According to Kirsti Buchholz

By: Arielle Buchholz

Camp Jabberwocky is the longest running overnight camp for people with disabilities in the United States. Camp Jabberwocky is located in Vineyard Haven, MA on Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod, MA. The camp is directed to campers with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and other mental handicaps. The counselors are unpaid volunteers from all around the country. Kirsti Buchholz has been a counselor for 6 years and camp is very close to her heart and has changed her life in many ways. The following is a picture PowerPoint of her time at Camp Jabberwocky.

Kirsti at the beach with camper Dominic, diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Camp Jabberwocky makes daily trips to the beach where campers and counselors can interact and play games, relax, and swim in the water.

One of the weekly trips camp takes is into Oak Bluffs, for the community sing along. This night ended with a rain delay, so Kirsti, fellow counselor Chris Martin (Left) and camper Jeremy Long (middle) pass the time making funny faces

More Beach fun with camper Grace Kolf (Left) diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

Kirsti with fellow counselor Meghan Mcanany (Middle), and Camper Jeremiah, diagnosed with metal retardation.

Another big night for campers and counselors is camp prom. Everyone dresses up in crazy costumes and a pizza dinner and then the whole camp dances the night away in the studio cabin.

Kirsti with camper Athena (middle), diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and counselor Lisa dressed up for prom.

Kirsti with camper Kyle (below) diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Kirsti with camper Moriah, diagnosed with mental retardation at another dance party held by a restaurant on the island.

Counselors and campers also experience fun activities like by plane rides (below) Jet skiing and parasailing, and kayaking

Overall, Kirsti says that words cannot describe how rewarding camp has been these past 6 years. “I one day plan to become the camp doctor once I finish medical school”, Kirsti says. “I want to be able to come to camp for the rest of my life, it is the happiest place on earth with the most fun and interesting people. I love camp with all of my heart, it’s so sad to say goodbye every summer when all the campers leave”. Fortunately for Kirsti and other counselors, she is able to connect with campers on Facebook and able to see campers outside of camp throughout the year. But every summer, she boards the plane in Florida to Massachusetts to spend a month at the best place on earth, Camp Jabberwocky.