About Us
Camp BuddEConnect is a student-led extension of West Morris Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer program. Our program was born out of a need to provide the special needs community a way to connect virtually when in-person programs are not feasible or safe. BuddEConnect was founded in 2020 as a response to the pandemic. West Morris Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) organization out of Mendham/Chester, NJ.
Our Story
All it took was a trip to the supermarket and a chance-encounter.
One conversation with two of the families who participate in the TOPSoccer program sponsored by West Morris Soccer Club, and it was painfully obvious that social distancing was taking its toll on special needs families. Their children could not understand; what had happened to all of the activities and interactions they loved? Not only were parents struggling to manage disappointment, but they were feeling the added burden from losing the resources and activities that brought their families joy.
Our student leaders were feeling the strain from isolation too, and knew something had to be done.
Our goal was to recreate the sense of family and engagement over Zoom that they loved in-person. The result? A TOPZoom program that was a standout success. In fact it was SO successful that our team compiled a training playbook that U.S. Youth Soccer has decided to make it available to TOPSoccer programs around the country.
But our team wasn't done. We started to realize that in a few short weeks the school year (distance learning and all) would come to a close and that special needs families had a summer full of isolation, frustration, and boredom ahead of them; many in-person camps would have to limit their capacity and activities or close altogether.
Our answer? A Zoom-based summer camp for kids with special needs!
At Camp BuddEConnect, fun comes first for 7 weeks, 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. Our student counselors' job is to make summer fun and provide a sense of connection and community. We provide 40 or more campers a week with an experience unlike any that they have had before. Our full slate of engaging activities and entertainment is provided by a dedicated and creative group of high school and college-age counselors led by adult camp directors and an expert group of pro-bono adult advisors.
Want to see how our program works? Check out a sample schedule here.
Want your kid with special needs to join the fun? Start your application on our Register page.
Want to learn how to do for your special needs community what we're doing for ours? Reach out to us on our contact page.
Want to help? Donate via PayPal or via venmo @BuddEConnect; since we are a program of West Morris Soccer Club, we have 501(c)(3) status and all donations are tax-deductible.
One conversation with two of the families who participate in the TOPSoccer program sponsored by West Morris Soccer Club, and it was painfully obvious that social distancing was taking its toll on special needs families. Their children could not understand; what had happened to all of the activities and interactions they loved? Not only were parents struggling to manage disappointment, but they were feeling the added burden from losing the resources and activities that brought their families joy.
Our student leaders were feeling the strain from isolation too, and knew something had to be done.
Our goal was to recreate the sense of family and engagement over Zoom that they loved in-person. The result? A TOPZoom program that was a standout success. In fact it was SO successful that our team compiled a training playbook that U.S. Youth Soccer has decided to make it available to TOPSoccer programs around the country.
But our team wasn't done. We started to realize that in a few short weeks the school year (distance learning and all) would come to a close and that special needs families had a summer full of isolation, frustration, and boredom ahead of them; many in-person camps would have to limit their capacity and activities or close altogether.
Our answer? A Zoom-based summer camp for kids with special needs!
At Camp BuddEConnect, fun comes first for 7 weeks, 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. Our student counselors' job is to make summer fun and provide a sense of connection and community. We provide 40 or more campers a week with an experience unlike any that they have had before. Our full slate of engaging activities and entertainment is provided by a dedicated and creative group of high school and college-age counselors led by adult camp directors and an expert group of pro-bono adult advisors.
Want to see how our program works? Check out a sample schedule here.
Want your kid with special needs to join the fun? Start your application on our Register page.
Want to learn how to do for your special needs community what we're doing for ours? Reach out to us on our contact page.
Want to help? Donate via PayPal or via venmo @BuddEConnect; since we are a program of West Morris Soccer Club, we have 501(c)(3) status and all donations are tax-deductible.
