| | By Little Tony Piantine, Camp Daniel | |
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| | I HAVE
HOPE. JEREMIAH 29:11 | |
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| | | For the 2025 camp season, our theme is taken from Jeremiah 29:11: God has a plan to give you hope. So, our camp theme is… I Have Hope. Understanding God's plan for our lives can be hard for some, but knowing that God desires for us to have hope is foundational to walking the path He has for us. Much of our faith is grounded in the reality of our past, but hope
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| | propels us forward into the future. When we walk with hope, it declares that we can face life without fear of the next step. Hope is not blind optimism that everything will work out—it is a reliance on God’s promises, knowing they are true and that we can trust Him to guide us. In life’s hardest times, hope is the superpower we need to keep moving forward. 2024 has been a trying year, filled with health challenges, family upheaval, scary changes, and hard time for many of our Camp Daniel staff. Without the hope of God’s promises, it would have been easy to fold under the pressure and stop moving forward. As a camp family, we’ve experienced the power of collective hope by leaning on each other—loving, caring, and watching out for one another. Together, we’ve continued to move ahead through these times. I remember just a few years ago when Karol lay in a hospital bed in Kentucky after having a major stroke. The day before, I had given the neurosurgeon permission to remove part of Karol’s skull to relieve the pressure building in her brain. I sat awake all night at her bedside, feeling fear like I had never felt before. Everything had changed so abruptly, and I could hardly catch my breath. That night, I was consumed by anxiety, doubts, and fear—a chasm so deep, it felt impossible to cross. Very early the next morning, before the surgical team came in, my phone rang. The caller was Pastor John Koch, a giant presence in my life who has taught me so much about being a man and a minister. He told me to focus on just one thing: “God loves Karol more than anything in the world, and you should have hope in that fact.” In that moment, with that simple statement, my mind calmed, and I felt peace in the coming storm of fear—fear of what was next and next and next for Karol’s life. I was filled with hope. We find inspiration in God’s promises, trusting that He always keeps His word. Even in difficult times, like my dad’s (Tony Sr.) battle with cancer, we hold onto hope. We often remind ourselves of God’s love, even in spite of life’s challenges. Whether the cancer goes into remission or remains a battle he fights, we trust in God’s unwavering love and plan for good. The true beauty of hope is that it doesn’t depend on circumstances—it endures, giving us strength and peace in every season. We trust that God’s love is unwavering, and we live in hope that He wants the best for us, no matter what we encounter on life’s path. As we look ahead to the 2025 summer camp season and weekend getaways, we invite you to join us in embracing this year’s theme: I Have Hope. -Little Tony Piantine, Camp Director | |
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| | In October, Megan Petty joined Camp Daniel from Massachusetts, bringing nine years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities as The Happy Place Director at Bethany Community Church. After experiencing Camp Daniel in 2019, she felt called to join our mission. Megan is passionate about creating community and vocational training opportunities and will contribute to Camper Max and other programs. | | | |
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| | | In November, Rachel-Grace Bornholdt joined us from Spokane, Washington, after volunteering at Camp Daniel for nearly a decade. Passionate about advocacy and learning ASL, Rachel-Grace will work across various programs, including coaching Special Olympics, assisting in Abe Fellowship and being the front of house host on campus. Both Megan and Rachel are in need of monthly supports. If you are interested visit our website to get started. | |
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As we look back on the 2024 holiday season, we’re filled with gratitude for the connections, joy, and celebrations that took place. We kicked off the season in November with our Holiday Weekend Getaway, a fully booked program that set the tone for the months ahead. We celebrated the fall season and then the birth of Jesus. Our movie nights were a hit showing Home Alone & The Polar Express. We had letter-writing to Santa, fun diner specials, and Evan dressing up as the conductor at our Polar Express Movie Night! We also had the pleasure of hosting New View Industries for their company Christmas party, a local workshop for people with disabilities, with over 80 guests. It was exciting to see many familiar faces who attend camp programming and faces who were new to Camp Daniel. Our 6th Annual Very Merry Christmas Party wrapped up the season with over 220 guests enjoying live music, a raffle, pop-up shop, and lots of fun activities. It was a great time of fellowship, food, and entertainment, all supporting Camp Daniel’s programs. We’re grateful for the continued growth of the Camp Daniel community and can’t wait to dive back into our programs in the new year!
