- May 2, 2024
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Parrish resident Amanda Kukoda said she was terrified of sending her 9-year-old daughter to camp.
But that was three summers ago. Now, Madison Kukoda is 12 years old and spending a week at Dream Oaks camp in East County has become a respite for Madison, her parents and her siblings.
“We get to do things with our kids that we can’t do when we have Madison with us,” Kukoda said. “It’s nice to be able to have that one on one time with your other kids too.”
Madison is the youngest of four children. Her mother said she’s “on the spectrum,” has an intellectual disability and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The camp is run by the Foundation for Dreams, a nonprofit that provides year round programming. Camps run from June through August. From September through May, they offer a sleep-away weekend program. And for those who deem overnights still terrifying, day camp is available.
Day camp costs $400 a week. The price increases to $700 if campers want to stay overnight. Community Outreach and Healthcare Coordinator Diane Bartoszek said those prices don’t nearly cover the foundation’s expenses, but they try to keep tuition low because many of these families have excessive medical costs to cover. Scholarships are also available.
Kukoda said her daughter can be herself at Dream Oaks, and she doesn’t have to worry about her. She won’t get a call that Madison isn’t listening or being disruptive because the staff can handle it. That peace of mind allows the family to relax for that week, too.
They enjoy quiet time at home and dinners out, but they also look forward to seeing Madison return from camp feeling confident and independent. This year, she brought home a recipe for Hulk pudding to prepare because it was superhero week.
“We’ve been kicked out of so many camps. It gets frustrating,” Kukoda said. “At Dream Oaks, she doesn’t have to apologize for being how she is. She gets to be Madison, and they embrace that.”
Campers have fun while meeting goals. Madison’s goals were to work on her independence while giving others more space. She has a tendency to burst into her siblings’ rooms unannounced.
“They don’t know they’re working on goals. The goals are set by their parents,” Bartoszek said. “For some of our children, it’s something as simple as making eye contact when talking to someone or trying a new food or asking before giving someone a hug. There’s a varying degree of goals, but they’re all outcome based and measurable.”
Campers are too busy having fun to realize they’re building skills. For them, it’s a week of horseback riding, canoeing, swimming and socializing. Campers perform a talent show at the end of the week for friends and family.
They also win awards. If a camper is a picky eater and they met a goal of trying bananas for the first time, then that camper is the Top Banana of the week and will be recognized as such.
Madison loves learning new recipes to bring home, but campers are also engaged with arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and yoga. They sing around a campfire and explore nature.
Dream Oaks operates in partnership with the Southwest Florida Boy Scouts. The seven cabins available to campers are located at Camp Flying Eagle off Upper Manatee River Road. The 140-acre parcel was purchased by the Boy Scouts in 1929 for $2,000.
Each cabin has four bedrooms with bunk beds and two bathrooms that can sleep up to six campers and staff members per room. For safety reasons, the camp maintains at least two staff members for every three to four children, which causes a waiting list of up to 15 campers per week.
“It’s because of staffing. We wish we could take all 50 of them,” Bartoszek said. “With staffing and space, we’ve been accepting about 30 or so a week.”
While the Kukodas are lucky enough to live nearby, many campers have to travel from around the state and the country to spend a week at the camp.
“There was a mom from Miami that found Dream Oaks, but she was hesitant, so I offered to talk to her,” Kukoda said. “Her daughter had a great time, and for them, they never had their own time like that before.”
