A Summer of Firsts: How Blue Mountain Day Camp Embraced Unique Needs

For Rolanda Hossack’s family, summer 2026 at Blue Mountain Day Camp, a program of Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, was a summer of firsts.

It was Rolanda’s daughter’s fourth year at BMDC, but her two younger sons were brand-new campers. By the end of the summer, it was hard to believe they hadn’t been coming all along. One son cast a fishing line for the first time in his life and discovered he loved it. His brother spent the week exploring the woods, and on the last day, he cried in the car, not because anything had gone wrong, but because he didn’t want camp to be over. Even their teenage daughter said she wished she could come back for the whole summer.

For Rolanda, though, getting to that first day took a leap of faith.

Her 9-year-old son, Oliver, manages epilepsy along with a lesser-known neurological condition that can cause him distress by impacting his senses. Sending him somewhere new meant more than simply handing over an allergy list or a few instructions. Rolanda needed to know that the people caring for her son understood his needs, knew what to watch for, and would be prepared to respond if something happened.

Before she ever said yes to camp, Matt Lifschultz, Director of Camp Engagement and Programs at Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, invited the family to come to camp on a Saturday morning. They toured BMDC, talked through Oliver’s needs, and looked at the places and activities where he might need additional support, including having a buddy with him at the lake.

During that visit, Rolanda spoke with Ashley Stec, BMDC’s Assistant Camp Director, who happened to be in the middle of staff training that day. Together, they went through Oliver’s medical history, what to watch for, how to respond, and his rescue medication. They talked through the details that would help Oliver have a safe, successful week at camp.

By the time Day 1 arrived, the staff weren’t guessing. They were ready.

That preparation made room for everything that came next: a first fishing lesson, afternoons spent exploring the woods, new friendships, and a tearful goodbye because camp was over. Instead of spending the week wondering whether something might go wrong, Rolanda got to watch her kids experience the kind of summer she had hoped camp could give them: time outdoors, away from screens, trying new things, and making memories together.

And the family gained something, too: confidence.

Confidence that camp could meet Oliver where he was, rather than asking him to fit into a one-size-fits-all experience. Confidence that his counselors would know what he needed. And confidence that, at BMDC, “everyone plays” means making sure every child has a way to be part of the adventure.

The family is already counting down to next summer. And this time, the kids want to stay longer.