Mahoning Valley nonprofit finishes first phase of campgrounds for the disabled
A Mahoning Valley nonprofit has finished phase one of its new campgrounds for the disabled. Golden String Inc., founded in 2000, has created GabbaCamp - a camping ground that will be completely accessible to those with disabilities.
The camp offers overnight accommodations, respite stay, and staffing, according to Jimmy Sutman, Golden String director of operations.
“As things come along with our lodge, stables, and kitchen areas we plan to offer programming such as a test kitchen, accessible swimming, badge-earning, equine therapy and so forth,” he said. “All the things that you remember from yest-er-year.”
Sutman said GabbaCamp has been in the works since 2019. He said the inspiration behind creating the camp was childhood and summer nights out in nature, s’mores and campfires - all the things people may have taken for granted that not everyone has gotten to experience.
“GabbaCamp is personally important to me because some of my most formative years were spent camping,” Sutman said. “I got to form those relationships and have those experiences, and now that I find myself working with this population, it dawned on me that not a lot of these folks have ever had a chance to even be out in the woods - let alone sit around a fire or sing camp songs.”
“I want to make nature accessible to them,” he added.
Sutman said he took it as a personal mission to extend that experience to his friends with disabilities. He said people with ambulatory issues have enough problems getting into buildings that don’t have their accessibility in mind.
Sutman also explained that the camp’s name has a very special meaning.
“GabbaCamp is named for one of our main donor’s granddaughter, Gabrielle, who is nicknamed Gabba,” he said. “Without this donor’s initial funds GabbaCamp would not be possible, so he was given naming rights.”
A ribbon cutting with the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. at the camp.
The event will be an opportunity for the public and the press to see what has been done with the space. Sutman said several friends of the organization with disabilities will be on hand to conduct tours and tell attendees all about GabbaCamp.
“We’re very excited to have this first phase done and for the public to see what we’ve done so far,” Sutman said. “We want to thank everyone who’s donated funds, supplies, and time to this project. We still have a long way to go but can’t wait to host our friends, new and old, at GabbaCamp.”
GabbaCamp is at 4730 McCartney Rd. in Lowellville, just before crossing the Pennsylvania state line. The camp can be reached at 330-207-2628.
This story was originally published October 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.