NEENAH, Wis. — As summer camps are in full force across the U.S., one new Fox Valley camp is putting the focus on teens with disabilities.

Going to summer camp is something Zach Muier said he has always wanted to do. He said his previous summers have been unproductive.

What You Need To Know

  • Club Connect, a new summer camp for teens with disabilities, provides a fun environment by helping teens build meaningful connections and reach their full potential

  • Campers learn to give back through volunteering opportunities throughout the Fox Valley

  • Club Connect goes beyond activities; campers connect with their futures during the summer by learning new skills and exploring career and education options

“I’d be biking around with friends or getting in mischief, which is not the right thing for me,” Muier said.

Muier is a camper at Club Connect in Neenah, a new summer camp designed for teens with disabilities.

Club Connect goes beyond just activities. It’s about empowering young people to connect with friends and themselves.

Tammy Coleman is Club Connect’s director. She said it can be challenging for parents of kids with special needs to find summer activities. 

“A lot of our kids, the kids in this program, they don’t have as many options, because a lot of them need a little bit more support, and so this program provides them a lot of the same opportunities that they could receive in some of the other programs, but in a way that is safe and supportive for them,” Coleman said.

It’s not just games at Club Connect. Muier and the other kids in this summer camp are spending their summers connecting with their communities and futures.

“We do volunteer work, so we partner with various organizations, both in Oshkosh and then up in the Valley for kids to get that hands-on experience, to both give back to the community and learn some valuable skills that they can eventually put on a resume or use in future job interviews,” Coleman said.

Muier will be a ninth grader next year and said he’s hoping to turn his summer camp experiences into a summer job. He said he hopes other kids like him get to experience camp.

“I think overall, this is an awesome program that parents should look into for the future for their kids who have some disability and who’s struggling with social connections. I think this would be a great program for people who have struggled with that,” Muier said.

Club Connect is partnered with Lakeside Packaging Plus and is open to teens ages 14 to 19. Summer camp ends in August, but activities run year-round with after-school care and weekend options.

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