

    Camp Aranzazu seeks someone with art teaching experience to supervise our summer fine arts program from mid-May through mid-August 2019. The Art Instructor will ensure that Camp Aranzazu provides an intentional, expressive, and safe environment for children with special medical, physical, emotional, and/or social needs to create and experience fine arts. Camp session include day camp sessions, as well as residential sessions that last from one to six nights. If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Make sure to check out the job description below. To apply, email your resume to Amelia Haslam. 

    Job Description