16-17 Student Involvement Guide

VICTORY JUNCTION CAMP
Student Involvement Guide
2016-2017
victoryjunction.org

The Camp
Victory Junction is accredited by the American Camp Association and the SeriousFun Children’s
Network to host residential year-round camp programs.
Our state-of-the-art facility and medically sound program hosts children from all fifty states and
several countries with chronic and serious illness.
Every child accepted no matter their medical complexity is able to
participate in our program due to our 100% promise.
No family ever pays to send their child to camp.
100+
300,000+
$6.5 MIL
50
Diagnoses camp
serves
Annual volunteer
hours
Donations needed each
year to operate camp
States represented by our
volunteers

Student Involvement Guide
Table of Contents
4 Letter from camp
5 Our Inspiration
6 Global Impact
7 Who We Serve
8 Our Care
9 Our Programs
10 Camp Positions
11 Counselor Profile
12 Camper Profiles
13 Why Us
Connect With Us:

Letter from Camp
Dear College/University:
Two of the most active words to describe our
program are life-changing and fun, and they
describe a large part of our mission quite well.
Located in the small town of Randleman, North
Carolina, our program is focused on the impact
camp can have on children battling chronic and
serious illnesses. At camp, children are able to
experience typical childhood activities that are
difficult to participate in outside of our gates.
At Victory Junction, we are privileged with the
opportunity to not only host thousands of children
each year, yet, thousands of individuals who fulfill
hundreds of hours of service. As a leading camp that
maintains a standard of excellence, we are focused
on the care, safety, and providing a one-of-a-kind
camp experience. Our team cannot maintain these
standards without your help.
Victory Junction has made huge strides over the last
twelve years. As we enter into the next decade of
service, we are prepared to see even more campers.
In an effort to see more children, we welcome
heroes, role models and mentors to join our
community of life-changers. Although campers are
our first priority, our team is committed to establishing
a culture where individuals from around the United
States thrive. It is our hope that you will share our
mission with students from your college or university so
they may be the next buddy for one of our campers.
With warmest personal regards,
Will Wright
Program Operations
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Our Inspiration
Adam Petty
In 1999, a lanky, wide-smiling teenager visited
Camp Boggy Creek, a SeriousFun camp in
Florida, with his dad and knew it was his calling to
bring a similar camp to the hills of North Carolina
where he grew up. This young man was up and
coming racecar driver Adam Petty, son of
NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, grandson of racing
legend Richard Petty and great grandson of
NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty. This fourth generation
driver was just starting his own racing career while
still sleeping under his parents’ roof— but Adam
was wise beyond his years. Passion drove him
both on the track and in his desire to help others.
Between races, Adam was often found in pediatric
hospitals visiting children with challenging
medical conditions. He also began saving money
and developing the plans for the children’s camp
of his dreams. One year after his touching
experience visiting Florida’s Camp Boggy Creek,
Adam Petty tragically lost his life in a racing accident
at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He was only 19
years old. To honor Adam’s memory, the Petty family
gathered their strength and challenged themselves,
their friends and the NASCAR community to build his
inspired dream— a place where children with serious
illness would be able to experience the joys of
childhood and forget about being sick for a
while. With land donated by Richard and Lynda
Petty, the Petty family spearheaded a capital
campaign in 2002 and dollar by dollar received
donations from corporations, individuals and
foundations to build what would become Victory
Junction, a NASCAR-themed camp located in
Randleman, N.C. Adam’s legacy of love was
realized when we opened our gates to our first
campers in June of 2004.
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Global Impact
SeriousFun Children’s Network
SeriousFun Children’s Network spans the globe with a thriving community of 30 camps and programs
that have served children from over 50 countries and throughout five continents. Designed around
the principle of purposeful play, creative staff members and volunteers ensure that every child
experiences success and gains the confidence to try new and exciting things in a supportive
environment. Our camps feature a diverse range of adaptive programs, such as high and low ropes
courses, winter sports programs and equestrian arenas, as well as the traditional camp activities like
swimming, boating, arts and crafts and campfires.
Since 1988, Paul Newman’s vision has evolved from one camp in Connecticut to a global
community reaching children from 50 countries, across five continents. In addition to our worldwide
camp locations, the development of our Global Partnership Program (GPP) has allowed us to
expand our reach to help children in developing countries where the medical and psychosocial
needs often exceed the locally, available resources.
Through SeriousFun, the camp experience has been translated around the world, touching the lives
of more than 600,000 children and family members in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America and
Africa since 1988. But we can always do more. And we eagerly look forward to bringing the spirit,
strength and laughter of camp to as many children as possible.
Map- Victory Junction
Camper Numbers 2015
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Who We Serve
Children with medical Complexities
Camp is available to children ages six to 16. Our campers have come from all 50 states and around the
world. The Victory Junction experience is a welcome break for children who spend most of their year
receiving medical treatments or attending countless hospital visits. Since opening our gates in 2004, we
have served more than 23,000 campers and their family members during summer and family weekend
camps. The magic of camp is also taken beyond the gates of Victory Junction through the Reach
program. Victory Junction’s Reach team works with pediatric hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses to
enhance and support existing patient and family-centered care with specialized camp-style
programming year-round in North and South Carolina and has served more than 8,000 children since
the program began in 2011.
Bleeding Disorders
Burn Survivors
Cancer
Cerebral Palsy
Craniofacial Anomalies
Diabetes
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Genetic Disorders
Heart Disease
Immunologic Disorders
Kidney Disease
Lung Disease
Neurological Disorders
Rheumatologic Disorders
Sickle Cell Anemia
Skeletal Dysplasia
Skin Disease
Spina Bifida
Physical Variances

