Camp Courage, A Helen Keller Experience is a 3 day program for students rising in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade designed to encourage and inspire children with visual and/or hearing impairments to develop a greater confidence in their abilities, to form lifelong connections with other students in Alabama, and to create a vision for the future.
The Camp is held here on the grounds of Helen Keller’s Home in Ivy Green. The camp offers arts and crafts, music, drama, field trips and discussions of Keller’s life and work. The opening night includes a recreation of Annie arriving at Ivy Green, Farm, Luau meals, hotel and more are provided completely free for campers and their families made possible by donations from the City of Tuscumbia, the University of North Alabama and many individuals.
University of North Alabama preservice teachers from the Elementary Education program, some of who will specialize in special education, gain hands-on experience while they serve as camp counselors along with Helen Keller Fellows like Mechele Morris, who is the Lions Club President for 2022, Dustin Phillips and Sign Language interpreters Sandra Hodtwalker Schmidt and Rhonda Nesmith.
For details on Camp Courage call the Helen Keller Birthplace at 256-383-4066 or the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau at 256-383-0783.
If you'd like to give to Camp Courage donate by mail to 300 S. Commons, Tuscumbia, AL 35635. Please note this is for Camp Courage.
Camp Courage is free of charge to eligible students. The application deadline for the Camp is in late spring of each year. Contact Sue Pilkilton, Executive Director at 256.383.4066 or email her at helenkeller.birthplace@comcast.net.
