Media Resources

Below you will find information about Camp Aldersgate including its history, core programs and leadership team, as well as our brand guide and logos. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact our Director of Communications Brooke Wilson.

Contents:

Mission, Vision & Values

Camp Aldersgate provides barrier-free experiences for individuals with special needs.

Mission

Camp Aldersgate creates life-changing experiences for individuals with special needs.

Vision

Inspiring a barrier-free future.

Values

Love and acceptance • Inclusion • Collaboration • Excellence • Innovation

BACKGROUND

ORGANIZATION HISTORY

Camp Aldersgate was dedicated over 75 years ago in 1947, when a group of women from the Little Rock Methodist council purchased the land. The 100+ acres were used for interracial fellowship, church meetings and programming for youth and senior citizens.

In 1971, Dr. Kelsey Caplinger, a well-known physician, organized the first summer medical camp for 12 children who had asthma. The program grew under partnership with MedCamps Inc. of Arkansas and by by 1979, served over 233 children.

Today, our summer camps are based off this model, and we serve children with a variety of special needs and medical conditions including autism, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, cancer, bleeding disorders, and more.

PROGRAMS

Camp Aldersgate provides year-round programming for individuals ages 6-35 with special needs and medical diagnoses. Our core services include summer and weekend camps. Several weeks of summer camp focus on specific medical diagnoses, while our Kota and Weekend Camps are available to a variety of campers with special needs.

Our programs and activities are designed for our participants to learn there are no limitations. Campers can shoot a bow at the archery course, zip-line through the trees, enjoy a pool party, catch a catfish & more! We offer many of the same activities as most traditional summer camps.

We also partner with a variety of health agencies and service organizations during the year to provide Specialty Camps. These camps provide the opportunity to develop a program tailored to the objectives of the agency, as well as, giving participants the opportunity to experience camp activities.

Core Offerings

Summer Camps

From June – August, we provide week-long residential camp experiences for children ages 6-18 and young adults ages 19-35. Each session focuses on a group of medical diagnoses and/or special needs.

Weekend Camps

During the spring and fall, we offer Weekend Camps for individuals with special needs ages 6-35. These abbreviated sessions are packed full of indoor and outdoor activities.

Specialty Camps

We collaborate with a variety of health agencies and service organizations to offer a variety of camps throughout the year tailored toward specific populations such as domestic abuse survivors and families grieving a loved one.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2024 Most Admired Nonprofit Organization Award: We are thrilled to be recognized as the Most Admired Nonprofit by Arkansas Money & Politics. This award is a testament to the dedication and compassion of our community—staff, volunteers, supporters, and campers—who make our mission possible every day. Here’s to breaking barriers and building bridges!

Camp Aldersgate Becomes First Heart-Safe Project Adam Designated Camp in the Nation: Camp Aldersgate proudly announces its designation as the first Heart-SAFE Project ADAM Camp in the nation. This significant achievement underscores the camp’s commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for all campers and staff. Outreach Coordinator at Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute, Charles Wooley, BSN, RN IV, CPEN, Paramedic, emphasized the importance of this designation: “It is significant that Camp Aldersgate became the first Heart-Safe designated Project ADAM Camp in the nation. Life threatening emergencies must be treated with a fast response, and Aldersgate proved that high-quality, lifesaving interventions can be delivered all throughout the camp rapidly.”

2023 Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence: Camp Aldersgate was one of six camps to receive the 2023 Eleanor P. Eells Award for Program Excellence at the American Camp Association’s (ACA) National Conference. This award is designed to honor camp programs that “develop effective, creative responses to the needs of people and/or societal problems using the camp environment.”

American Camp Association Accreditation: Camp Aldersgate is the only ACA accredited camp in Arkansas that focuses on serving individuals with special needs. “ACA’s accreditation standards focus on health, safety, and risk management, and are used as benchmarks by government entities. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the well-being of campers and staff.”