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| | We’re excited to announce the launch of Crivitz Able Fellowship, a new weekly gathering where we’ll come together to share meals, build community, and grow in our faith—together. This inclusive fellowship is open to all ages, all abilities, and everyone is welcome to join us as we grow in relationship with God and each other. Ruth Hucek, one of our missionary staff members, shares the heart behind the creation of this new fellowship: “Last Lent season, I participated in a study at my church on church vitality, which asked, ‘Is your church doing what it takes to carry out God’s great commission?’ It made me reflect on how we, as a church, are reaching out to those outside our walls—those who are missing from our pews, and inviting them to walk with us in following Jesus. This study prompted me to think about the people in our community who are often overlooked and who don’t always have a space to connect with others. Specifically, I felt called to create a place for people with disabilities, where they can belong, grow in faith, and build relationships.” Ruth continues: “The need for inclusion is something we talk about often at Camp Daniel. People with disabilities need to be a part of our everyday lives, and we need them. It’s important to have a full church body—one that includes everyone. While there are some great church communities for people with disabilities in Green Bay, we noticed the lack of a weekly gathering closer to home, and that’s when the vision for Crivitz Able Fellowship was born. I wanted to create a space to welcome and serve the growing community of people with disabilities and their families that I’ve connected with through Special Olympics.” | |
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| | Upcoming Events and Programs | |
| | Once someone, whether it be a camper with a disability, a volunteer, or even a visitor, gets connected to Camp Daniel in any way, we want to be able to keep them consistently connected to the camp community. So we are constantly looking for opportunities for connection. This is why we have weekend getaways, movie nights, and special events in addition to summer camp. We want to provide high-quality events and programs that everyone enjoys and wants to attend. These programs and events bring together people and ultimately allow authentic relationships to grow. So we invite you to come out and enjoy the community that is Camp Daniel! Here are our upcoming events and programs and ways to get more involved. | |
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| | | | | Movie Nights at Camp Daniel’s Majestic Theater Join us for a free movie night at Camp Daniel’s Majestic Theater. Come hungry and fill up at Big Al’s Diner, where there will be concessions for purchase before the movie begins. Norm’s Gas & Game room will be open as well. Event is open to all. | | | |
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February 15, 2025
SHOWING: The Princess Diaries CAMPUS OPENS AT 5:00 MOVIE START TIME 6:00 PM Celebrate Valentine’s (or Galentine’s!) weekend & enjoy a FREE and cozy Saturday evening out! Fun diner specials!
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| | | March 22, 2025 SHOWING: Moana 2 CAMPUS OPENS AT 5:00 MOVIE START TIME 6:00 PM
April 19, 2025 SHOWING: The Wild Robot
CAMPUS OPENS AT 5:00 MOVIE START TIME 6:00 PM
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| | We're thrilled to announce that summer camp applications for 2025 will be available soon! Volunteers apps are available now, and camper app will be available March 4. Each summer, over 200 campers with disabilities from across the Midwest and beyond attend Camp Daniel. For many, it’s the best week of their year, so we invite you to be a part! We're looking for volunteers to serve as support crew, kitchen crew, and as counselors-- offering one-on-one or two-on-one support for campers. You don't need prior experience—just a heart to serve and make lasting memories. Counselors from all ages, 14-80+, are needed to make this camp experience unforgettable.
Please share this exciting opportunity with your friends, family, church, and community. Help us ensure we can accept as many campers as possible and provide them with an incredible week of fun, friendship, and faith. | |
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| | Support Camp Daniel by donating practical items through our Amazon Wish List. Simply click the link on our homepage, choose the items you'd like to give, and they'll be shipped directly to camp. It's a simple way to meet our immediate needs and make a direct impact on the lives of our campers. Visit campdaniel.org to get started! Three ways to give: 1. New - you purchase the item 2. Used - you already have something you'd like to donate 3. Donation to purchase the item Stamps for camper birthday cards Ipads (2017 or newer) Iphones (Iphone 7 or newer) 1x4 inch address labels, 5000/box ($130) Printer Ink - Canon 2660B015AA Original 118 ($147) 12' Enclosed Trailer
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| | As we step into the new year, consider joining our monthly giving community to help us continue creating a place where people with disabilities feel valued and loved. At Camp Daniel, we rely on the generosity of donors to sustain our mission while staying financially conservative and debt-free. Your ongoing support ensures we can provide a high-quality camp experience at an affordable cost. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of lasting impact and meaningful connections! Other Giving Options memorial gifts | electronic funds transfer (EFT or ACH) | bill payee service I planned giving (estate) matching funds (many corporations match employee gifts)
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| | Mail a check to Camp Daniel, your money goes the furthest, as there are no online fees. Camp Daniel W10541 Army Ln Athelstane, WI 54104
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| | | Visit our website at campdaniel.org, here you will be able to give a one time donation or set up monthly giving, our biggest need.
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