Meet Karel Horney

FOUNDER OF ADAM’S CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS

Karel Horney’s son Adam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. He spent most days with a therapist of some kind -- speech, occupational, physical -- but still was not walking at age 5. With kindergarten around the corner, Horney put Adam in an intensive week of all day physical therapy. At the end of the first week, Adam was walking in a walker.

Inspired by her son’s progress, Horney started Adam’s Camp held at Snow Mountain Ranch to provide similar, intensive therapy sessions and programs for children and young adults with developmental delays, including autism, Down syndrome, genetic syndromes and cerebral palsy. Since its inception 24 years ago, Adam’s Camp has served more than 8,000 kids and families. Colorado Parent sat down with Horney to learn more.

Q: You started Adam’s Camp for children with developmental disabilities. Tell us about that.
A: In a nutshell, we started Adam’s Camp to share a revolutionary new therapy approach we had experienced with our son Adam with other families. We wanted others to reap the benefits of intensive therapy as we had done with Adam who began walking in a walker after five days of intensive therapy. At the same time, we wanted to bring all of the therapists Adam worked with together to collaborate on treatment that had been delivered in a caring, but fragmented, fashion. Finally, we wanted to talk with other parents who were raising a child with special needs so that we could find the hope and healing our family needed.

Q: What do campers do at Adam’s Camp?
A: Adam’s Camp has evolved into seven different programs over the past 24 years. In the therapy program, the campers participate in six hours of intensive therapy a day for five consecutive days. The therapists involved include some combination of physical, occupational, speech, behavior, art and music therapy. Therapy opportunities are created through hippotherapy, swimming, wall climbing and canoeing in addition to the traditional therapy methods. Older campers are in Adventure Camps, where a more typical camp setting allows for outdoor adventures including rafting, horseback riding, archery, and days at the Winter Park Resort and Grand Lake.

Q: What about parents and siblings?
A: Programs are provided specifically for siblings and parents. Siblings have their own camp experience, complete with a closing ceremony. Parents participate in facilitated discussions daily which address topics related to raising a child with special needs.

Q: How has Adam’s Camp changed over the years since it began?
A: We started with the five families in 1986. Today, our therapy camps serve over 120 families a year. We have added two transitional programs, helping to ease kids from the therapy programs into Adventure Camps. Our Adventure Camps will serve 250 campers this year through 25 sessions. Our Urban Adventure Camps serve wheelchair bound teens in the Denver area. Basically, we have continued to carefully monitor the needs of our families and have responded accordingly. The model of out therapy camp works, so we have not changed the model since its inception. We do, however, continue to make improvements on how we deliver that service. This year, we are moving to completely digital picture reports that can be shared with all of the campers’ caregivers, physicians, teachers and therapists. It takes a village, and we try to bring the village together.

Q: Adam’s Camp costs money – how do you help families that are find it difficult to afford the camp?
A: Adam’s Camp provides a scholarship equivalent to 50% of the program fee to all families. Additionally, we provide over $50,000 in additional scholarship funding to our most needy families. We also help families identify and apply for outside funding, and we bill insurance for those families who have policies that cover therapy for their camper.

Q: What does Adam’s Camp give to Colorado children and families that is unique?
A: We know of no other existing program that provides intensive therapy and the respite and family centered support that Adam’s Camp provides. We are expanding our outreach to other parts of Colorado and the country to share this model nationwide. We currently have Outreach programs in Grand Junction and Nantucket.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
Adam’s Camp is a blessing in my life, pure and simple. Because of Adam, I found my life’s work - something I think few people actually ever discover. I have met some of the most genuine, dynamic, dedicated people in my life through this work, and have been humbled by the hundreds of families who sacrifice more than I can imagine to offer their kids with special needs the opportunity to thrive.