FALL 2025
ONCE Campers, NOW LEADERS Paying it forward at Camp For All
Anya Edelman, a sophomore at the University of Arizona, brought her energy and spirit full circle as a summer program staff member.
YOU’RE THE REASON
our campers smile through their challenges, find courage in community, and experience joy without limits. This newsletter is a window into the lives you’ve touched. Thank you for making Camp For All a place where healing and hope thrive!
They once arrived with wide eyes, unsure of what to expect. Now, years later, they return with confidence, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose. This summer, several former campers, including alumni from The Joy School and The Parish School, two schools in Houston for children with learning differences, came full circle. They stepped into new roles as Camp For All staff members, counselors, and mentors, giving back to the place that helped shape who they are. Camp For All summer staff member Anya Edelman remembers her early days at Camp For Joy as transformative. “Camp For All is a place where I could truly be myself without fearing that my learning disabilities would hinder my opportunities for fun,” she said. “Coming back as a staff member is my way of giving the same gifts to others.” Former Camp For All campers Matthew Garcia, Alonso Limas, and Dean Wincentsen are counselors with Social hosted by The Parish School where children and teens ages 8-16 who struggle with social competencies learn and practice Social Thinking. Each of them brings a unique energy and perspective, shaped by their own experiences growing up with challenges. Now, they’re serving in leadership roles, guiding campers with empathy, patience, and a deep understanding of what it means to be seen and supported. Their returns are more than symbolic. They’re powerful reminders of the lasting impact Camp has on its campers. “Anya, Matt, Alonso, and Dean are all living proof of our mission,” said Camp Director Allen McBride. “They’ve grown into confident, compassionate leaders, and we were so proud to have them back.”
None of this would be possible without your generous support.
Your contributions ensure that Camp For All remains a place where barriers are removed, the possibilities for discovering life are endless, and talented former campers like Anya, Matthew, Alonso, and Dean are committed to paying it forward. Top: Hosted in partnership with McLane Children’s Hospital, Baylor Scott & White, Dreamcatcher campers found joy, strength, and each other at Camp For All. Dreamcatcher is a Camp for children with cancer and blood disorders. From left to right: Dean Wincentsen, Matthew Garcia, and Alonso Limas — students at the University of Houston, University of Texas-San Antonio, and University of St. Thomas, respectively — turned their challenges into purpose, leading campers with heart and hope this summer.