On January 24, Camp For All, a nationally recognized leader in special needs camping for all ages, announced the development of Camp For All Chappell Hill, a second innovative barrier-free facility in Chappell Hill, that will increase the organization’s ability to serve children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs.

For 28 years, Camp For All has welcomed campers from more than 65 nonprofit partner organizations to its unique 206-acre campsite in Burton, Texas, where barriers fade away, and confidence, independence, and joy flourish. Today, Camp For All serves nearly 9,000 campers each year and has hosted close to 200,000 campers since its founding in 1998. The addition of Camp For All Chappell Hill in summer 2027 will allow those numbers to grow significantly, enabling even more campers and families to experience the life-changing power of barrier-free Camp.

“With Camp For All Chappell Hill, we will welcome thousands more campers each year to experience a Camp where they are celebrated for who they are and not defined by their challenges,” said President and CEO Pat Prior Sorrells. “Following the standards set at Camp For All Burton, every cabin, facility, trail, activity, and meal at Camp For All Chappell Hill is being developed for accessibility, adventure, and safety, ensuring that our campers, regardless of ability, can discover what they can do, not what they can’t.”

The camp will feature adaptive recreational environments, fully accessible cabins, medical facilities, and food services to meet a variety of dietary needs on nearly 380 acres donated by the Charles Jago Elder Foundation, founded by Virginia and John Elder in memory of their son, Nick.

Camp For All Chappell Hill will include a range of features that expand opportunities for campers to grow, connect, and thrive, including:

· 20 cabins with barrier-free bathrooms, adult-sized changing tables, and water bottle filling stations

· Cabins that can be easily divided in half with each side having access to a bathroom

· 400 capacity dining hall with multi-functional cooking equipment; healthy, delicious meals prepared by a professional food services staff.

· Dining hall includes an indoor ropes course, stage for events, and multi-functional seating

· 24/7 health center with medical staff provided by Camp For All nonprofit partners to meet needs of campers

· Arts and crafts barn and camper kitchen

· Outdoor play pavilion

· Equestrian design throughout camp: trail, horseback riding with specialized lifts and saddles, and barnyard animals

· Enhanced archery and regular archery

· Outdoor ropes course, climbing wall, zip lines, and rope swing

· Large lake for canoeing, paddleboats, dropline, and cast fishing

· State–of-the-art pool with lazy river, wheelchair accessibility, mechanical lift pool with beach-style entry

· Amphitheater for outdoor events


Camp For All Chappell Hill is being brought to life by an experienced project team. Tellepsen is serving as the general contractor, overseeing all major facilities with the exception of the cabins and the equine barn. Camden is leading construction of the cabins as the designated general contractor for that portion of the project, while Rhodes Building Systems serves as the general contractor for the equine barn.

Architect Peter Boudreaux, AIA, Curry Boudreaux Architects, is designing Camp For All Chappell Hill. He also served as the architect for Camp For All Burton, ensuring continuity in vision, quality, and barrier-free design.

The development of Camp For All Chappell Hill will be made possible through “Blazing New Trails,” a comprehensive capital campaign that represents the most ambitious fundraising effort in the organization’s history. Guided by the shared belief that every individual deserves the chance to discover life beyond their diagnosis or disability, the campaign invites donors, foundations, corporations, and individuals to invest in expanding Camp For All.

“The campaign has been fueled by the remarkable generosity of donors who recognize the profound impact of barrier-free Camp experiences. Their gifts have created momentum for enabling even more campers to unlock a world of possibilities at a second innovative Camp created for them,” said Matt Mogas, Camp For All board chair. “Our generous supporters have not only made financial contributions; they have also inspired others through their belief that Camp For All changes lives in ways that no other experience can.”

The “Blazing New Trails Capital Campaign” has already raised a significant portion of the $61.3 million required to bring Camp For All Chappell Hill to life, with approximately five per cent remaining to fully reach the goal. Additional support is still needed to fully fund construction, expand programming, to recruit and train staff, and to ensure long-term sustainability.

The development of Camp For All Chappell Hill celebrates the extraordinary vision of the organization’s Founders – Paul Gerson, MD, Laurence B. Neuhaus, and the late Robert S. Zeller, MD – whose dedication laid the foundation for a unique and innovative Camp experience. From the beginning, they imagined a place where every child and adult, regardless of diagnosis or ability, could experience adventure in a barrier-free, nurturing environment.

“Our growth and impact are possible because of the extraordinary foundation built by our three founders, and the unwavering support of the donors, Partners, volunteers, campers, families, staff, vendors, and friends who have walked beside us every step of the way,” said Sorrells. “Their belief in our mission is what enables Camp For All to grow and serve even more campers in new and meaningful ways.”

About Camp For All

For more than 30 years, Camp For All has transformed the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities or special needs. Founded in 1993 by two Houston physicians and a father of a child with cancer, Camp For All enriches the lives of nearly 9,000 children, adults and families, mostly from the greater Houston area, throughout the year through collaborations and partnerships with more than 65 other nonprofits. Programming includes Camp For All 2U, the award-winning outreach program that brings activities and programming to hospital-bound patients.