April Projects, Summer Possibilities
For summer camps around the country, April is a crucial time for preparation. As camp staff shifts focus to the busy season ahead, and a small team tries to accomplish everything that needs to be done to get a camp ready for its campers, some projects get pushed to the back burner.
Ability Camps fill that gap.
Weekend service projects facilitated by The Ability Experience, Ability Camps bring together Pi Kappa Phi brothers to partner with camps and organizations serving people with disabilities. Brothers spend the weekend building, repairing, organizing and improving camp spaces, so staff and campers have safer, more accessible and more welcoming environments.
This April, that happened across multiple weekends and several states. No matter where they were, Pi Kappa Phi brothers arrived ready to work and left camps better prepared for the summer ahead.
Ability Camps: New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Southern California | April 10-12
Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp: Rush, New York
In Rush, New York, Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp hosted 42 brothers from Eta Lambda (SUNY-Brockport) and Theta Psi (RIT), with staff member Peter Kowalski, Eta Lambda (SUNY-Brockport), and alumnus Anthony Betz, Eta Lambda (SUNY-Brockport), facilitating.
When they arrived in the Empire State, these brothers built a new dock at the pond to expand access and activity space, moved approximately 40 barrels of mulch across a zipline area to improve safety and usability, cleared leaves and handled landscaping across camp and built a new fence that more than doubled the size of the pig pen, relocating more than 400 logs along the way.
With a small camp staff, many of these projects sat unfinished due to time and physical constraints. The group completed in hours what would’ve otherwise taken weeks. TJ Kindler, Theta Psi (RIT), said, “Teamwork makes the dream work. When we’re all working together, we’re able to accomplish way more than any of us could do alone.”
Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp: Rhododendron, Oregon
Across the country in Rhododendron, Oregon, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp welcomed Pi Kappa Phi brothers back to the state after several years, with undergraduate members from the Alpha Zeta (Oregon State) and Alpha Omega (Oregon) Chapters and alumni from the Alpha Omicron (Iowa State) and Zeta Gamma (North Dakota) Chapters in attendance. Alumnus Matthew Guerrero, Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona), served as the facilitator.
The weekend was hands-on from the first cut made to the final board placed. Brothers built new tables to give the camp durable seating and removed and demolished old tables and benches that had become worn and rotten.
For these volunteers, the weekend was a true learning experience. They picked up tools like saws and routers for the first time, then learned by doing, with brothers helping each other through each new skill and step.
Timothy Scott, Alpha Zeta (Oregon State), explained why he values weekends like this one. “I use them as a mental health reset, there’s nothing more grounding than a weekend in the wilderness, paired with a little hard work, exercise and community service.”
The Woodlands Foundation: Wexford, Pennsylvania
In Wexford, Pennsylvania, 30 volunteers, including 18 undergraduate brothers, 10 associate members and two alumni from the Alpha Rho (West Virginia), Delta Upsilon (Pittsburgh) and Epsilon Psi (Slippery Rock) Chapters, headed to The Woodlands Foundation. There, they focused on projects that transformed the camp’s safety and usability. Brothers built and repaired a deck and installed new railing, installed guardrails along camp roads for vehicles and pedestrians, set up new basketball hoops, assembled a new “carpetball” table to add another accessible activity and built a new fence that more than doubled the size of the camp’s pig pen.
More than construction, the weekend also consisted of a Friendship Visit, giving brothers and campers a chance to hang out, have fun, sing karaoke together and build real connections. Hunter Fiedler, Epsilon Psi (Slippery Rock), captured the moment in one sentence: “I had high hopes going into this weekend, but the Friendship Visit truly exceeded my expectations.”
Camp Paivika: Crestline, California
Thirty-four brothers from four chapters headed to the Golden State to volunteer at Camp Paivika, representing the Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona), Delta Rho (University Park) and Zeta Beta (California-San Diego) Chapters and the California-Riverside Associate Chapter. Alumnus Andrew Casey, Theta Sigma (Cal State-Long Beach), served as the facilitator.
The weekend’s work met real needs tied to the camp’s terrain and the region’s weather patterns. Brothers installed a French drain system by digging trenches and laying pipes to address drainage and irrigation issues, spread gravel along camp roads to improve stability and reduce erosion, began construction on a new fence by digging deep post holes and setting initial structure. They completed general landscaping across camp, including raking leaves and clearing areas around the property.
