By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – The Champions Camp for individuals with special needs recorded its largest attendance ever, drawing 91 campers and their buddies for a weekend of activities tailored to them.
The Louisiana Baptist summer camp for people with special needs matched participants with buddies who accompanied them during the event. The camp, whose previous record attendance was 50 set in 2024, featured karaoke, snow cones, ice cream party, fishing, games, bazooka ball, crafts, disco party and worship designed for children and adults from ages 8 and up who have intellectual or development disabilities.
Lisa Smith, a member with First Baptist Church, Hornbeck, was among the buddies who attended the weekend with a camper. Smith was filled with joy as she witnessed her camper, Amber Holloway, enjoying camp for the first time.
“I was here three minutes and was already crying,” Smith told the Baptist Message. “It was emotional for me, getting to see her and the other campers have so much fun.”
Cameron Jones and his buddy, Trotter LaFollette, a member with His Church, Pineville, spent the weekend laughing together and learning more about God during Champions Camp, Sept. 5-7 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Brian Blackwell photo
Brenda Hudson, the mother of camper Alex Zimmerman, was moved to tears as she watched her son fish.
“It touches my heart,” she said. “I’ve always wanted him to be involved in something like this. So, when we heard about this of course I signed him up because it’s very exciting for them to come and do something like this. It’s all about them this weekend and I like that.”
Jonathan Paul, Zimmerman’s buddy and a member with His Church, Pineville, enjoyed spending some time with the campers.
“I always enjoy spending time with him and this kind of atmosphere gives me the chance to get to know him better,” Paul said. “And it’s just an enjoyable weekend of being around so many other campers who are getting to have the focus all on them.”
Allison Winegeart, who attended her third Champions Camp, enjoyed the times of worship the most.
“You can act the way you want to act, and nobody judges you,” she said.
The idea for Champions Camp was born after a similar experience at a camp coordinated by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma that Louisiana Baptist Children’s Ministry Strategist David Anderson and his family, including his daughter, Chloe, attended for more than 10 years. Anderson wanted to bring that same camp experience to Louisiana.
Since Champions Camp began, Anderson has seen so many special needs individuals experience camp for the first time.
“This is the greatest camp ever,” said Anderson, who also serves as the camp director. “These campers get to come and just be themselves. No other place in the world do they get to just be them for a few days in a camp setting. They always have to live by rules. Here, they get to be who they are, and we love that.”
Champions Camp will return to Tall Timbers, Sept. 11-13, 2026. For information or to be put on the mailing list e-mail david.anderson@louisianabaptists.org
