Hands to Love serves families of children with congenital upper limb differences, providing valuable opportunities to families through an interactive web site, web-based resources, annual face-to-face family connections and an annual retreat called Hand Camp.
The mission of Hands to Love is to demonstrate that difference does not equal disability. Under the guidance of volunteer medical professionals, H2L empowers the entire family through a valuable connection of informational and emotional support, while providing adaptive concepts for everyday activities and uncommon adventures.
Click here to watach a short film to learn first hand what Hand Camp is all about!
Hands to Love, Hand Camp reaches people of all ages through four programs. These include Tiny Tots Support Crew, Essential Hand Campers, Cool Inspiring Teens (C.I.T.), and Adults With Limb Differences (A.U.L.D.s).
- Tiny Tots Support Crew –Hands to Love, Tiny Tots Support Crew is geared towards new parents. Questions are expected with the birth of a child with a limb difference, and Hands to Love is here for you with answers, support, advice from medical professionals, and a network of families who have lived through the same experiences. These parents meet quarterly, and are invited to Hand Camp on Saturday to get a good taste of the opportunities that Hand to Love has to offer them.
- Essential Hand Campers –Hands to Love, Hand Camp was originally created for elementary school aged children. The Essential Hand Campers range in age from four years old to eighth grade. In this stage of their lives, the children realize that they are different, and generally start asking questions. Hands to Love, Hand Camp is a place were these Campers get answers, and enjoy a weekend of empowering activities and success oriented games, showing them that “difference does not equal disability.”
- C.I.T.s –Hands to Love C.I.T. program is exclusively for teenagers. The Cool Inspiring Teens of hand camp participate in all aspects of camp, and are given special opportunities for extended curriculum during and outside of Hand Camp. C.I.T.s climb rock walls, conquer the ropes course at night, and go kayaking. In September, the C.I.T.s meet in outside of hand camp for a weekend of crazy fun. The presence of the C.I.T.s at camp is imperative because of the energetic, positive attitudes they have, and the way these high schoolers interact with the grade school campers is invaluable. The C.I.T.s become the A.U.L.D.s after they graduate from high school.
- A.U.L.D.s –Hands to Love A.U.L.D.s is a unique program. It’s purpose is to reach hand campers through understanding, because A.U.L.D.s are ADULTS with Upper Limb Differences. These individuals volunteer their time, advice, and knowledge of life’s challenges with a limb difference, and share those experiences with parents and children at Hand Camp. The A.U.L.D.s are a positive presence at hand camp because they give parents an opportunity to literally see that their child will grow to be a normal, functioning adult, and because they are integrated into all activities of camp, they give the children that same reassurance. In addition, A.U.L.D.s are given the opportunity to attend the C.I.T. external event. The A.U.L.D. program allows campers to come full circle as the future leadership of the organization.
