Camp Wonder Hands

A special time and place for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if every child got to go to camp?

That is our dream at Camp Wonder Hands. Created specifically for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, Camp Wonder Hands provides an environment that celebrates the unique culture of these beautiful youngsters.

Consider the value of this setting: deaf and hard-of-hearing children are the majority – perhaps for the first time in their lives.
 

Successful, confident adults who share their challenges serve as counselors and role models. Every day, in every activity, their beautifully expressive language is celebrated. Add to this the many benefits of a summer camp experience, and it's easy to see why Camp Wonder Hands has grown so remarkably.

Our story

Marolyn Amick knows the isolation deaf and hard-of-hearing children sometimes feel. A Child Life Specialist at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, Marolyn is hard-of-hearing and has a child who is deaf.

In 1996, she began a summer program in her home. Seven deaf and hard-of-hearing children came to her house each Monday – Marolyn's day off. People from the community embraced the idea and offered their help.

Today, Camp Wonder Hands is a six-day, five-night camp for children ages 7-15. Held at Camp Kinard, near Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, the camp is a program of Palmetto Health Children's Hospital. Each camper attends on a scholarship provided by Children's Hospital through private, civic and corporate donations to Palmetto Health Foundation. There is no cost to the family.

Statistics from the S. C. Department of Education and the S. C. School for the Deaf and Blind indicate that the approximate number of deaf and hard-of-hearing children statewide is between 1,000 and 1,500. We’d like to serve at least 100 children, not only in the core 17 counties served by Children's Hospital, but from all counties across the state.

2019 camp dates and registration

• Camp Wonder Hands – Sunday, June 23–Friday, June 28, 2019
• Mandatory orientation for staff – June 21-22, 2019

All volunteers and counselors must be 18 years of age.

Camp location

Camp Kinard
6053 Two Notch Rd.
Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006

If you are the parent, educator or mentor of a child who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, please contact us for enrollment materials and to find out about the availability of scholarships for this year's camp.

If you are interested in being a counselor or volunteer, we would love to hear from you. You do not have to be deaf, hard-of-hearing or possess the ability to sign. We provide training during an orientation session, typically held just before the camp.

To apply

Please complete all forms of the enclosed application and return the packet to the return address provided or by email as a PDF attachment. The application deadline is Monday, April 24, 2017.

Contact us

Phone: 803-296-KIDS (5437)
Fax: 803-779-2440
CampWonderHands@PalmettoHealth.org

Forms

• Camper application
• ASL interpreter application
• Teen camper application
• Counselor-volunteer application
• Information sheet
• Nursing medical application
• Security statement and addendum
• Counselor in leadership training application procedures

Support us

If you would like to support Camp Wonder Hands financially, we welcome your gift. Simply call us at 803-296-KIDS (5437) or submit your donation online or by mail. We encourage donations of $500, which covers the cost of a child's camping experience, but we welcome gifts of any amount.

2018 Partners Package

Learn more about who we are and our mission at Camp Wonder Hands.

View

Donate by mail

Complete our volunteer sign-up/donation form (PDF) and return it to:

• Palmetto Health Foundation
  ATTN: Camp Wonder Hands/Diane Junis
  1600 Marion St.
  Columbia, SC 29201

Donate online

If you would like to make an online donation to Camp Wonder Hands, view our page linked below. Please select "Other" in the Donation Information section and select "Camp Wonder Hands" in the Designation drop-down.

Donate

Special thanks to our 2018 partners:

Dining Hall partners

• Apartment Association of Greater Columbia
• W. Alan Woods Charitable Trust 

Cabin partners

• Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority 
• The Dorothy D. Smith Foundation
• Golden State Foods Foundation – Lexington Branch
• Relay South Carolina

Campfire partners

• Palmetto Health Richland Volunteer Auxiliary 
• Palmetto Health Employee Campaign Donors

Sunshine partners

• Lexington Sertoma Club
• Louise Wallace Trust
• St. John Neumann Church

Stargazer partners

• The Chappell Family
• Cochlear Americas
• Columbia Golden K Kiwanis Club
• Irmo Sertoma Club
• Midland Hearing Associates