AARP Purpose Prize Fellow Richard Sesler

By

Beth Howard,

​

After a long career in real estate investment, I had met my financial and professional goals and pledged that at age 60, I would be in a position to give 100 percent service to others. In

2009, I started the Camp Blue Skies Foundation to offer camps for adults with developmental disabilities, enhancing their lives through recreation, socialization and education in life

skills. Since then, we have served 598 adult campers, and 1,177 volunteers have dedicated their time and energy to attending camp.​

Over 6 million people in the United States have a developmental disability. When you have that and are aging out of the school system or turning 21, almost all activities with others

disappear. Unlike the countless programs that support children with disabilities, very few programs serve the adult population. Camp Blue Skies was established to help fill that gap,

offering an opportunity for adults ages 21 to 60-plus to socialize with their peers and enjoy activities to which they would not otherwise have access. We offer five-day overnight camps with

everything that a traditional camp has, like fishing, nature walks, arts and crafts, a zip line and a climbing wall. One night we do karaoke, another night we have a campfire with s'mores,

and the last night we have a dance. However, we also put an emphasis on skills that allow these individuals to live more independently and lead fulfilling and productive lives.​​

This is particularly important because individuals with developmental disabilities are living longer. The life expectancy for Down syndrome, for example, has increased from age 25 in 1983 to

60 today. Campers also have sessions on healthy eating, nutrition and the importance of daily exercise. In addition to benefiting campers, a week at Camp Blue Skies provides caregivers a

much-needed respite. When I began this endeavor, I knew camp would have an impact on campers. But I did not realize the life-changing effect it would have on volunteers and caregivers. What

started out as an experience for disabled adults has turned into a much bigger service. ​​

My 40-year-old son has a rare genetic disorder called Williams syndrome. When he turned 21, I observed firsthand the fall-off of opportunities and services as we searched around for things

for him to do. The day I turned 50, I told myself that when I retired, the next chapter in my life would be in service to other people. It took a few years to come up with the idea of camps

but that’s when the seed was planted. I had enjoyed the camp experience of being outdoors and making friends in my youth, and I thought I could create the same rewarding environment for an

adult population that is often mentally and physically isolated. ​