The joy of Camp No Limits everywhere

Last month, Jordan and I had a chance to do something very special. We attended Camp No Limits Maryland. It isn’t our traditional camp location – but since Jordan had the amazing chance to attend the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team Kids Camp, she missed our regular CNL experience in Missouri.

Thanks to Boone County Family Resources, we were able to afford to attend a Camp No Limits one time this year. Since I had miles from work travel, I was able to take Jordan to a camp away from our home state. The Maryland camp was the one that fit our schedule and wow, it was worth it.

Here’s some of the big takeaways we got out of our Maryland camp experience.

1. Camp No Limits feels like camp no matter where you go.
   Jordan has attended Camp No Limits since she was three. Almost all of her camps have included time with camp mentor, Josh Kennison. She knew the exercises from years past and she was able to help lead the “energizers” with a few others campers.
2. Visiting a new camp means a chance to make new and amazing friends.
   Camp gave Jordan a chance to meet more limb difference kids who live on the East Coast and they were super fun. I didn’t want to violate privacy, so I’m not posting any of the cool pictures I took of her dancing with her friends at the end-of-camp dance party. But Jordan also got to finally meet Beka Marine, one of a small number of limb different models in the fashion industry. Just before camp started, Beka got a ton of attention when her story went viral before she walked in New York Fashion Week.
3. You have a chance to invite people to camp that you wouldn’t be able to invite otherwise.
   Ever since we learned about journalist Miles O’Brien’s traumatic amputation, I’ve hoped to have a chance to meet him with Jordan. Somehow the stars aligned and we were able to invite him to see camp and hang out with us for an afternoon. Jordan showed him how she ties her shoes and they tried some adventures together – a zip line and a crazy swing that drops really fast from a few stories up. I’m so glad we were able to extend an online conversation in an in-person friendship at camp.
4. A new camp setting can be pretty incredible.
   The Missouri camp is set along a lake and it’s wonderful. But the Maryland camp is also pretty special. We enjoyed some very beautiful sunsets during our time at camp. The whole location is really great.
5. It’s hard to leave Camp No Limits, no matter where you choose to attend.
   Camp No Limits Maryland ended almost exactly like any of our other Camp No Limits experiences: Jordan cried. But this time we had to leave a little early to get to the airport on time. In Missouri, we tend to be one of the last people to leave, saying goodbye to every person we can.

   Each year, Jordan and I raise money for camp. Since 2011, Jordan has skipped gifts for her December birthday and asked for donations. So far, we’ve raised $15,730! We’re ready to kick off the fundraising for camp in 2016.

   Visit our new donation page and let me know if you have any fun ways we can raise money for camp this time around!