Camp Aranzazu

Camp Aranzazu developed a unique approach called “intentional camping,” which is the purposeful design of a camping experience to nurture the physical, social, emotional, and mental development of each child. In short, every activity is designed with a specific goal in mind. We seek to do the following:
1. Challenge campers’ beliefs about themselves and their capabilities;
2. Help campers gain confidence, have fun, and explore exciting new activities; and
3. Give campers the opportunity to develop a social support network.

Each year, Camp Aranzazu partners with dozens of non-profit organizations throughout Texas to provide our unique form of recreational therapy to almost 2,000 children and adults. Approximately 52% of our campers come from the Coastal Bend, 28% from the San Antonio area, and the remaining 20% come from the Houston area.

Camp Aranzazu serves as a host facility, providing meals and lodging; customizing each camping experience to meet our partners’ goals and objectives; and facilitating all activities under the guidance of our three Certified Recreational Therapy Specialists. Our camping partners bring the campers, as well medical and other support staff as needed.

If it weren’t for Camp Aranzazu, many of the children and adults we serve would never be able to attend c however, our highly skilled and experienced staff, barrier-free campus, and on-site health center make it possible for everyone to enjoy all the traditional camping activities, plus waterfront activities like sailing, birding, and saltwater fishing.

The Unlimited Horizons Capital Campaign, completed in June 2018, expanded the camp's facilities. We now have 135 beds, plus an additional 20 beds for staff, as well as a state-of-the-art health center and a dining hall that seats 350 people. In addition, we have two pools, a dedicated art center, sanctuary, Ropes Challenge Course, archery range, kayaking and fishing ponds, and an open air pavilion for activities. The most unique feature of the camp, however, is our 27 acres of waterfront and wetlands on Copano Bay that are accessible via a bridge from the main campus. This area includes a nature education center, boardwalks, bird blind, sailing dock, and fishing pier.

The camp has nine full-time staff. Each member of our program staff has a bachelor's degree: two are Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists and one is a Kinesiology major with advanced coursework in special education. In the summer, we hire 18 activity leaders from various universities, as well as six kitchen staff.

Our collaboration with The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the Texas State Aquarium, and the Coastal Conservation Association helps us to create programs that allow campers to not only spend time in nature, but to develop an appreciation of the plants and animals inhabiting the Texas Gulf Coast.

Currently, our highest priority is to serve more of the children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses who could benefit from our services. With approximately 385,000 school-age children in Texas who have some type of disability, Texas has the second-largest number of individuals with disabilities, at approximately 12% of the general population.

While there is a significant demand for the unique form of recreational therapy we provide, the people who know us best and who value us the most – our campers and their families – are often the least able to afford camp. Thus, in order to ensure that as many children and adults as possible can attend camp, we underwrite as much as two-thirds of the actual cost of camp. We seek support from the community to underwrite this amount, which continues to grow as we seek to serve more campers.