About Camp Cheerful
Camp Cheerful, founded in 1947, is located on 52 beautifully wooded acres in the Mill Stream Run Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Strongsville, Ohio. Campers participate in traditional summer camp activities, including hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, arts & crafts, nature study, games, campfire activities, and music and sports, in a safe and barrier-free environment.
But the camp experience is far more than simply "recreational" for children and adults with disabilities. Camp Cheerful provides an important educational and socialization outlet for campers, and a nurturing environment for campers to enjoy many wonderful experiences with other children who are facing similar challenges and obstacles to daily living. In addition, our camp programs provide much-needed respite time for families and caregivers who know that their children are safe and secure, receiving the attention and care they need, while having the time of their lives at camp.
A year-round facility, we offer several programs including:
- Cheerful Day Camp - a day camp program for school age children 5 years and older with and without special needs.
- Weekend Day Respite Camp - offered one weekend each month, from September through May, campers age 7 years and older. Campers stay in heated cabins and enjoy specially themed weekends of fun.
- Therapeutic Horsemanship - a year-round program for riders with and without disabilities that helps improve balance, strengthen muscles, work on educational goals, advance communication skills, increase self-esteem and gain confidence, all while having fun with our team of gentle horses.
- Adapted Sports - children and young adults enjoy playing sports in our year-round program according to their abilities. Pride, self-confidence and friendships are built alongside skills through the encouragement of our dedicated volunteers and coaches.
- River Rock Adult Day Program - a year-round program developed for adults 21 and older with disabilities. River Rock provides a diverse array of outdoor and recreational activities that are designed to increase social interaction and skill building, while also assisting families with their overwhelming responsibilities of 24-hour care.
