Every summer, 150+ people with disabilities pack their bags, board a van, and head to Phillips Lake—and every summer, something remarkable happens. Come be part of it.
For nearly 30 years, OHI has brought adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges to camp each summer. We began this tradition at Camp Tall Pines and transitioned to Camp CaPella almost two decades ago. These seven days and six nights have delivered something that no clinical program, no residential support plan, and no skills development curriculum can fully replicate: pure, unscripted joy.
Camp CaPella's mission is to enhance life experiences for individuals with disabilities by providing accessible recreational and educational opportunities—and its philosophy is simple: every person with a disability deserves the opportunity to enjoy a traditional summer camp experience. OHI believes that wholeheartedly. And every summer, we make it happen.
A Week on Phillips Lake
Nestled on the shores of Phillips Lake in Dedham, Maine, Camp CaPella is a fully accessible lakefront camp that offers swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, camp crafts, and nature study—all of it designed so that every camper, regardless of their disability or mobility, can participate fully and safely.
OHI's annual camp is a seven-day, six-night experience attended by approximately 120+ adults with disabilities. Families and individuals across central and eastern Maine know that OHI's week at Camp CaPella is something special—and they find their way to us because of it.
The week is filled with everything a great summer camp should be: swimming in the lake, boat rides on the water, games on the lawn, campfire nights, shared meals, laughter, and the kind of friendships that form quickly and last long. Games, food, and water sports fill every day—and OHI staff are there every moment, not just as caregivers, but as fellow campers, swimming alongside, paddling the same boats, and celebrating every moment of the week together.
Why Camp Matters
There is something about a week away from ordinary life that unlocks parts of a person that day-to-day routine never quite reaches. For many of the adults OHI supports, Camp CaPella represents firsts—first time on a boat, first time swimming in a lake, first time sleeping away from home, first time being seen by an entire community simply as a camper, not as a person with a disability.
Camp CaPella brings together campers with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, brain injuries, Down Syndrome, autism, and many other disabilities that would keep them away from nearly every other traditional camp opportunity. They come here—from across Maine, from neighboring states, and sometimes from much further away. And here, they belong completely.
The camp's stories capture this better than any statistics could. There is the story of Shawn, a man with cerebral palsy who has attended Camp CaPella every summer for years—writing letters throughout the year full of excitement about his upcoming trip. One summer, Shawn saved $275 over three months and sent a check to buy a brick in the Memories of a Lifetime Garden. On the day his brick was placed, Shawn—who uses a wheelchair—pushed himself up, got down on his hands and knees, and placed his brick into the ground himself. With one final push, Shawn's brick was set forever into the garden at Camp CaPella.
That is what camp makes possible.
Then there is the summer OHI campers were out on the pontoon boat on Phillips Lake when the captain spotted an empty kayak in the water. A kayaker had capsized and had been struggling in the water for nearly 45 minutes. The captain and the OHI campers pulled the kayaker and his boat to safety—and as the grateful survivor caught his breath, he and the captain turned to the campers and said: "This is why we all put on life jackets." In that moment, OHI's campers weren't people with disabilities being cared for—they were part of a rescue crew. They were heroes on the water.
OHI's Role at Camp CaPella
OHI's involvement at Camp CaPella goes far beyond attending as guests. Our staff are integral to the week—serving as counselors, activity leaders, boat captains, and cheerleaders. Many OHI employees consider camp week one of the highlights of their own year, volunteering their time and energy to make the experience extraordinary for every single camper.
The relationships built during that one week—between campers, between campers and staff, and between OHI participants and the broader Camp CaPella community—carry forward long after the week ends. Campers return home with new friends, new confidence, new stories, new skills, and a renewed sense of what is possible when the world makes room for everyone.
How to Get Involved
For individuals and families: If you are interested in attending OHI's annual Camp CaPella week, contact us to find out how to register and what to expect.
For volunteers: Camp week is one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences OHI offers. No special skills are required—just enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and a willingness to show up fully for an unforgettable week. Contact our HR team to learn more about volunteering at camp.
For donors: Sponsoring a camper's attendance at Camp CaPella is one of the most direct, tangible ways your gift can make a difference. A single gift can cover the full cost of one person's week—six days of joy, connection, and memory-making on the shores of Phillips Lake. Contact us to learn more about camp sponsorship.
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