SEPTEMBER 5 • 2024 | 15
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the family atmosphere the camp 
provides. “He sees the people 
at this camp as family,” she 
explains. “It’s not just another 
experience. The atmosphere you 
have is just unparalleled for an 
adult like Tyler.” 
He enjoyed the opportunity 
to make new friends, especially 
as some of his friends have aged 
out of the program, she explains. 
“He came home. I said, ‘Did 
you like it?’ He said, ‘I loved 
it,’” she reports. “The essence 
of camp is just that it gives him 
opportunities to go places and 
do things he can’t do without 
support. And not just support, 
but support from people who 

understand him, who want to 
understand him, who are patient 
with him and do whatever it 
takes to make that experience 
successful and happy for him.” 
For Gagnon, who says he 
hopes to attend next year as 
well, the summer was a success, 
complete with a carnival, roller 
coasters and more. “Going to 
JCC Camp is like giving kids a 
dreamland. It’s giving them a 
chance to express who they are 
by letting them do things as a 
community, not just as a camp, 
but also as a living society,” 
he says. “There are so many 
wonderful memories we make 
together.” 

Tessa Hewitson, KAT Unit Head, 
Jack Schiffer, KAT camper and 
Ashlee Frankford, KAT counselor

Micah Johnson 
and Penny 
Beadle, SNAP 
participants

Participants in the 
Young Adults All 
Together program