What True Accessibility Looks Like in the Outdoors: A Day at Camp Twin Lakes
What True Accessibility Looks Like in the Outdoors: A Day at Camp Twin Lakes
It’s early morning when we pull into Fort Yargo State Park. My HOSA student leaders, alongside other CTSO officers from all the county’s high schools, step off the bus a little groggy, a little excited, and maybe a little unsure of what the day holds. I am sure a few of them have been drinking energy drinks, despite my advice not to.
We’re here for a full day of leadership training. Ropes courses. Team challenges. Opportunities to stretch outside their comfort zones and come together in new ways. But this space, the Will‑A‑Way campus run by Camp Twin Lakes, always turns out to be much more than just a backdrop.
This is our third- or fourth-time bringing students here, and every year, I walk away more impacted than I expect. Not just because of what my students gain but because of what this place stands for.
A Camp That Doesn’t Leave Anyone Behind
Camp Twin Lakes is a nonprofit organization serving thousands of children and families across Georgia who face medical, emotional, or physical challenges. Their Will‑A‑Way campus at Fort Yargo is designed to be radically accessible, and it shows.
Here, adventure doesn’t have a narrow definition. A child who uses a wheelchair can still adventure in nature. A camper with medical needs can zipline, kayak, swim, and thrive in nature like any other kid. Every structure, every path, every program has been built to include, not exclude.
And that’s a powerful thing to witness as both an educator and a parent.
We talk a lot about inclusion in schools and sports. But seeing it lived out in a place like this, where barriers are actively dismantled and joy is the focus, hits different. Especially for kids who are used to being told what they can’t do.
What My Students Learn Here (That I Can’t Always Teach in the Classroom)
When you drop a group of teenagers into a new environment where collaboration and communication are key, they grow fast. I’ve watched my students learn more in one day of high ropes and trust falls than they sometimes do in a whole semester of leadership workshops.
But what’s more important is what they see happening around them: kids from all walks of life, all levels of ability, laughing, learning, adventuring together. It changes the way they think about accessibility. It changes the way they lead.
And honestly? It changes me, too.
EverTrail Co.™ and the Bigger Mission
While EverTrail Co.™ is not affiliated with Camp Twin Lakes in any way, we share a common belief:
Adventure should be for everyone.
It’s why we design family adventure apparel with durability, comfort, and everyday adventure in mind. It’s why we champion microadventures, accessible trail gear, and low-cost family experiences. And it’s why we love spotlighting people and places doing the real work of inclusion and outdoor access.
Places like Camp Twin Lakes remind us what’s possible. Not someday, right now.
How You Can Support or Learn More
If you’ve never heard of Camp Twin Lakes, take a few minutes to check them out. Whether you’re a parent of a child with special needs, an educator, or someone looking to support a truly mission-driven organization, this is a nonprofit worth knowing about:
🔗 Learn more or donate at https://camptwinlakes.org/
And if you're an educator or youth leader in Georgia, consider booking your own leadership retreat at Will‑A‑Way. You won't just walk away with stronger students; you’ll walk away inspired yourself.
Adventure, For Real Life
At EverTrail Co.™, we believe adventure doesn’t need to be epic or expensive. It needs to be inclusive, intentional, and within reach. Whether it’s a trail through your local woods or an adaptive ropes course at a place like Will‑A‑Way, what matters is showing up and helping others do the same.
Because the outdoors is for all of us. And the more we make space, the better it becomes for everyone.
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✅ Disclaimer: This post is based on personal experiences as a teacher attending leadership training at the Camp Twin Lakes Will‑A‑Way campus in Fort Yargo State Park. EverTrail Co.™ is not affiliated with Camp Twin Lakes, but proudly supports their mission and inclusive approach to outdoor access.