Camp Rainbow to opens for 30th season on July 11
Press Release, Arc GLOW
Provided photo: A camper enjoys playing in the sand at Camp Rainbow.
RIDGEWAY – Arc GLOW’s Jenifer Batt is gearing up for another exciting season at Camp Rainbow!
Batt is director of the camp which opens for its 30th season on July 11. The camp is accepting applications for campers and staff.
“This year, we really want to stress the availability of scholarships for eligible campers that cover one week of camp and transportation,” she said.
The 2022 season kicks off July 11 and runs through August 12 and each session lasts one week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp is open to all children ages 5 – 21; Younger children must have finished their first year of elementary school and campers over 16 must still be in school to attend.
While Camp Rainbow was originally designed to meet the needs of children with developmental and/or physical disabilities, it was opened up to all children in 1992.
Since that time, Camp Rainbow has encouraged friendships and understanding among all children, promoting integration and inclusion.
“What a great milestone – 30 years of making memories for all children,” Batt said. “People love to reminisce about their time at Camp Rainbow – in fact I just learned that one of the counselors we hired for this summer is a former camper.”
The camp schedule includes daily participation in arts and crafts, music, nature and science, and athletics programming, under the supervision of a team of enthusiastic camp counselors. The camp nurse is on-site at all times during the camp day.
Campers will receive two wholesome meals daily at no charge, through the assistance of the Summer Food Service Program offered by the New York State Department of Education. With parental consent, children will enjoy free swim time under the supervision of a certified lifeguard in Camp’s 4-foot in-ground swimming pool.
“We are excited to announce that our field trip to the Orleans County Fair returns this year for the first time since 2019,” Batt said.
Positions are available for people looking for a fun and rewarding work experience this summer. Openings include counselors, lifeguards and a head lifeguard (click here).
The week-long camper scholarships that are available include the cost of tuition, meals and transportation for a week of camp. Campers can come for a week, multiple weeks, or the entire five weeks. However, scholarships are for one week only in order to give as many kids as possible the camp experience. Private pay cost for camp is $135/week for tuition and $90/week for transportation.
New this year, with enough interest, a Batavia-based bus pick up/transportation option will be added. Parents can also provide their own transportation to and from camp. Transportation and scholarships are limited so it is important to get applications in soon. They can be found on the Camp Rainbow page of Arc GLOW’s website (click here) and are due May 15. If you have questions or need assistance with completing or returning the application, please call Jenifer Batt at 585-343-1123 ext. 1150 or email jbatt@arcglow.org.
Camp History – Located at 2272 Yates-Carlton Townline Road, the Shenberger family generously donated the property that is home to Camp Rainbow. They wanted to help create a place where children with disabilities, now all children, had opportunities for fun and interaction. Volunteers then spent hundreds of hours clearing the land and building the facilities.
