About Camp Discovery

Camp Discovery started in Bucks County in 1988 as an outreach program from a small church that owns the Deer Park Campground on Lower Mountain Road. The mission was based on a national program called Camp Opportunity that supported children from neglected and abused home situations. The "miracle" of the Camp Opportunity model program is to recruit local teenagers to be one-on-one counselors for children 8 to 11 years old who grow up in difficult life situations and are often unable to participate in other summer programs due to behavior or other issues.

Based on the Camp Opportunity model, Camp Discovery has come to fill a void that other summer programs and camps in the greater-Philadelphia area have been unable to meet. Camp Discovery provides for the need all children have for individualized attention, while placing its teen-aged counselors in a role as the mature "big brother" or "big sister."

When I became involved in 1990, I was a Head Counselor and it was my responsibility to oversee a group of six teenagers that each had a camper assigned to them for one week. I was impressed by the interaction of the camper and counselor, and the special bonds that they formed. Having a person to share each moment of the day, gave the campers the attention that they needed to enjoy the week. The campers were thrilled to share the day with their counselors, and each one greatly enjoyed the week. I also noticed the growth in the counselors as he or she found the difference that can be made in one child's life by simply being there as a devoted friend and knowing they were having a positive impact on the child's life.

Camp Discovery continued to grow, and in 1993, it became clear that the church could no longer support the program either financially or provide all the needed volunteers. Ada Mae Karlberg, Laura Lavery and Bob Duaime set about the process of founding a nonprofit corporation that would allow Camp Discovery  to continue providing campers and counselors with this summer camp experience.  We went about the necessary work to apply applied to the IRS for 501(c)(3) charity status, we we drew up budgets, contacted local people for help and acquired all of the other necessary items to keep camp going. The church was able to give us some financial support (in accepting our sometimes-late fees) as we struggled to meet the costs involved. Since I was a teacher in a local high school in Bucks County, I was able to recruit as counselors some of the teenagers that I had taught to be counselors. Slowly, we formed a network of supporters that were willing to donate goods and money to Camp Discovery.

Each year we have a week of overnight camping for up to 40 campers, both boys and girls without cost to the campers and their families/foster families. We work with several social service agencies that supply support to families in the area.  Several of the local social workers who know about  the mission of Camp Discovery work to connect us with campers who they feel would enjoy and could benefit from the time at Camp.   These folks make the recommendations of the campers to us.   Many of the campers reside in Bucks County, but there are also many from  Philadelphia and Montgomery County. We recruit all of our own counselors and have been lucky to get great recommendations from friends and siblings of our volunteers.

I am excited and pleased every year as camp approaches about the many great things that happen during that week. Miracles occur on a regular basis.  Over the years, I have watched teenagers take it upon themselves to "win over" and share a good time with some very timid, angry, or confused children, many of whom have never been to a wooded area or an overnight camp or away from their family, siblings, or foster families.

Thanks go to our many contributors and volunteers so many people for the help that is given, but I have always believed that it is the direct role the teenagers play that makes the greatest difference.

Camp Discovery 2012 is scheduled to be Sunday, July 29 through Friday august 3 for campers, with staff and counselors coming together on Saturday, July 28.

Bob Duaime
Vice President/Counselor Director Camp discovery