Recreation Unlimited

12/23/2025

As December comes to a close and Christmas is upon us, it’s a meaningful time to reflect on the many wonderful experiences of 2025 at Recreation Unlimited. From our beautiful, accessible campus 🏕️ to our generous donors and our talented, caring full-time and camp service team 💙, there is so much to be grateful for.

This year, we were proud to see over a 15% increase in individuals with disabilities who had the opportunity to attend our camp and respite programs. The joy our campers bring to camp continues to amaze us 😊. Brandon White, an adult who joined Recreation Unlimited for the first time last week during our Winter Residential Camp, brought an energy and excitement that was truly unforgettable. Moments like Brandon’s remind us why we do what we do—and why we love sharing these experiences with all of you 📸✨.

To everyone Recreation Unlimited impacts—campers, families, volunteers, donors, and supporters—thank you for helping make dreams come true ❤️.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, team, volunteers, donors, families, and campers, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a blessed and happy 2026 🎄✨

12/01/2025

💙 Help Keep Our Campers Safe This Giving Tuesday! 💙

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and we need your support to keep individuals with disabilities safe and thriving at Recreation Unlimited!

We’re raising $7,600 for health & safety equipment—from CPR and First Aid training tools to lake safety gear. Every donation, big or small, helps train our camp associates and protects our campers during all activities.

How to Give:
1️⃣ Click Donate Now! tomorrow
2️⃣ Pick your amount
3️⃣ Dedicate your gift “In Honor of Giving Tuesday”

Together, we can make camp safe, fun, and unforgettable! ✨

https://recreation-unlimited-foundation.givecloud.co/fundraising/forms/8NDR96EK

11/26/2025

A Message of Gratitude and Joy 🍂✨

As we reflect on this past year, we’re grateful for the joy, growth, and remarkable support that filled our camps and strengthened our mission. Thanks to our donors, volunteers, families, and friends, Recreation Unlimited welcomed more campers, created more smiles, and celebrated countless meaningful moments together. 💙

Your generosity also fueled strong momentum in our fundraising events, grants, and gifts — a wonderful reminder of how much our community believes in recreation, inclusion, and opportunity. We couldn’t be more thankful. 💛

To everyone who contributes to the spirit of Recreation Unlimited: thank you for making this year so positive and inspiring. We wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving. 🦃🍁

With heartfelt appreciation,
Your Recreation Unlimited Family

11/22/2025

Back in July, we shared a first look at our new Accessible and Universal Track Rider. Today, we’re excited to give you a closer look now that the project is complete. 🎉

The Track Rider is the first of its kind and opens the thrill of flight to all campers—regardless of mobility. With versions for wheelchair and non-wheelchair users, a 600 lb capacity, and a fully inclusive design, it allows everyone to experience the same rush and excitement together. ♿✨

This 3,500 sq. ft. feature sits right in the heart of our inclusive play zone and is already becoming a camp favorite. 💙

“This is a one-of-a-kind program worldwide that will continue making the Recreation Unlimited campus accessible for those with disabilities and mobility challenges,” said Paul Huttlin, Executive Director & CEO.

A huge thank you to Midstates Recreation for capturing this new video 🎥 and to Independent Design Group (IDG) for turning this vision into reality. We’re proud to continue expanding what accessibility and play can look like at Recreation Unlimited. 🌟

We design, supply, and build community enhancing recreational play and site structures for schools, parks, residential developments, child care facilities, h...

08/29/2025

We’re partnering with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship Charity Ticket Program!

🎟 Admission is FREE — just print your ticket at ncc-golf.com
and choose Recreation Unlimited.
➡️ Each ticket scanned earns us $10, thanks to Columbia Gas/NiSource Charitable Foundation.

