jemsspecialcamp.org

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JEMS Special Camp Website

Welcome to the JEMS Special Camp website!

JEMS Special Camp is a week-long Christian camp, primarily for individuals with developmental disabilities of Asian descent.  Sponsored by the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS), Special Camp runs concurrently with the other JEMS summer camps in the Santa Cruz area of Northern California.  The mission of JEMS Special Camp is:photo of willie, jennifer, sarah, and pattie

To share the message and model the love of Christ to those with developmental disabilities, primarily of Asian Pacific American descent.

The JEMS Special Camp ministry has been touching the lives of the campers, their families, and a countless number of aides for more than 30 years.

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The upcoming camp

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Special Camp 2010 is now history, and it was a wonderful (and wonder-filled) time!  It was held the week of June 27 - July 3, 2010.  Our theme for this year's camp was:

“The Lord Almighty is with us.” - Psalm 46:7

This year we introduced Miss Kara Kawanami as Special Camp Bible teacher for 2010, and she did a fantastic job!  To read more about Kara and her call to serve, click here.

Please mark your calendars for JEMS Special Camp 2011, which will be held the week of June 26 - July 2, 2011.  Location is still TBD.

Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 15:22
 

What we do at camp

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A typical day at camp begins with everyone getting ready for breakfast, followed by morning exercises, worship, Bible lessons, and arts and crafts.  After lunch, activities vary daily such as bowling, swimming, a presentation at JEMS Family Camp, a carnival, and Special Camp field games.  After dinner, we have a time of worship followed by a special evening activity and cabin time. After the campers go to bed, staff enjoy worship and a brief devotional time, staff meeting, and fellowship.

All of these events and activities add up to a fun-filled and meaningful program geared specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities. Special Camp is a place where they can come to learn, fellowship, worship, and grow in the Lord.

Last Updated on Sunday, 05 October 2008 08:59 Read more...
 

How to support Special Camp

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There are several ways that you can support JEMS Special Camp.  The first and most important is through prayer.  Special Camp volunteers are sustained by the prayers of JEMS Special Camp supporters, especially during camp week.  Please pray that each volunteer would be renewed and refreshed each day, as the Lord reveals Himself in new ways through the Special Campers.  Please pray that the Lord would sustain each volunteer throughout camp week, as days are long and can be tiring as the volunteers care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each camper.  Pray that our Special Campers will enjoy their week at camp, adjust well to the new site at Monte Vista school, and feel God's close presence to them as we worship Him together as one body.  Pray that the campers' families and caregivers would enjoy their week of much-needed respite from the care they provide to their loved ones the remaining 51 weeks of the year.  And above all, pray that God would glorify Himself through each special member of this very special ministry called JEMS Special Camp.

Last Updated on Monday, 12 April 2010 14:47 Read more...
 

History of JEMS Special Camp

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In 1973 the growing awareness of a need to have a camping experience for Asian American developmentally disabled persons and their families came to a head, and Marion and Saburo Masada sought out training events to develop skills and information with the intention of developing a program to serve both the developmentally disabled persons and their families.  Marion conceived the idea of a special camp and support program for these Asian Americans, utilizing an already existing JEMS Family Camp, which the Masadas had been attending for over twenty years.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 October 2008 05:12 Read more...
 

How do I volunteer?

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Registration to volunteer for JEMS Special Camp 2010 is now closed.  Please check back in early February 2011 to apply to serve at the 2011 camp!

If you are a graduating high school senior or older, you’ve never served as an aide at Special Camp before, and would like more information on applying as a new aide at next year's Special Camp, you can download new aide information here.

Please note that if you have not served as a Special Camp aide within the past two years, you will need to apply as a new aide.

If you have any more questions about the aide application process, feel free to e-mail:

aide registrar e-mail address

If you have any further questions about serving as an aide, feel free to e-mail:

info e-mail address

Last Updated on Thursday, 13 May 2010 05:06
 

Newsflash

Special Camp needs more male aides to apply to serve at this year's camp!  To apply, see the "How Do I Volunteer?" section of the JEMS Special Camp home page.