Camp Encourage

03/11/2026

Camp Family Event: Tie Dye & S’mores!

Join us on April 11th from 4:00–6:00pm at Heartland for an evening of creation, connection, and campfire fun!

Bring the whole family and enjoy:
🌈 Tie-dye
🔥 S’mores by the fire
😊 Time to connect with other camp families
🏕 A relaxed, fun atmosphere

This is a FREE event and great opportunity to build community, make memories, and celebrate our amazing camp families. Please click https://campencourage.org/event/tie-dye-smores-2026/ to RSVP today!

We can’t wait to see you there!

03/10/2026

⚾️💙 Royals for A Cause: Autism Day at the K 💙⚾️

The Kansas City Royals have kindly donated a block of tickets to our camp families for the Thursday, April 2nd game at 1:10pm. If your friends and/or family is interested in attending, please email agorrow@campencourage.org and if tickets remain available, a form will be sent your way. Parking passes will need to be purchased separately.

03/09/2026

A warm, warm welcome to our newly appointed Board members! We are fortunate to have their hearts, expertise, and leadership! Growth begins with a firm foundation and strong roots.

🌳 Leslie Cimino, Director of Sales at Fullsteam

🌳 Brian Leitner, Managing Director, Wealth Solutions at Mariner

03/08/2026

Immense thanks to the Target Stateline Station at 136th Street for donating these marvelous (and much needed!) art materials and sensory supplies! It is truly appreciated! If your company or group would like to consider donating items often used at Camp Encourage, visit our wishlist at https://campencourage.org/wishlist/.

It's a wonderful way to support our campers and dish out some love! 💚

03/07/2026

BEST. NEWS. EVER!. We still have a very small number of slots (and scholarships! 💚) remaining for the March 21-22 overnight camp session and we sure would love to fill all possible bunks and hearts! ❤️ Apply as soon as you can!

Male Campers: 2 slots remaining
Female Campers: 0 slots remaining
Male Peer Models (ages 12-18) 1 slot remaining

https://campencourage.org/forms-application-deadlines/

03/06/2026

Happy Employee Appreciation Day! 🌱🌳💚

At Camp Encourage, all that we do for individuals on the autism spectrum starts with the remarkable humans behind the scenes. And these people are ALL. IN. ⭐️

Thank you to our amazing team for the devotion and love you pour into our mission!

(💗 Not included in the photograph is our new Office Assistant, Graison Harms. 💗)



📸: Wirken Photography

03/06/2026

As we draw closer to our first overnight camp of 2026, we look forward to moments like this! Enjoy this sweet moment captured from a past camp during Group Time.

📸: Tyler Wirken

03/05/2026

The first Overnight Camp Session is fast approaching (March 21-22) and we need a wee bit more help to execute it! Grab a pal or four OR, come solo!

📍 Location: Heartland Retreat Center in Parkville, MO

💙 Friday, March 20 from 5:30 to 7pm Assist our staff with unloading supplies at our campgrounds

💚 Saturday, March 21 from 9:20 to 11:30am 👉🏼 Holding encouraging signs and wave as campers arrive at camp

Please join us by signing up at https://volunteersignup.org/T8JBB

03/04/2026

What a gift this is! 💝 In 2026 at our overnight camp sessions, our campers on the autism spectrum will be provided quality STEM activities thanks to META's Kansas City Data Center that include a Space Travel Workshop, a Rocket Science workshop, the SkyDome Planetarium, and a structured building activity. Learning and goodness awaits for sure!

🎉We’re thrilled to announce the 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grants recipients!

Through our Data Center Community Action Grants program, Meta provides funding for nonprofits and schools to support the long-term vitality of Clay and Platte County and the City of Kansas City. We fund projects that address critical community needs by putting technology to use for community benefit, enabling people to build strong, sustainable communities and improving local science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education.

Congratulations to the 2026 Kansas City Data Center grant recipients and a big thank you for your impactful work:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City
Camp Encourage
FRC Team 1806 S.W.A.T.
Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri
Horizon Elementary
Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation
KC STEM Alliance
Liberty North High School
Make48
NICE - KC
Operation Breakthrough
Veterans Community Project
WeCode KC

Learn more about the grant recipients http://datacenters.atmeta.com/2026Recipients

03/04/2026

YOU DID IT! Our hearts are SO full! ❤️💜

During the month of February, it was our goal to welcome 12 new monthly donors into the "Campfire Circle," our monthly giving community. 🔁 To help inspire participation, the Cartwright and Hulston families generously offered to collectively provide an incentive of $12,000 if we met that goal. 🙌🏼
🥁🥁🥁🥁
We are esctatic to announce that we have 13 new monthly donors that unlocked the beautiful gift of $12,000! 💝 Immense thanks to each supporter and to the Cartwright and Hulston families! Your steady, reliable support allows Camp Encourage to care for campers all year long.

03/03/2026

HELP US MAKE SMILES LIKE THIS POSSIBLE! 😊

Join us in our Westport office from 9:30 to 11:30am or 12:30 to 2:30pm on March 10, 11, and/or 12 to prepare for the upcoming camp session. Tasks may include: cutting and preparing name tags, sorting water bottles and tees, laminating, organizing / preparing activities, and running copies.

Please join us by signing up at https://volunteersignup.org/BT88R