Our Care
We could not provide life changing experiences without having the highest standards of care for
every child. There is no cookie cutter approach. Our medical team meticulously
reviews each child’s medical record to ensure a continuum of care and that all activities for the
camper are medically appropriate.
The medical team’s base of operation is The Body Shop, our state-of-the-art medical facility and
pharmacy equipped to handle everyday medical needs in addition to emergency
situations. To make sure fun-filled days are not interrupted, scheduled medications are handdelivered
and administered. We work to keep camper time in the Body Shop to a minimum to maximize
the fun.
Medical Professionals
Our medical facility is staffed 24 hours a day.
Physicians
Nurse Practitioners
Physician Assistants
Registered Nurses
EMT’s
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Our Programs
Fall, Spring, and Summer
Summer Camp
Victory Junction’s summer camp program is a one-of-a-kind camp experience. At our NASCAR
themed facility, campers get to participate in multiple activities that are scheduled throughout a
one week period. Unlike traditional summer camps, Victory Junction is built to inspire campers to
look past their illness to find joy. Each week of summer camp is tailored to a specific illness or similar
illnesses.
Family Weekends
Victory Junction’s family weekends are more of an escape for families who attend countless doctor
visits, medical treatments, and the businness of daily life. Our retreat atmosphere provides up to
eight family members the opportunity to relax, enjoy unique activities, and discover the meaning of
family again.
Program Areas
Adam’s Race Shop
Adventure
Archery
Arts and Crafts
Boating
Fab Shop
Fishing
Horse Barn
Maze
Miniature Golf
Music
Sports & Recreation
Theater
Tree House
Wood Shop
Zip Line
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Camp Positions
Find the right fit for you
Volunteers
Throughout the year, our team relies on the support of hundreds of volunteers who are committed
to fulfilling the mission of Victory Junction. Individuals who volunteer at camp come from all fifty
states and several countries. As a volunteer, individuals are responsible for a variety of different aspects
of camp.
Seasonal Staff
From mid-May until early August, Victory Junction hires nearly ninety seasonal staff to be an active
part of our program. As a seasonal staff, you receive the opportunity learn a lot about the camper
illnesses we serve, adaptive programming,
Cabin Counselor
As a Cabin Counselor, spend each week empowering campers to do more than they ever imagined.
Cabin Counselors serve as the primary role model for six to eight campers on a weekly basis.
Counselors will assist campers with activities of daily living, provide support and
encouragement at program areas and ensure the healthy and safety of our campers.
Program Counselor
As a Program Counselor, you will be in one of our activity areas providing intentional programming
to our campers. You will plan, facilitate, and supervise safe activities catered to the specific needs
of our campers each week. When not facilitating in the activity area, you will provide support to
campers in their cabin.
Benefits:
Competitive Salary
Summer Housing
Meals during camp sessions
Experience
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Counselor Profile
Carly Blatt
“
Be prepared to leave
different than you arrived.
“
Carly Blatt
Pre-Med Student
Personal Impact
“Victory Junction is my home away from
home. When you go to Victory Junction you
think that you’ll be inspiring campers every
week but what you quickly learn is that your
campers inspire you. Your campers teach
you incredible things and help you discover
your true self. I have gained so much
courage from my campers that has helped
me to conquer my own fears. Victory
Junction has shown me that nothing is impossible,
that dreams can come true.
