Penn Yan, NY
After dinner each evening there is an activity organized for everyone to participate in. Each year our evening activities follow a theme. Themes from past years have included Time Travel, Hooray for Hollywood, Around the World, Holidays at Camp and Back to Nature, and Sailors and Scally Wags, and Heading West. Regardless of our theme, the emphasis is on participation and fun for all the campers.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗Camp Onseyawa currently takes place during the last two full weeks in August each year. In 2023, we started at the facilities of Camp Whitman on the west shore of beautiful Seneca Lake. Campers will live in cabins, sleep in sleeping bags, and gather for meals each day in the centrally located dining hall.
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.
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. Since its inception the camp has helped hundreds of campers to grow in self-confidence and experience success in physical activities and human relationships.
The mission of Rotary Camp Onseyawa is to provide a camping experience for 8-16 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.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗At Camp Onseyawa our emphasis is on making sure each camper is enabled to participate in any kind of camping activity regardless of the type of impairment. Each day at camp is divided into activity periods during which campers can visit program areas. Campers can choose from program areas such as Archery, Riflery, Nature, Frontier Living, Swimming, Canoeing, Fishing, Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, Sensory, Drama and Athletics.
Explore on the camp’s website ↗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.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗Parents, you can send mail to your child while at camp! Please note, it can take 2-4 days for mail to reach us, so plan accordingly.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗Possible positions include Unit Counselors, Kitchen Staff, Camp Office Staff, Camp Nurses (RN or LPN), Unit Staff, Program Staff, and Lifeguards.
Read more on the camp’s website ↗We have a full sized swimming pool in camp that is staffed by fully certified lifeguards. Campers enjoy cooling off on a hot day and learn valuable water safety lessons!
Read more on the camp’s website ↗