In 2019, the Revibe team had the opportunity to volunteer at Camp Royall — the nation’s largest and oldest autism camp. Serving thousands of people each year, Camp Royall offers year-round residential and day camps, including some age-specific and family-oriented retreats. From the camp activities to the living quarters, Camp Royall is specifically designed to meet the needs of those with autism and increase their confidence, independence, and willingness to try new things.
Our team was able to tour Camp Royall during the summertime. Campers get the full summer camp experience with 113-acres full of pastimes such as hiking, arts/crafts, swimming, boating, yoga, a sensory room, hayrides, and more. As a team, we witnessed peer relationships blossoming at the camp, with several groups of campers laughing together on their way to various activities.
Each camper receives close supervision from highly trained staff — in fact, staff-to-camper ratios are usually 1:1 or 1:2, depending on the level of need. Each staff member that we had the opportunity to speak with expressed so much love and gratitude for their position. The program gives the families of attending campers a much-needed respite and the peace of mind that their loved one is being well taken care of while away.
At Revibe, we still talk about the amazing experience we had at Camp Royall. Our team was able to care for the camp by spending the day helping with office and yard work, and to donate a Revibe Connect for the camp to use. Afterward, we were invited to watch their end-of-camp talent show. It made our hearts soar to watch campers share their various talents and have a blast with their counselors and peers. What an incredible opportunity in our own backyard of NC!
"Volunteering with the Revibe team at Camp Royall was a special experience I will always remember. It allowed us to not only become closer as a team, but to help beautify a place that brings so much joy, friendship, and support to those on the autism spectrum. My favorite memory was the opportunity to watch their talent show — seeing the amazing skills, personalities and passions of those attending the camp made the time we spent volunteering that much more special. The world needs more places like Camp Royall to allow everyone to shine their brightest."
— Rich Brancaccio, Revibe Founder & Chief Innovation Officer
For more information about Camp Royall, visit their website:
https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/camp-royall/
For information about Summer 2021 please visit:
https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/FamilyFAQSummer2021.pdf
