Camp Amigo

Camp Amigo is an annual camp hosted by Austin Smiles. Children born with cleft lip and palate in Texas are invited to join Austin Smiles for friendship and fun!

What is Camp Amigo?

Each year, Austin Smiles hosts Camp Amigo in the Spring. Camp Amigo is a unique camping experience that gives young people born with cleft lip/palate the chance for participants to be themselves, make friends, and have a great time with fellow cleft lip/palate patients. Campers take part in challenging and exciting activities that inevitably enhance their confidence, independence, and self-esteem. Campers also experience horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, nature programs, arts, and crafts – as well as a state-of-the-art challenge course, climbing wall, and zip line.

Many of the campers have come back to be counselors as adults and have said that Camp Amigo allowed them to make forever friends.

 

Who can attend Camp Amigo?

Any child in Central Texas who is born with a cleft lip or palate is invited to join Austin Smiles for our Annual Camp Amigo! Campers must be between the ages of 6-16 to attend. We also encourage adults and older teens born with cleft lip and palate to join Camp Amigo as counselors! Activities are facilitated by camp counselors with members of the Dell Children’s cleft team and valuable volunteers from Austin Smiles close by to keep campers safe and ensure campers feel included and supported.

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Sponsor Camp Amigo?

A great way to get involved locally is to sponsor Camp Amigo. Camp Amigo provides campers with an opportunity to spend quality time with other children born with cleft lip and/or palate. This camp is designed to help kids understand that they are not facing the world alone. Our campers participate in various outdoor activities, create new friendships, and improve their self-esteem and confidence.

Thanks to people like you, this experience is provided at no cost to participants.

Words from Campers

The impact of Austin Smiles programming can last a lifetime, as children make new friends like them and realize they are not alone. An example of the impact was when we asked each of our campers at Camp Amigo why they think Camp Amigo is important for kids like them, here are a few replies from our campers: “I feel like it is a safe space and I can be myself”, “We can recognize there are more people like us”, “It is good to be with kids like you” and “It helps because it normalizes everyday life”. These are just some of the many reasons kids love Camp Amigo and the opportunity to be with others who are like them!

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1 in 700 children are born with a cleft lip or palate

$250 covers the cost of one life-changing surgery

150 volunteers annually will change a child’s life forever

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Event Calendar

Check out the many ways you can get involved with Austin Smiles

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Our Local Services

Our local program support for children born with Cleft Lip and Palate in Texas

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