Victory Junction Gives More Kids a Camping Experience
One of my fondest childhood memories was when I went to Girl Scout camp. I experienced new adventures, made new friends and learned more about myself when I attended Girl Scout Camp. I love that my kids are able to enjoy going to summer camp as well. I recently learned about Victory Junction – a camp located in North Carolina that enriches the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
At camp, kids ages 6-16 have the opportunity to enjoy normal childhood experiences once thought impossible – such as swimming, horseback riding and zip-lining – all in a medically-sound environment. The best part? As a non-profit, campers attend camp at absolutely no cost to their families.
About Victory Junction
At Victory Junction, they believe that every child, no matter their illness or diagnosis, should enjoy normal childhood experiences. Located in Randleman, North Carolina, Victory Junction provides life-changing camp experiences that help enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness, all in a safe and medically-sound environment. The Victory Junction camp experience is available to children ages six to 16, always at no cost to campers or their families. The goal is allow children to do what they do best – be kids, play, imagine, make friends and enjoy the adventures and experiences of camp life.
Fun is what we are about and what we do best. At Victory Junction we help foster independence, confidence and growth in every child we meet. How? Through fun! At camp fun looks like the joy of laughter after being soaked by a refreshing bucket of water at the water park, or the smiles of accomplishment after conquering the 55 foot adventure tower and the zipline, or the happiness of making friends through horseback riding, bowling and dance parties. It’s always safe and it is always fun! We create moments that will stay with our campers forever.
Who Does Victory Junction Serve?
Camp at Victory Junction is available to children ages six to 16. The Victory Junction experience is a welcome break for children who spend most of their year receiving medical treatments and attending countless hospital visits.
Some of the illnesses served:
- Bleeding Disorders
- Burn Survivors
- Cancer
- Cerebral Palsy
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Genetic Disorders
- Heart Disease
- Immunologic Disorders
- Kidney Disorders
- Lung Disease
- Neurological Disorders
- Physical Disabilities
- Rheumatologic Disorders
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Skin Disorders
Want to learn more about Victory Junction? Check out these interesting facts and figures.
- Victory Junction was founded by the Petty family in honor of Adam Petty in 2004
- Since 2004, Victory Junction has served more than 22,000 campers
- Victory Junction sits on 84 acres
- Victory Junction is accredited by the American Camping Association and a member of SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman
- Victory Junction provides week-long summer sessions for children ages six to 16, weekend sessions for children and their families in the fall and spring during Family Weekends and all year round through our Outreach Program
- Victory Junction serves children with chronic medical conditions and serious illness
- Victory Junction is a 501(c)(3) not for profit charity supported through the generosity of individual, corporate and foundation donations
- 79% of parents reported an increase in their child’s confidence after attending camp
- 80% of campers showed an openness to trying new things while at camp
- 74% of campers show an increase in independence after attending camp
What Do Campers Think of Victory Junction?
- “I was diagnosed a few months ago and this was the first time I was able to forget about my illness.” -Emma, 16
- “If I could change one thing about the world, I would make Victory Junction bigger so more people could come to camp.” – Zoe, 10
- “It makes me the happiest when I get the chance to come to this camp.” -Chloe, 9
- “Victory junction means a lot to me…I have more fun than I’ve ever had in my life.” – Delton, 15
- “Victory Junction is like a place where you can actually be a real kid. You get the chance to do a bunch of fun activities for a lot of days. It really encouraged my life.” – Elijah, 7
Camper Kyla Shares Her Victory Junction Experience
Dreams lead us to do the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the impossible. They motivate us to overcome obstacles and plow through adversity. Dreams carry us on journeys that lead us to destinations we never envisioned. For Kyla, her dreams placed her at the World Archery Tournament.
For four years, Kyla has been coming to Victory Junction. It was during her first year at camp that she was introduced to archery and archery instructor Mr. Larry.
“I loved it,” she says. “It was Mr. Larry, and the experience I had. I was really good at it.”
Her camp experience at archery inspired her to join her school’s archery team, and they recently participated in the 2016 World Archery Tournament. Over 4,000 students from the United States and Canada participated in this tournament, and Kyla’s team placed third in the nation.
Whenever she shoots, she has Victory Junction and Mr. Larry on her mind.
“I think about what Mr. Larry taught me, and I apply what I learned at camp to my shooting,” Kyla said. “I do pretty well.”
Kyla wants to return to Victory Junction as a counselor someday to assist Mr. Larry in teaching campers the art of archery.
This summer at Victory Junction, we have emphasized the importance of being your campself. Being your campself has many meanings: being open to new challenges, being the best version of yourself, and being a dreamer.
Being your campself isn’t something you put on at camp and take of when you leave. It is something you take with you once you leave the gates of Victory Junction to show your friends, family and schoolmates at home. It is what you see in the mirror every morning when you wake up.
By being your campself outside of camp, you can inspire others to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams.
Making Victory Junction Possible for Campers Through “Giving Tuesday!”
As part of the national social media event, “Giving Tuesday,” on November 29th, Victory Junction will be accepting donations to help more kids experience a life-changing week at camp – always at no cost to the camper or their families. For donations received on “Giving Tuesday,” an anonymous donor has agreed to match up to $10,000, which is so awesome!!! On average, it costs $2,500 for one child to attend camp’s medically-sound campus. However, due to many generous sponsors and donors, no child or family ever occurs the cost to attend. Victory Junction is such an awesome camp in my eyes. Since the camp opened in 2004, around 23,000 campers and their families have been served. What a great thing they get to experience!
Victory Junction seems like such an awesome camp! I love that it gives children going through a hard life with illnesses the opportunity to have, enjoy the outdoors and be a kid! As I said earlier, every child should have the opportunity to experience camp and thanks to Victory Junction, these kids can experience camp like no other.
What do you like about Victory Junction?
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What a wonderful program. I like that the parents don’t have to spend to send their kid to camp.