Morris-based virtual camp helps special needs kids get through pandemic summer

By Emily Sebiri

The isolation wrought by the pandemic has been particularly hard on people like Rhys Benion, a 3-year-old from Carlisle, PA, who has autism.

However, his mother, Rachel, says a virtual summer camp established by a Morristown native has made the lockdown a bit easier on her son.

“It has allowed him to socialize and participate in activities that he hasn’t been able to for months, and it’s engaging because there are a variety of activities that are short and fun to keep their attention,” said Rachel Benion said of Camp BuddEConnect.

Camp BuddEConnect gives special needs kids from preschool age to 24 an opportunity to enjoy their summer with a Zoom-based camp that strives to provide a sense of connection and belonging.

It’s patterned after TOPSoccer, a community-based training program for athletes with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities. After the coronavirus halted most summer camps in the tri-state area, the West Morris Soccer Club decided to recreate the TOPSoccer program for Zoom.

Based in Mendham and Chester, CampBuddEConnect supplies about 40 campers per week, charging them $25 per week for a five-week period that includes nine daily activities for three hours.  Applications are accepted on the nonprofit’s website.

At the beginning of each week, a Camp BuddEConnect support package is delivered to each camper’s house or picked up locally. It consists of supplies, snacks and surprises for the coming week.

Online activities span from music- and Zoomba dance classes to sports/storytime and campfire/snack time. Activity rooms like the sports arena and social media center are provided and led by counselors who aim to engage kids in a fun, interactive way.

Camp BuddEConnect founder and natural foods entrepreneur Doon Wintz (Morristown High ’81) got involved with West Morris Soccer Club’s TopSoccer program. Then his kids became volunteers, and he took over as chief advisor in 2016.

“I am proud of the high school and early college-age student leaders who conceived of, designed, built, and executed a full-blown summer camp in less than four weeks, and the adaptive skills they showed in creating connection, fun and engagement over Zoom,” said Wintz.

“We look forward to teaching other organizations how to do for their communities what our student leaders have done for ours,” he said.

“We didn’t really know what to expect when we started the camp, but we’ve gotten campers from across the nation in New Jersey, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York, California, Minnesota, Florida, and Massachusetts,” said camp Assistant Director Finn Wintz, who is Doon’s son.

“We’re helping to create connections between campers and counselors across the nation.  It’s been a really rewarding experience.”

The Wintzes hope that in-person events can resume next summer. If not, they are ready.

“As far as Camp BuddEConnect, if there is a need next summer, we’ll be there,” Doon Wintz said.