At first, the brothers were a bit overwhelmed, looking at how much crucial work needed to be done, but the group’s mindset shifted as they worked through it together, taking real ownership and responsibility over the projects. And camp staff took notice. “We had numerous projects, and with the help of The Ability Experience, we were able to get them all done throughout the day,” said one staff member.
Facilitator Andrew Casey described the feeling that came with their efforts: “It’s going to be hard work, and it might not be fun the whole time, but afterward, you’re not going to remember how hard the work was. You’re going to remember the great experiences with your brothers, and the feeling of giving back.” 
Ability Camps: Iowa, Utah | April 17-19
Camp Courageous: Monticello, Iowa
Camp Courageous hosted 19 volunteers, including 18 undergraduate brothers from the Delta Delta (Truman State) Chapter, led by facilitator Henry Gramstrup, Theta Theta (Iowa).
The weekend was The Ability Experience’s return to the camp after many years, and there was plenty for them to do. Brothers stepped in and completed projects that had long sat undone, cleaning out a maintenance shed, leveling ground, building a workbench and shelving, replacing roof shingles and helping with prom decorations.
A prom-themed Friendship Visit brought campers and Pi Kapp brothers together for a dance party full of joy and laughter.
Camp Kostopulos: Emigration Canyon, Utah
In Emigration Canyon, Utah, 20 volunteers, including 19 undergraduate brothers from the Kappa Omega (Utah) Chapter, led by staff member Matthew Reis, Kappa Pi (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo), embarked on a weekend of service at Camp Kostopulos.
This weekend marked the first official Ability Camp in Utah, and The Ability Experience’s return to the camp after many years. Brothers repaired and replaced yurt deck and flooring, completed tree cleanup efforts, reorganized office furniture and set up high-use spaces across camp, including picnic pavilion areas, splash pad tables, pool furniture and cabin organization.
Camp leaders said the weekend meant so much to them, and said that the efforts of The Ability Experience and Pi Kappa Phi brothers help make an immediate difference for a population that often gets overlooked.
Ability Camps: Tennessee, Central California | April 24-26
Camp Discovery: Gainesboro, Tennessee
In Tennessee, 13 undergraduate brothers from the Eta Tau (Kentucky) Chapter, led by facilitator Chase DuMond, Alpha Iota (Auburn), served at Camp Discovery, one of The Ability Experience’s longest-standing Ability Camp partners.
Brothers removed and cleared out old beds, then assembled new ones; repainted benches around the pavilion and entrance gates; spread mulch; planted grass seed and pressure-washed key areas around the site. After hearing an impact story from the camp director, the brothers were even more motivated to put in hard work across multiple projects.
Boulder Creek, California — Camp Harmon
In Boulder Creek, Camp Harmon hosted nine brothers from the Epsilon Nu (Cal State-Sacramento), Theta Omicron (Reno), Iota Sigma (San Jose State), Kappa Mu (California-Merced) and Kappa Nu (Sonoma State) Chapters, led by Facilitator Neil Patel, Iota (Georgia Tech). Brothers cleaned the pool, dug ditches, removed waste and installed a front-yard weed barrier and redwood retaining wall. They set up an assembly line for debris removal and powered through a project list intended for more hands.
According to Camp Harmon, these projects helped them prepare for summer operations, removed fire hazards from the grounds and supported the maintenance of an accessible campground.
During the weekend, brothers also heard the story of a camper who once planned to take his own life before finding purpose through Camp Harmon. While the weekend has come to an end, hearing firsthand the impact they could have on an individual will be with them far longer. One brother was so impacted by his Ability Camp experience that he began exploring the possibility of working as a counselor at Camp Harmon this summer.
Each year, April asks a lot of camp staff to prepare for summer. This year, Pi Kappa Phi brothers relieved some of that burden.
The impact of the numerous projects completed nationwide will be felt all summer long in the day-to-day lives of campers and staff. While the projects are easy to see, the parts of these Ability Camps that aren’t physical structures, like prom dance parties, karaoke duets and the pride of finishing valuable work together, will remain in the hearts of those in attendance, too.
