Camp RAD - About Us

About Us

Camp RAD is a 4-week summer camp day program that begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day and is based in Statesboro, Georgia for local youth with disabilities from ages 10-22. The purpose of Camp RAD is to help campers transition into the “real world” after they graduate high school and help them lead healthy, independent lives. Camp RAD uses an interdisciplinary approach that utilizes experts in the fields of pediatric occupational, physical, and speech therapy, adaptive physical activity,child and family development, public health, and nutrition. We focus on teaching campers life skills, physical activity skills, and other healthy living skills while having fun (so it doesn’t even feel like learning!)

Camp RAD is directed by faculty in Adaptive PE and Exercise Science and staffed by students in Child and Family Development, Therapeutic Recreation and Exercise Science, Sports Psychology, Education, and more at Georgia Southern University. We are able to provide a 1 to 1 or 1 to 2 ratio for almost all camp days.

History

In 2010, faculty at Georgia Southern University were contacted by members of the community to assist with programming for students with disabilities. As a first step, faculty conducted an assessment to determine the needs of the community and examine current capacity to meet the needs of transition age (10-23 years of age) young people with disabilities. The study revealed multiple needs and limited capacity in rural, southeast Georgia. Faculty sought to build new partnerships to build capacity within the community to meet these needs. Camp RAD was founded in 2012 in Statesboro, Georgia through a partnership between Georgia Southern University and the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department (SBCPRD).

From 2012-2017, faculty and students from Georgia Southern University delivered the camp through the SBCPRD. Over 5 years, the camp grew from 6 participants to a full capacity of 25 with a waiting list. In 2018, Camp RAD was able partner with the Georgia Southern University Campus Recreation and Intramurals program and move to the Statesboro campus. In 2019, Camp RAD opened it's first Satellite location in Effingham County, and in 2020 Camp RAD had it's first ever Online Camp RAD.

Mission

The mission of Camp RAD is to empower transition-age youth with disabilities to live health, independent lives. Camp RAD uses an interdisciplinary approach that utilizes experts in the fields of pediatric occupational, physical, and speech therapy, adaptive physical activity, child and familty development, public health and nutrition.

We provide a fun, safe summer experience that promotes life skills and physical activity with a focus ont the comprehensive well-being of the child. Our interdisciplinary team of professionals uses an innovated model to plan, implement, monitor progress, and evalute camp.

Purpose

The purpose of Camp RAD is to provide a fun, safe, summer experience for youth with disabilities as they gain important life skills that focus on health, wellness, and physical activity.

Goal

Our goal is for our campers achieve functional goals that will further their abilities and return to school or transition into the community with new skills.

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