There’s something that makes camp sparkle.
At first, it’s small and you don’t realize it’s
there but slowly it grows until it is all
encompassing. It’s hope. Camp makes you
want to do better, and be better. Camp
molds you into the best version of yourself. I
would not be the person I am today without
Victory Junction. They say that home is
where the heart is and I know that my heart
will always be at Victory Junction.”
Life-Long Commitment
2013 2014 2015 2016
Carly’s first summer at
Victory Junction, she
served as a sports and
recreation counselor .
Carly’s came back to
camp as a volunteer
for two summer camp
weeks.
Carly’s came back as
a head counselor. In
this role, she supervised
25 counselors.
Carly came back this
past summer as a
volunteer for a new
disease group.
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Camper Profiles
Eric and Westley
Every child deserves the
chance to attend camp.
Eric has attended camp 9 times since 2006. Why you ask,
because his mom knows this is the happiest place on earth for
him. You see not only is Eric wheelchair bound he is also
non-verbal. This makes home life very difficult, especially since
Eric is being raised in a single parent household. Although Eric
cannot verbally tell his mom what he likes or doesn’t like, she
can see it through his eyes and picture perfect smile. In 2013
she quoted “Although I cry after dropping him off every time, I
know he is safe and happy and that’s all a mom can ask for”.
You ask what does camp do for Eric. After speaking with his
mom several times, we know that he not only makes new
friends, which is hard outside the gates, but also he gets to
participate in activities that he only watches his older brother
do at home.
Wesley a camper who battled a life-threatening illness
attended camp for the 8 th time this summer. He not only got
over the depression and difficult treatments by
coming to camp, but he also got what counselors like to call
the “energizer switch”. You see, when Wesley first rough and
happiness is nowhere to be seen. You see when Westley
first came to camp he was very shy, didn’t enjoy going to activities and really just wanted to rest. But
little did we know this would be quick to change. You ask, how camp did this for Wesley? You see,
camp is a place where you can be yourself and people will not judge you. Who knew an “imaginary
switch” would create a child who is always smiling and running around like he just had 13 cherry ICEE’s
from the Pit Stop. We on Program Staff believe sometimes you just need people to believe in you when
times are rough and happiness is nowhere to be seen.
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Why Us?
You Can Make A Difference Here
As a well built institution committed to providing hope for children who deal with difficult even
unbearable circumstances, we need individuals who are committed to that same purpose. As a
member of our community, you not only provide the spark of happiness that keeps these children
going, you become their hero. Victory Junction is not your typical camp that consists of bug bites,
long nature hikes or showers outside. We are an organization that constructed a “Disney like”
atmosphere filled with colorful buildings, unique programs, and magical experiences, that allow
children with medical complexities the opportunity to spend time away from home. On any given day
when camp is in session, you will find yourself taking a minute to pause and reflect on the unbelievable
moments that are happening around you. It is true that we have a indoor baseball field, bowling, and
a space that only serves sweet treats, however, camp is nothing without the remarkable children that
will leave a lasting impression on your heart. The time is now. The person is you.
Our camp is waiting to see what kind of contribution you will make!
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W E W ANT Y OU.
victoryjunction.org