Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Wilke.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My grandparents Alice and Charles Miller founded Wonderland Camp in 1969. They had two sons, my father Keith and my uncle Phil. Phil had a syndrome called Prader-Willi Syndrome. My grandparents felt that all children deserved an outdoor camping experience and so they founded Wonderland Camp. Currently Wonderland Camp is a foundation and non-profit entity.
As I child, I vacationed at Lake of the Ozarks and stayed with my grandparents and my uncle Phil. As an adult, I lived out of state, became a registered nurse and had my own family. When I obtained my Master’s degree in Nursing and Organizational Leadership, I came back to Lake of the Ozarks to complete an internship at the local hospital and then decided to stay and move to the Lake. I was the director of several departments within a hospital system and at the same time, served on the board of directors for Wonderland Camp. In 2020, the board made the hard decision to close the camp for a year because of COVID-19. The following year, I accepted the role of the executive director of Wonderland Camp. This year was my sixth summer leading the camp.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I took over in 2021 we had a very small team of three. We had not had camp in a year and our buildings were in need of updating. To honor my grandfather’s legacy, I had to find a way to make the camp sustainable. We knew there was a need for a safe, fun place for our campers with disabilities to enjoy and that also provided respite for families. We needed to generate more income and increase our camping opportunities, hire great staff and increase our fundraising efforts. Yet. I did not have fundraising experience and so I researched. I read books, I took classes online and through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks which helped. I took the tools that I learned and with our Director of Fund Developement, we found more ways to engage the community to support our work. We began a capital campaign and raised $1,100,000 over the course of three years to began construction. We updated our nursing depot, arts & crafts room, dinning hall, sensory room, and front office. We also added staff housing and a centralized office for the camp staff.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Wonderland Camp serves people with disabilities who are as young as six and we never age out. We have campers in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even some in their 80’s. We offer eleven weeks of summer camp and mutliple weekend camps throughout the year. During our summer season we host over 100 campers each week and hire over 100 summer staff. We serve approximately 1,800 campers each year. While the majority of our campers are in a ratio of 3 campers to one counselor. We do offer 1:1 ratio for more complex campers. We have nurses 24 hours a day when camp is in session and this allows us to take medically complex campers who may require tube feedings, wheelchairs, hoyer lifts, are diabetic, may be visually impaired or do not speak. We are known for providing a fun, family like camping experience where everyone is included. Our activities are all adaptable. Even if a camper can not use their arms or legs, they can experience the thrill of go up the 40 foot rock wall, flying high on the giant swing, or zooming across the tightrope bridge. They can do archery, use the BB range, sim in our pool, and go for boat rides on our specialized tritoon boat that holds wheelchairs. We are right on the Lake of the Ozarks so paddle boating, canoeing, and fishing are just a wagon ride away. I am most proud of the fact that we never age out. This also sets us apart from other camps. When our campers get older, it is harder for them to go on vacation. Their siblings have families of their own and many live in group homes or with aging parents. Wonderland Camp gives them a place to go, meet new friends, build their confidence, and lets them be who they are. Many of our campers have come for years. Seeing special friends you only see at camp is also a highlight of the week. Our entire camp is accessible. We are now open year round, the facilities are updated, and the now eleven year round staff are ready to give campers the time of their lives.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Having a job that you know makes a difference in the lives of others is incredibly rewarding. The campers’ smiles, laughter, thank you notes, and parents sharing that they were able to get a much needed break to get rejuvinated, makes the long summer worthwhile.
Pricing:
- Summer camp $1,200 a week
- Weekend camp $450
- Weekend family camps $350
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wonderlandcamp.org/
- Instagram: @wonderlandcamp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wonderlandcamp
