Courageous Community Services makes outdoor recreation accessible for everyone.

In 1963, Camp Courageous began to ensure children and young adults with disabilities had an opportunity to attend summer camp. The staff, board members, and numerous volunteers continue to build upon the original foundation built many years ago and develop new opportunities as the community expresses its needs.

Courageous Community Services now provides life skills training curricula, self-advocacy training, inclusive community-building activities, and mentoring to families.

There is more fun than ever at Courageous Acres. Campers from five to 85 of all abilities can enjoy outdoor programs with Metroparks Toledo, educational programs with Nature’s Nursery, and yoga with Ordinary Pioneer Yoga along with swimming, arts and crafts, and guided painting lessons.

Mission Statement

Courageous Community Services’ mission is to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families through advocacy, education, and engaging recreational experiences.

Our Impact

Since the first session in 1965, our camp has met or exceeded the expectations of thousands of individuals with special needs and their family members throughout Northwest Ohio. On average, we welcome between 150-250 campers each summer.

Courageous Acres is more than just a summer camp. It is a community and a home away from home where so many can be their best selves, connect to nature, develop friendships, and explore various recreational opportunities. Our top priority summer after summer is the physical and emotional well-being of everyone who comes through our gates.

The most recent in-person camping season for CCS was held in 2023. We served 193 campers. A decision was made to close the camp for the summer of 2019, so necessary improvements could be made to the dining hall and cabins. The ceilings were replaced, and new fire alarm systems were installed. The camp was closed again in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. We have continued to improve the facilities by adding a new administrative office that houses the nurse’s station. The pool was completely refurbished in 2022. A basketball court was also added in 2022.

In 2023, we had a massive expansion to our programming. We launched our adult day support program, Courageous Connections. Our garden area is an integral part of this program, and it is now open to the public as community gardens. We also started up a school-age peer mentoring program over the summer camp season. With the astronomical success of these new programs, we are continuing them in 2024 and beyond.

Our programming is designed to allow all our campers to reconnect and participate in activities designed to improve their physical and mental health. We look forward to our campers being able to participate in various recreational activities, learning about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy lunches, and returning to a fun-filled camping opportunity while safely following COVID-19 protocols. Their loved ones can, in turn, take the time to care for themselves.