Camp Smile

Camp Smile is a New York certified summer day camp for children who are blind or visually challenged. Formed in 1972, the camp is sponsored and financially underwritten by the Webster Lions Club. The camp annually hosts an average of 50 children ages' 5-21. The primary purpose of Camp Smile is to provide real-life opportunities not otherwise available to blind or visually challenged children. The ultimate goal is to encourage each child to be independent, to experiment, to feel and sense things that, for many of them, occur for the first time at this camp. The director and assistant director are fully trained in health regulations as well as first aid. Health regulations are strictly enforced as to medications, privacy rules, etc. Services are provided at no cost by the Webster Lions Club and include two-way transportation daily, local housing for those children who attend camp from outside the immediate area, lunches and snacks, insurance and emergency medical/dental assistance. Financial aid and support are solicited within the community through various fund-raising activities and grants. The Webster Kiwanis Club continues to allow Camp Smile to use their field house each summer at Kiwanis Park, Shangri La Lane, in Webster. A typical two-week session at Camp Smile may include crafts, non-competitive games, swimming, roller/ice skating, fishing trips, nature walks and field trips. Each session is climaxed with an overnight campout (weather permitting) with the evening meal and morning breakfast prepared by the Webster Lions Club. Camp officially ends with an awards ceremony. Camp Smile has been deemed a success by the smiles we see each summer on the face of each camper and counselor and the fact that all look forward to returning year after year. Lasting bonds are created between camper and counselor. Many counselors have chosen careers in helping professions (i.e. teaching, speech and physical therapy, nursing, etc.