Concerning policy changes at summer camp in Naples

Parents were left shocked by a policy change at the River Park Community Center in Naples.

Forcibly paying thousands of extra dollars would result from the policy change regarding parents of kids with special needs.

Precious memories of swimming, rock climbing, The Color Run, and more keep kids coming back to the all-inclusive Naples summer camp at River Park.

“It’s the first camp the two of them have been able to do anything together,” Naples resident, Jennifer Coppins said.

“They go above and beyond to make sure that everyone can participate,” Naples resident, Katie Betz said.

“It’s his lifeline,” Naples resident, Victoria Warrenfeltz said.

These parents want to preserve that lifeline after the City of Naples changed its policy where campers requiring personal care, now must have their own personal care assistant.

“I would have one twin that can come. And one twin that couldn’t,” Warrenfeltz said. “I felt like our child was being discriminated and it’s like how can you separate children with disabilities? How do you do that?”

In a statement, the city said the change was to ensure proper care and supervision (one-on-one attention) is provided to those participants needing such specialized care. Our staff are not trained to provide such specialized care.

For the fourth time, Betz’s son, Garrison, is going to the camp this Summer. Each year it costs over $1,000, but costs would spike adding that assistant.

“We would be looking at $8,000 on top of that to pay,” Betz said.

“I’m a single mom taking care of these two angels,” Coppins said. “I work full time so it would be a detriment to us significantly.”

Coppins’s goal is for Ashleigh, her daughter, to make more memories at the camp.

“This is the one place that she almost views as a second home. She sees it coming up and she’s slapping the window,” Coppins said.

The families want help from the city to ensure their kids and others can still attend the camp so they can still feel included in the community. The statement form the city said the change aligns more consistently with county and municipal inclusive programs across the state.