Greenpath Ventures

Camp Jojo 2018- fully accessible camping

Greenpath ventures was proud to participate in the launch of Camp Jojo in 2018 – an accessible camping holiday for families of children with complex needs. After its huge success, the decision was made for Camp Jojo to branch out on its own. For more exciting information on Camp Jojo go to their website.

Camp Jojo started because parenting a child with complex needs is a huge challenge and presents many limitations. Camp Jojo dreams of overcoming these barriers to strengthen family relationships and create lasting memories; sleeping under canvas, bushcraft, relaxing and cooking around the campfire.

Toasting Marshmallows by the fire.

Toasting Marshmallows by the fire.

During the camp in 2018 Greenpath Ventures helped create a camp on a beautiful farm on Mersea Island using tents containing hoists, a mobile ‘changing places’, and skilled carers to give each family a memorable and relaxing holiday. Providing everyone, including wheelchair dependent children, full access to a truly rural camping experience.

This was a long-held dream of Tim Wright (local GP) and his wife, Rachel (an author, disability activist and public speaker). Their eldest son has severe and complex disabilities. They both love the outdoors and take their sons wild camping but it is an experience many of their peers never get the opportunity to enjoy. Tim and Rachel would love to see other families creating wonderful life-giving memories, without the need for it to be an endurance event. Their family life gives them a high level of expertise resulting in this detailed, bespoke project specifically designed for families with children who are often left out because it is simply deemed too difficult. Tim and Rachel have now teamed up with others to pioneer Camp Jojo with the dream of seeing it grow from the 2018 pilot camp.

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Jojo

Jojo’s mum Chris Wright (no relation) is the Chair of Camp Jojo. She says:

“Jojo was a joyful, lively boy with a great smile and sense of humour, who adored to be outside and in nature, and loved wind, rain and snow! I think he would have so loved camping, but as his mum I was daunted and overwhelmed by the need for hoist, wheelchair, oxygen supplies, gastrostomy equipment, medical bed and medications, as well as the usual camping equipment, so we never did it.

Now we want to give other ‘Jojos’ and their families a chance to enjoy the outdoors and make happy camping memories together, helped by volunteers and carers, and in a relaxed, stress free time for parents and children. They can turn up to a camping site already set up for their needs, where fun, games, animals, bushcraft activities and food are all laid on. I can see Jojo s delight in all that in my mind’s eye!!”

Jojo

Jojo

For more information about Camp Jojo go to the website or email campjojoinfo@gmail.com.