Since 1969, Camp Venture, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, has provided and continues to provide care and services to children and adults with developmental disabilities through a wide range of programs and services offered in a family like atmosphere.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, we made our first visit to the recreational day unit at Camp Venture in Stony Point. About 25 special needs adults visited with nine of our teams. Some of them co-walked the dogs with their handlers.  Some sat and pet the dogs.  Others walked around visiting each dog.  The visit lasted an hour and was a great success.

We now have scheduled visits with our teams twice a month, every first and third Wednesday.

Yesterday was Diane Bonita’s and her therapy dog, Cooper’s first visit to Camp Venture. Diane described her first visit as “a humbling, heartwarming experience.”  She also mentioned how the men and women from Camp Venture selected to visit with our therapy teams “were enthusiastic, overjoyed and extremely warm and friendly in their greetings.” They asked to “walk” the dogs, some asked if they could bring them home, and one wanted to purchase handsome Douglas, one of our therapy dogs handled by Susan Henson!

All enjoyed hugging, kissing and petting our furry friends and engaging in conversation with us. They were so excited to give the dogs basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “give me your paw.” They were amazed at how well the dogs performed for them. They cheered with joy and had bright smiles on their faces!

Diane expressed how “watching the pure joy on the faces of these special needs adults at Camp Venture confirms what we do, what we can do, and the effect we have on the people/children we visit.”

And, further she stated how “our therapy dog teams represent the best of the best” and how she and Cooper “are honored to be a part of this thoughtful, caring, loving and lovable team!”

Thank you for sharing your awesome experience, Diane and Cooper!

Here are more pictures of our therapy teams visiting Camp Venture.