This summer residential camp for disabled and physically challenged children provides medical personnel and routine care on a 24 hour basis. In addition to the medical personnel and regular camp counselors, the camp tries to provide one adult volunteer for every two children during the time they are at camp.

Camp Optimism has programs for swimming, boating, softball, volleyball, soccer, crafts, games and nature trails. It also has a complete medical facility, a dining hall, and a craft hall. This campsite also has an amphitheater and an outside pavilion. The campers and counselors sleep in onsite cabins.

The cost for a one week (6 days) stay at the camp is $375.00 per child. However, no child will ever be denied admission to the camp due to an inability to pay (subject to available funds) or on the basis of race, creed, gender, nationality, or color.

Camp Optimism is dedicated to providing a typical summer camp environment for at least 320 of our physically and mentally handicapped children in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia areas. We have recently received requests to accept campers from Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The camp is for children, age seven to fourteen, with cancer, juvenile diabetes, deaf or hard of hearing and mentally retarded. (no age limit for mentally retarded individuals).

The program is completely independent and directed toward the enjoyment of all of the campers. No religious, ideological or political program is imposed on the campers. Rules of common sense, good behavior and friendship toward others are all we ask.