📍 Where: Ohio State University Golf Club, Scarlet Course
📅 When: September 18–21
✨ Highlights include:

Play Yellow Putting Challenge (win prizes & support Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Pub Thirteen with food trucks, drinks & games

Free Graeter’s Ice Cream (Sat)

Free Pancake Breakfast (Sun)

🏌️‍♂️ Watch future PGA TOUR stars and help us at the same time!

08/26/2025

Recreation Unlimited
Summer Associate of the Year Awards

Recreation Unlimited recognized and honored Emma Dunahoe, Lance Carrle, Nolan Wells, Carmen Lamberjack, Carly Ramey, Chloe Petrelle, Zoey Williams, and Brooklynn de Souza with the 2025 Summer Associate of the Year Awards for their service to Recreation Unlimited camps and campers through the 7-week summer residential and 6-week summer day camp programs. A total of $6,750 was given out to these 8 individuals to support their educational pursuit. These scholarship funds were generated through development fund raising activities of Recreation Unlimited Foundation.

The $1,000 award winners were Emma Dunahoe, Residential Camp Counselor, from Cincinnati, Ohio, attending Miami University, Lance Carrle, Program Leader, from Cincinnati, Ohio, attending University of Dayton, Nolan Wells, Day Camp Resource Counselor, from Delaware, Ohio, attending Northern Kentucky University and Carmen Lamberjack, Day Camp Counselor, from Hilliard, Ohio, attending The Ohio State University.

The $750 award winners were Carly Ramey, Program Leader, from London, Ohio, attending Ohio University, Chloe Petrelle, Residential Camp Counselor, from Steubenville, Ohio, attending Miami University and Zoey Williams Residential Camp Counselor, from Hamilton, Ohio, attending Miami University.

The $500 award winner was Brooklynn de Souza, Assistant Day Camp Counselor, from Caledonia, Ohio, attending River Valley High School.

This is the 23rd year that this award has been presented to summer associates, including residential and day camp counselors and program leaders, who best demonstrate a positive attitude to the mission of Recreation Unlimited and the campers with physical and developmental disabilities and health concerns served, a professional demeanor to parents/caregivers, enthusiasm in all work aspects especially at camp activities with an ability to involve campers and encouragement of new experiences, attentiveness to campers’ personal and physical well-being, and creativity in managing or improving camper programs or problems.

Congratulations to these well-deserving individuals for their dedication to individuals with disabilities!

Submitted By,

Paul L. Huttlin
Executive Director & CEO
Recreation Unlimited Foundation
Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun, Inc.

07/25/2025

🌟 A Message from Our CEO 🌟

On July 17th, we proudly unveiled something truly groundbreaking at Recreation Unlimited — the world’s first Accessible and Universal Track Ride experience!

This 3,500 sq ft ride system features two separate elevated motion rides:
➡️ One designed specifically for individuals who use wheelchairs, supporting up to 600 lbs
➡️ One designed for those who do not

Each ride accommodates one rider at a time, allowing friends, siblings, and campers of all abilities to experience the same thrilling adventure side by side — without limitations.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and partners, this $350,000 project became a reality:
💙 The All Life Foundation – lead gift donor
💙 The Worthington Companies Foundation
💙 The Columbus Foundation
💙 Midstates Recreation – design & installation

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life.

At Recreation Unlimited, we believe in breaking down barriers and embracing all abilities. This new ride is a bold step forward — and just the beginning.

Together, we’re making it possible for individuals with disabilities and health concerns to experience the joy, the challenge, and the freedom of play—without limitations.

🔗 Learn more at www.recreationunlimited.org
📧 Contact: Paul Huttlin (phuttlin@recreationunlimited.org) or Holli Hess (hhess@recreationunlimited.org)
📞 Or call: 740-548-7006 Ext. 120

With gratitude,
Paul Huttlin
Executive Director & CEO
Recreation Unlimited

07/17/2025

🎉 The wait is OVER!

We’re thrilled to unveil our brand-new Accessible & Inclusive Track Rides—the first of their kind EVER 🌍 right here at Recreation Unlimited!

