Before coming to Camp Starfish, Daymein and his mom, Cassy, weren’t sure what to expect. Past summer camp experiences had been challenging, and both were cautiously optimistic about trying again. “Before he got there, he was a little nervous,” Cassy shared. “Excited, but nervous.” That mix of anticipation and hesitation made sense — as Cassy explained, “I think he was a little hesitant on whether or not this would work out.”
From the very beginning, Camp Starfish proved to be the right fit. Cassy described the one-to-one support as a major factor in their decision. “It was really the only one around here that would be a fit for him that I could see being successful,” she said. That personalized care helped Daymein settle into camp life and begin forming connections that would last beyond the summer.
One of those connections turned into something truly special. He stays in touch with another camper, Cassy said proudly. “He video chats with him like twice a month and really hopes to be in the same cabin with him next summer.” Seeing her son build and maintain a genuine friendship was deeply meaningful. “He feels like he fits in somewhere, which he doesn’t get here,” Cassy explained. “At school, he doesn’t fit in… So it was really nice to see him feel like he fits in enough that he wants to go back.”
Throughout his time at Starfish, Daymein found joy in the small moments that make up camp life. “He didn’t really talk about any of the things other than the water games during the really intense heat and the snow cones, which were, of course, his favorite,” Cassy said with a laugh. He also enjoyed martial arts, which connected to his passion for karate at home. While he may not have shared every detail from camp, Cassy could tell the experience made a difference. “That was the first thing he said to me when we walked in — ‘Am I coming back next year?’”
She also noticed that when he came home, he seemed more capable of handling difficult situations. “When he first got home, he was a little bit better with coping skills,” she reflected. “it was definitely visible when he came home. I feel like he communicates a little bit better since he was there for sure.” Accessing coping skills and communication were two of the skills Cassy had chosen for Daymein to work on as part of Camp Starfish’s Goals program. With daily check-ins from staff and progress tracking, Daymein was able to make strides in just two weeks.
Cassy also appreciated the thoughtful organization and care that defined every part of the Starfish experience. From the first orientation event to the end of the session, she felt informed, supported, and included. “That was really good,” she said about attending the camp’s Set Up for Success day. “We enjoyed being able to see where he’d be located, sorta what he would get to do for activities, and just overall learning about the camp as we hadn’t used it before. I feel like it really helped him understand how it was gonna go, which was a big success.”
She described the overall process of joining camp with one word: “Perfect.” Cassy felt that “they asked all the right questions ahead of time, and I think it went really smoothly.” Even the logistics stood out in comparison to past experiences. “Drop off and pickup were extremely easy… and I think that helped him transition a little better.”
When it was finally time to pick him up, Cassy could see just how much the experience meant to her son. “It was nice to see him,” she remembered. “Him and [another camper] were like buddy-buddy throughout the movie and asked to sit next to each other. So it was really nice to see him getting along with another kid that is somewhat his age and is like him.”
When asked what Camp Starfish means to her family, Cassy answered simply and sincerely: “I think it’s just a really big community for these children that are a little bit different than most. It’s a safe and fun environment.”
Her words perfectly capture the heart of what makes Camp Starfish special — a place where children who struggle to fit in elsewhere can discover confidence, friendship, and joy. It’s also a place where parents can finally exhale, knowing their children are surrounded by care, patience, and understanding.
The magic of Camp Starfish is made possible through the generosity of donors who believe that every child deserves a chance to experience belonging and success. Financial aid ensures that families like Cassy and Daymein’s can access this life-changing experience, regardless of circumstance.
Every contribution supports the one-to-one model that makes Starfish unique — providing individualized care that meets each camper where they are and helps them thrive. And beyond the campgrounds, the lessons learned at Starfish ripple outward, building confidence, communication, and resilience that carry into daily life.
For Cassy, that impact can be summed up in one sentence: “He feels like he fits in somewhere.” That’s what Camp Starfish gives to every child who walks through its gates — a place to belong, to grow, and to be celebrated for exactly who they are.
Your support ensures that more campers like Daymein will have the same opportunity — to build friendships, develop confidence, and create joyful memories that last long after summer ends.
