| Camp Star of Hope is more than a week-long residential camp for adults with mental retardation or related disabilities – it is a Charleston tradition for families and individuals who are served by the Disabilities Board. The co-ed camp is housed at Camp Ho Non Wah on beautiful Wadmalaw Island in late July each summer. Campers enjoy a wide variety of activities, including canoeing, swimming, games, crafts, cookouts, and dances. We hold two sessions of camp each summer, running from Monday to Saturday, each serving about 60 individuals with disabilities. | |
| Camp Star of Hope is best suited for adults who are independent in self-care skills, have no major medical problems, and are able to participate in the kinds of activities provided. Participants sleep in camp cabins that are not air conditioned – we don’t call it camp for nothing! There is a modern air-conditioned mess hall where meals and some activities take place. Campers get plenty of fresh air and exercise, but as anyone from the Charleston area knows, summers on Wadmalaw can be quite hot. | |
| Staffers at the camp include the camp director, Harold Tabor, who has worked at Camp Star of Hope for over twenty years. Teens (at least 16 years old) and young adults make up the majority of the camp counselors, but all employees work under the supervision of experienced adults. All staff members are trained in first aid and CPR, and certified life guards are employed to ensure the safety of campers who participate in water sports. A licensed nurse dispenses all medications at camp. Meals for campers and staff are prepared by staff cooks. | |
| The camp is licensed annually by SCDDSN. The review ensures that the facilities are safe, staff is properly trained, and the food preparation areas are sanitary. The Disabilities Board provides transportation to camp, leaving from the Delicious Delights bakery on Wallace School Road, and back to Delicious Delights at the end of the week for family pick-up. For most campers, Camp Star of Hope is the highlight of the summer and a vacation anticipated all year long. | |
| For more information about Camp Star of Hope, contact Jim Kilgallen, Director of Adult Day Services and Operational Management at the Disabilities Board, at 805-5875. | |
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