This 3,500-square-foot attraction features two side-by-side ride experiences:
✔️ One designed specifically for riders who use wheelchairs
✔️ One designed so that friends, siblings, and campers of all abilities can ride side by side

For the first time, campers can experience the thrill of motion—together.
✨ This is what true inclusion looks like.
And we’re honored to lead the way. 💪

07/15/2025

🚨 Camper Safety Day 2025! 🚁🚒🚓

On July 9th, our campers had the amazing opportunity to meet with local and regional safety professionals during our annual Camper Safety Day! From learning about fire safety and emergency transport to exploring mobile command centers and rescue equipment, this day is always a camper favorite. 💙

A special thank you to Scott Stewart from the Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for organizing this unforgettable event — and to all the agencies who gave their time to make it such a success.

This year’s event was held in loving memory of Bobby Lavender, who helped bring Camper Safety Day to life for so many years. His impact continues to be felt across our campus.

We’re incredibly grateful to the following agencies for their support:
👮 Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
🚁 Air Evac Lifeteam 107
🔥 BST&G, Elm Valley, Porter Kingston & Tri-Township Fire Departments
🚑 Delaware County EMS
🚓 Delaware County Sheriff’s Office & 911 Communications (with Coco!)
🏞️ Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources – Watercraft
✈️ Ohio State Patrol – Aviation
🩺 Delaware Public Health District

Recreation Unlimited is proud to provide year-round opportunities for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and health concerns — and events like this make it even more meaningful. 💙

07/03/2025

🌟 A Night to Remember—and a Mission Moved Forward 🌟

Recreation Unlimited Foundation is thrilled to share that the 11th Annual Star Light Star Night, held June 26th at Scioto Country Club, was another record-breaking success, raising over $295,000 in support of our Camps and Camper Scholarship Fund.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community—including Presenting Sponsor the Ginni Ragan, John, Kevin, and Arin McNamara Families, our major table sponsors, and every individual who purchased a ticket—we celebrated our second-best Star Light Star Night ever, with 104 guests joining us for an unforgettable evening.

From the first toast to the final song, the evening was filled with connection and purpose. Guests enjoyed hand-selected wines from Mira Winery, introduced by wine ambassador Dave Wallace, and a custom four-course dinner crafted by the chefs at Scioto. The night concluded with a special acoustic performance from country music stars D. Vincent Williams and James Otto, bringing heartfelt stories and melodies to a room already full of warmth.

Every dollar raised directly supports campers with disabilities and health concerns—giving them the chance to experience the joy of camp, the freedom of adventure, and the lifelong impact of inclusion.

It was a night of great food, great wine, and great music—but most of all, it was a night that helps us continue doing great work.

Learn more about the Recreation Unlimited Camps and Camper Scholarship Fund:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/gBG8et62
📧 phuttlin@recreationunlimited.org

06/25/2025

🏌️‍♂️🍳 A beautiful morning, a generous community, and a big impact!

Thanks to the incredible support of Ken and Kristine Westerheide, an exclusive auction item was created for Recreation Unlimited’s Flavors of the Vine Wine Tasting and Auction, held this past February.

Guests who purchased this special item were invited to a Memorial Tournament Brunch on Saturday, May 31st, hosted at the Westerheide’s stunning home overlooking the 7th hole at Muirfield Village Golf Club. ⛳️

💙 Nearly $20,000 was raised through this auction item alone, with additional donations from many of the attendees.

Thank you, Ken and Kristine, for opening your home and your hearts in support of Recreation Unlimited!

06/21/2025

We’re back with another clue! This week, we’re spotlighting a mysterious piece of the build—it may look like a roller skate, but it’s not for your feet. 👀

⚙️ This unique component will help adventurers of ALL abilities glide into an experience unlike anything we’ve had before at Recreation Unlimited.

Any guesses what it’s for? You’re getting warmer… ⬇️

📲 Want more behind-the-scenes photos and weekly clues? Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/recreation_unlimited/