Our Stories: Connor Harthorn
"It’s amazing how much kids can do – stuff they never thought they could – all at camp!"
~ Connor Harthorn
You’ve heard the expressions: “Two peas in a pod.” “Like a hand in glove.” That’s Connor Harthorn and Courage Center Camps. Camping seems to be his destiny.
Connor has moderate cerebral palsy. He first noticed flyers about Courage Center Camps at Gillette Children’s Hospital where he went for treatment. And then Courage Center Camps popped up again. “My dad has multiple sclerosis, and I knew that the MS Society uses Camp Courage for MS Camp,” Connor said.
“So, my mom searched Courage Center’s website and found Family Camp. I was 12 and really didn’t want to go to camp alone. We went as a family in 2007 and loved it.”
In the following months, Connor’s dad, David, began experiencing more MS symptoms and was having difficulty watching five energetic kids in the summer. “Plus, all my 'mainstream' friends were moving on to middle school athletics, and I couldn't keep up,” said Connor. “So, my mom (somewhat out of desperation) made me go to Sports Camp in 2008 on my own. I loved it!”
Connor also attended Outdoor Leadership and Family Camp again that year, and returned in 2009 to attend Sports Camp and Family Camp again. “I've also been to Courage Youth Leadership Academy retreat weekends and Power Soccer Camp.
“I’ve also participated in MS Youth Camp since summer 2006. This is a camp for kids whose parents have MS. It’s mostly ‘mainstream’ kids whose lives are affected by disabilities through their parent or another close relative. Adults that get MS go through huge life changes when they are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s. I think this is harder than having a disability from birth because they lose abilities they once had. That really affects families and kids because often the person is not able to work or remain in a career. This affects family finances, relationships and just about everything else. The MS Youth Camp helps kids cope by just getting away and having fun, and also by having talks and support group activities. You find out there are other kids going through the exact same stuff you are and that your family really isn't completely alone.”
Connor admitted that attending MS Youth Camp and Camp Courage on his own the first time was a little scary, “But only for about five minutes each!” His advice to newbies? “You won't even realize you’re homesick because you’re active the whole time you’re at camp. Tubing, sailing, golf, field trips – you’ll make tons of new friends and won’t want to go home! Camp is totally sweet!”
Connor keeps in touch with his camp friends via Facebook. “I have about 600 friends from all over the state, country and even world. And I meet new friends every time I go. I also play sports at Courage Center now and see my friends at basketball all the time. We make a point of finding out what camps other people are going to and try to go to camps with our friends each year. It’s great to relate to kids with my same type of disability. And I definitely see more opportunities for my future because of what I’ve learned at Camp Courage.”
As for the counselors, Connor is emphatic. “They’re awesome! Parents don’t need to worry about their kids because camp is super accessible and the counselors take care of all disability needs. Kids don’t really miss their parents at all (sorry, parents), and they really have a blast. Some even have more independence after camp because they get to see how other kids do things independently, and kids learn independence skills from each other. It’s amazing how much kids can do – stuff they never thought they could – all at camp!”