Dream Oaks Camp opens near Rye Preserve just in time for summer

Dreams will be coming true in East County this summer. 

The Foundation for Dreams is gearing up to host its Dream Oaks Camp on a newly revamped 62-acre campus next to Rye Preserve.

While not every dream for the campus has been fulfilled yet, at least 30 campers a week will be using the campus to swim, play and craft throughout the summer. 

Dream Oaks Camp serves children ages 7-17 with special needs. Dream Oaks will remain the foundation’s primary focus, but thanks to a partnership with Manatee County, the foundation's scope is already being expanded. 

The county leased the property to the Foundation for Dreams for $10 for 10 years with an option to renew. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The bigger campus and autonomy will allow the foundation to grow. In the past, the foundation had to work its camps around the Southwest Florida Boy Scouts' schedule because camps were held on Boy Scout property at Camp Flying Eagle off of Upper Manatee River Road. 

The campus hosted its first two camps over the past month and both were outside the foundation’s traditional scope. Foundation for Dreams partnered with the Kiwanis Club to host a Key Leader camp for high school students and All Children's Hospital to host a camp for patients.  

“My goal is if you serve kids, we want to collaborate with you,” Executive Director Elena Cassella said. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The foundation held a reception May 14 for local nonprofits, leaders and donors that included guided tours of the campus. Caregivers of children with special needs who are interested in summer camp can call to request a tour. There are still a few spots available.

Over the past two years, the campus has been completely overhauled. It was also hit by a hurricane in between. Hurricane Milton in 2024 blew over a massive amount of trees and caused roof damage to some of the buildings.  

Since then, the pool was replaced, five buildings were renovated, the pavement was resurfaced, sidewalks were installed and the playground from the old campus was moved piece by piece. 

Yet there’s still more work to be done. A cabin is still under construction, and Cassella estimates it will take another $1 million and up to three years to fulfill every “vision” for the campus, which includes an outdoor kitchen and a shaded, resurfaced basketball court. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The foundation raised $1.5 million for renovations, and Manatee County donated $1 million to get the campus in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

As is, the campus can still serve children as it did at its prior location at Camp Flying Eagle. The only activity that won’t be offered immediately is canoeing because that will now require a shuttle bus. 

Cassella said a bus is at the top of the priority list because it could add more activities to the program, such as a ride on the county’s new ferry, the Manatee Belle. 

Horseback riding remains a mainstay outdoor activity. But with the addition of a learning center, which is ready to go, canoeing can be replaced with indoor activities like science experiments and art projects.

The learning center could also be used for adult day programming. When Cassella was handed the keys in August 2024, she said another need in the community had been identified — programming for individuals with special needs ages 18-30. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Jamey Keefer’s son, Lucas, attended his last Dream Oaks Camp last summer because he’s turning 18. 

Keefer said he loved the camp, and so did she because it also serves as a respite for parents. She had been a longtime advocate for the foundation because of her personal experience, but she took that enthusiasm one step further in September. 

Keefer gave up her job of 22 years with Edward Jones to become the foundation’s community advocate. 

She couldn’t be happier with the career move.