Camp Anne is a sleep away summer camp for children with special needs.

“I have an older brother who has got autism and a learning disability, so I guess he helped me to realize this is what I wanted to do when signing up for the program,” says Emily Hirst, assistant director of Camp Anne.

The camp is a nonprofit celebrating over 50 years in Columbia County. Just like any other summer camp, there’s swimming and art projects, but also goats and chickens to help the campers socialize.

What You Need To Know

  • There is a nationwide staffing shortage for summer camp staff

  • But for Camp Anne, a summer camp serving special needs children, not enough staff means fewer campers

  • The majority of camp counselors at Camp Anne come from overseas and cannot get to the U.S. due to travel bans still in place

“It really helps to bring the campers out of their shells, sometimes. So, it helps them interact with other people, as well, sometimes, and not just the animals,” Hirst said.

Most of their counselors come from overseas, and because the travel ban is still in place, they don’t have enough staff. They’re only able to accommodate around a third of the number of campers that normally attend.

“We typically have 165 staff come to work at the camp over the summer, and right now, I think we’ll be lucky to get to around 40% of what we normally get,” says Michael Rose, director of camping for Camp Anne.

A lack of camp counselors is a nationwide issue this year because of the pandemic, but for places like camps for special needs families, the consequences of being short-staffed can be much worse.

“We’re really struggling to fill the roster, and that makes a huge impact on what we do. And especially for the families of kids with disabilities from New York City, who use the camp every summer. It’s the only place they can send their kids,” Rose said.

Camp Anne will be continuously hiring over the summer in hopes of creating a fun summer for as many kids as possible. However, even with smaller sessions, Hirst says she’s going to make the most of it.

She can’t wait for her campers to arrive in just a few short weeks.

"My favorite thing about camp is the relationship the counselors form with the campers. You know, on the first day, the counselors are pretty scared and don’t really know what they’re doing, and then, after a day or two, they get into the swing of things and by the time the campers leave, all the counselors are crying because they’re going to miss them so much,” Hirst said.