Photos & News

Camper smiling with support staff member and activity leader after catching a fish on the bay. Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography Camper from Camp Aspire smiles before taking off in sailboat with activity leader. Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography Activity leader gets camper fastened into harness to climb the rockwall
Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography Three activity leaders smile with camper as they dance at Camp MDA's dance party. Two activity leaders smile at camera under the pavilion
Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography

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    June 07, 2021

    To the Activity Leaders of 2021

    First off, I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for choosing to invest your time in Camp Aranzazu this summer. I hope you know how impressed I am by you already for showing up and starting this new adventure. It takes a great deal of courage and curiosity to do something like this. I also hope you know how much I recognize and appreciate the sacrifices you’ve already made to be here. You’ve all left people and pets you love to be here spending your time serving and impacting the lives of the people I love and I can’t put into words the gratitude I feel for that. I also can’t wait for you to meet them.

    As we’re about to jump into All Staff training and soon after into camps, I encourage you to let yourself be here, fully in the moment, as much as possible. I encourage you to be patient with yourself and all the new information you’re learning, and be patient with me too. I encourage you to pause and recognize how wonderful it is that we all get to be together, working towards a common goal and connecting with amazing people along the way, and I hope you rest in gratitude for that.

    I can’t wait to learn from each of you, and I am always honored and humbled to get to share some of the wisdom camp has taught me over the years. Camp is hard work, it’ll push you in new ways and in strange ways. I still feel like I’m constantly learning here. And while camp will push us, and challenge us regularly — it’s so very full of the good stuff and the easy stuff. It’s the sweet “good mornings” at breakfast, and the “did you see me do that’s?!” at activities. It’s the moments in the in-between when you learn about another human and their struggles and your heart gets a little bigger and softer because of that raw connection. It’s when you kind of forget about yourself and your needs and are filled up by just being a part of the joy of another. You play a pivotal role in camp’s good stuff. You get to impact lives this summer, you get to encourage, support, teach, and get to know some incredible people over the next 10 weeks. You get to be a vehicle for adventure and triumph and you’re making a difference in a person’s life every day. How amazing is that!?

    So, here we go! Enjoy it. Soak it all up and be proud of yourself and what you’re doing here. It’s going to be a beautiful summer — and so much [better] because we’re [together].

    Cheers,

    Amelia

     

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    In Other News

    Camper cheering on friend who is climbing the rockwall.
Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography

    Tuesday, June 01, 2021

    Here is some advice for your first time at camp from the Camp Director. We’re SO glad you’re coming to camp!

    read more
    A Camp Aranzazu activity leader, Angel, smiles holding binoculars while wearing the olive camp hat and embroidered flannel.

    Monday, May 24, 2021

    Our Camp Aranzazu “Camp Store” is full of so many fun things that we love to wear year-round! One of our favorite and most versatile pieces are our camp hats.

    read more
    Four campers from Camp MDA smile and show off binoculars in the middle of birdwatching. Photo by: Beyond Memory Photography

    Monday, May 17, 2021

    Did you know the Texas Coastal Bend is truly a paradise for birders? Hundreds of species call the area home year-round, and many more migratory birds can be seen here from October through March.

    read more

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    Thank you for choosing Camp Aranzazu!

    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

    Policies

    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

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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