News & Updates

See & read about what is going on in the Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center community

No special talents other than caring

Special Friends Camp Buddy 450pxBy Carolyn Cross, Special Friends Volunteer

I recently retired from a very long and rewarding career with Kimberly-Clark! One of the items on my bucket list was to volunteer at Special Friends summer camp at Warm Beach. This camp gives individuals with developmental disabilities an opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind camp experience.

To be honest, I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. On the first day of training I met my fellow volunteers and learned the name of my camper. It was then that my purpose became real and I was caught up in the excitement. As a “buddy,” my role was to assist my camper in participating in their activities of choice, share in their joy and excitement, and most importantly, keep them safe!

Special Friends Camp is sheer JOY for these campers! The welcome line greeted campers as they arrived and every day was filled with high-fives, swimming, mini-golf, climbing towers, train rides, crafts and so much more. Being a “buddy” required no special talents other than a caring presence and a desire to ensure your camper’s happiness and safety.

My camper’s happiness and joy was a true reward. Her smile was pure sunlight. I knew this experience would be life-changing and provide another avenue for me to contribute my skills and time. My heart overflows with love for this camp. But more importantly my circle of friends and extended family has grown immensely!

An Environment for Life Change

By actively demonstrating kindness, support, and encouragement to one another, the Horsemanship Staff has created an environment where all who participate down at the Barn have life-changing experiences. Sara, a weekly Horsemanship volunteer, found the Christ-centered environment of the Barn to be just what she needed. Below is her testimonial: “I moved to Warm Beach in December 2023, and by February, Horsemanship had already become the greatest blessing of my year and the highlight of my weeks. I came to ...

A Legacy of Faith: Michael Kanyid’s 40-Year Journey at Warm Beach Camp

There’s something special about the bonds that form at camp—a place where lives are shaped, hearts are opened, and faith takes root. For Michael Kanyid, his story at Warm Beach Camp is a powerful reminder of how moments can ripple through generations, changing not just one life, but many. It all started in 1983 when Michael was 17 years old. Michael grew up in a non-Christian home, and the idea of attending church or camp wasn’t something that was initially ...

The Words we Use

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 NLT Early on in my role as Executive Director of Warm Beach Camp Ministries (nearly 30 years ago now), I would use foul language as a form of humor. At the time, I thought it quite clever to surprise people in a conversation with a “crass word zinger.” Often, it would ...