Teen has time of her life at camp

Summer camp usually was a place where Anna Gunther would spend a week or two in a small group of her peers, somewhat secluded and out of touch with the real world.

Sure, she'd have some fun, but she never really found the adventure her daredevil spirit craved.

It wasn't because she was shy, but because the 15-year-old Wheaton resident has Down syndrome. Summer camp was always a time to spend with other people with special needs and that was all.

"She has attended many camps but was never ever asked to be included or felt comfortable going to a camp with 'regular' children who do not have these special needs," said Anna's mother, Beth Gunther.

But last year, at the recommendation of College Church's disability ministry, Anna attended SpringHill Camps in Evart, Mich.

Beth Gunther had never heard of SpringHill before. Yet, with the recommendation from her church and a phone interview with camp staff under her belt, the mother and daughter set off on nearly a five-hour drive to see if the camp was all it was billed to be.

When they arrived, just the sight of the sprawling camp was far beyond anything they had seen at previous summer camps Anna had attended. Indeed, the camp hosts more than 37,000 campers at its two facilities each year. Anna would need a golf cart to navigate herself around.

Once Beth Gunther felt reasonably assured the camp would meet her daughter's basic needs, she left. Once home, she monitored the camp's Web site and was happy to see daily postings of photos capturing her daughter's smiling face.

Anna went tubing, played paintball and even braved a zip-line ride, in part earning her the camp's bravery award.

On top of that, each morning began with Bible study and discussion. Beth Gunther was particularly interested and nervous about that aspect as Anna is not yet reading. But the Wheaton teen found herself comfortable enough in the group to discuss the Biblical lessons.

The comfort was a key aspect that proved the camp's unique impact on Anna. Her peers in the camp weren't only people with special needs. The campers came from a wide range of ages and abilities and all participated in the events together.

"It was more like the real world," Beth Gunther said. "In the real world, we're all going to have to live together. This camp was just triple anything we had ever imagined. In one week, they really did get to know our kids. I think the special needs camps that we go to won't be as exciting to her now. So she is definitely going back."

For more information on SpringHill Camps, visit www.springhillcamps.com.