In 1995, while recuperating at Shands Hospital from heart transplant surgery, Eddie Mulock witnessed the plight of many children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. During his extended stay, he wondered what these children did away from the hospital. These musings turned into a dream; to build a camp for children with special needs. By 1996, Eddie had founded the Foundation for Dreams, a non-profit dedicated to building and funding Dream Oaks Camp.

In August of 2000, the Foundation for Dreams formed a collaborative partnership with the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. This effort allowed the Foundation to build Dream Oaks Camp  on the grounds of Camp Flying Eagle, thereby utilizing the existing facilities and focusing on refurbishing older buildings. In addition, the Foundation leased 10 acres of Camp Flying Eagle for 30 years, providing space for the construction of cabins and allowing the Board of Directors to concentrate on a long term vision of providing camping programs to children with special needs on a year-round basis. The Foundation for Dreams and Dream Oaks Camp remain independent from the Boy Scouts of America.

By summer 2001, Dream Oaks Camp welcomed its first set of campers. In the camp’s debut, 56 children experienced Dream Oaks Camp. Children between the ages of seven and seventeen who have physical or mental disabilities, chronic illnesses and those considered "at risk" were riding horses, canoeing on the Manatee River, up to their elbows in arts and crafts and singing along to camp songs. Renovations were completed on the Manatee Memorial Hospital Infirmary, the Splash Pool Complex and the Neal Nature Center.

Since the summer of 2001 seven cabins have been constructed, furnished and decorated for the children and counselors’ overnight stay. Each cabin is equipped with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and is accessible to meet the needs of the children we serve.

Once the word got out about Dream Oaks Camp and the quality of programs being offered our programs were expanded to include weekend camps and weekend family camps. Also, in an effort to provide special experiences to more children, additional weeks of summer camp were added along with the ability to serve more children each week with newly built camp cabins.

Today, nearly 300 children each year participate in a true camping experience while learning to enjoy their independence, strengthen their life-management skills and participate in activities with other children in an inclusive, barrier-free environment.