Are you a parent of a Child with Disabilities? You may have wondered if he or she would ever have the opportunity to go to summer camp like other kids. . . to sleep under the stars, sing around a campfire, write letters home and make new friends. At Camp Onseyawa we want to help your child experience all this and more. If you live in Ontario, Seneca, Yates or Wayne county in New York State, contact us and we will put you in touch with your local Rotary representative who will send you an application. You can also download the forms you need by using the links near the bottom of this page. A little bit about us! Camp Onseyawa was formed to provide a true outdoor living experience to children with disabilities. In the spring of 1955 a spunky little girl by the name of Gail Rietman insisted that she be allowed to go to camp with her twin sister. Camp authorities refused to accept Gail because she had Spina Bifida. Walt, her father, approached Paul Vogt, president of the Geneva Rotary Club and asked if he knew of any camp that would admit Gail -- and thus the seed was planted. Paul Vogt, the out going president, liked the idea of an area camp for the physically handicapped and turned the idea and task over to the president - elect, Neil Marvin. When Neil took office, he appointed Robert Maney to chair a committee to investigate the need and to sound out opinion for the organization of such a camp. They soon realized that the task was too great for one club and turned to the clubs in neighboring Counties. Today Camp is supported by funds raised by 24 Rotary Clubs covering a four county area in New York State. Clubs from Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Wayne counties conduct annual fund raising events so that these children can attend camp with no cost to their family. Camp Onseyawa is open to children age 9-16 with a physical, mental or emotional disability which would exclude his or her successful participation at other camps. Rules for acceptance are the same for everyone without regard to race, color or national origin. Since it's inception the camp has helped hundreds of campers to grow in self-confidence and experience success in physical activities and human relationships. The camp's program spans a wide variety of daily activities designed to spark the interest of every camper. Program areas include swimming, riflery, handicrafts, ceramics, drama, fishing, boating and much more. It is the aim of our professional program staff to provide fun and teach leisure skills that often become hobbies when the camper returns home. Many of our evenings at camp end around a campfire under the stars and others are spent taking part in a play, being a contestant in a game show, dancing to the music of a live band or just sitting on a bunk talking with a new friend. Camp Onseyawa takes place at the facilities of Boy Scout Camp Babcock-Hovey on the shore of beautiful Seneca Lake. Click here for directions to the camp Campers live in tents, sleep in sleeping bags and gather for meals each day in the recently remodeled dining hall. View Larger Map Use the following links to download the forms you will need to fill out and begin the application process. Forms for Summer 2010 Click for Word (.doc) Files Click for Acrobat (.pdf) Files Application Cover Sheet Application Cover Sheet Camper Application Camper Application Camper Medical Form Camper Medical Form Caseworker Form Caseworker Form Summer Food Service Program Form Summer Food Service Program Form   Application for Free and Reduced Meals Camp Onseyawa's Mission "The mission of Rotary Camp Onseyawa is to provide a camping experience for 9-16 year old children with disabilities from the 4 county area, and to foster independence and acceptance of others through social, recreational and educational aspects of life." Camp Onseyawa services the Ontario, Seneca, Yates, and Wayne county areas in New York State, and is funded by the following Rotary Clubs Bloomfield Honeoye Red Creek Canandaigua Lyons Red Jacket (Manchester - Shortsville) Clifton Springs Naples Seneca Falls Clyde Newark Sodus Dundee Ontario - Walworth Victor - Farmington Gananda Palmyra - Macedon Waterloo Geneva Penn Yan Williamson Gorham Phelps Wolcott Thanks to all the Rorarians, especially the members of the Board of Directors who put countless hours into raising funds and helping to make sure Camp Onseyawa has a secure future. Without them this camp would never be possible.