About Camp RAD
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, human development & family science, public health and nutrition.
We provide a fun, safe summer experience that promotes life skills and physical activity with a focus on the comprehensive well-being of the child. Our interdisciplinary team of professionals uses an innovated model to plan, implement, monitor progress, and evaluate 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.
Last updated: 3/23/2022