The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust (Trust) in Fresno, CA is celebrating the growth and expansion of the River Camp Inclusion Program, focusing on providing outdoor recreation opportunities for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). This program enables local youth with I/DDs to participate fully in the organization’s outdoor day-camp alongside typically developing peers, with additional support provided at either a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. Following the success of the 2023 pilot season, Inclusion Program participation more than tripled in 2024, providing nearly 30 local youth the opportunity to safely experience the wonders of the San Joaquin River.
Due to the support and involvement of the local community, the Trust was able to expand the Inclusion Program to serve seasonal school break camps “River Camp Fall Foragers” in 2024, and the upcoming “River Camp Spring Break” in 2025. The Trust plans to expand program capacity during the River Camp 2025 summer season, using secured funding to include an additional 10 spaces for Inclusion Campers, free of cost to participants. To the Trust’s knowledge, this is the only program in the Central Valley offering unique environmental enrichment opportunities for youth of all abilities.