At The Center for Courageous Kids (CCK), the mission has always been clear: To provide a place where every child — regardless of medical diagnosis, ability, or background — can experience the joy, confidence, and freedom that comes from attending camp.
As CCK looks to the future, they are embracing an even bolder vision: expanding not just their reach, not just their capacity, but the ways they serve. Through new programs, facility upgrades, and a renewed focus on inclusion and innovation, CCK is ensuring that even more courageous kids around the world will have a place where they belong.
Brian Roy, VP of Development, and Emily Cosby, Marketing and Communications Manager at CCK, shared insights into the organization’s exciting upcoming initiatives — and to highlight the powerful lessons mission-driven organizations can draw from their journey, including how recognition through platforms like the .ORG Impact Awards can fuel meaningful growth.
Expanding Possibilities: Programs, Facilities, and Reach
CCK is committed to finding new and exciting ways to serve more children every year. Their goal is to create innovative program areas and bring in outside experts to introduce campers to fresh opportunities for creativity, growth, and joy.
With adaptive tools and caring staff, campers get to experience nature on their own terms.
Two major expansion projects are on the horizon:
- Reimaging the Medical Center :
Originally built in 2008 as a cutting-edge space, CCK’s onsite medical center has provided thousands of campers with exceptional care, and plans are now being explored to fully modernize the Center to reflect today’s best practices. This upgrade ensures that campers receive safe, high-quality care in a warm, welcoming environment.
- New Creative Spaces:
Recognizing the growing importance of digital literacy and creative expression, and their impact on wellbeing, CCK is launching an expansion into mixed media and digital arts programming — including plans for a podcast studio. Research conducted by the World Health Organization shows that engaging in the arts can significantly improve emotional health, reduce stress, and build resilience. These new spaces will open doors for campers to tell their stories, share their talents, and explore new passions in a supportive environment.
Together, these projects reflect a broader vision: a camp experience where diagnosis, geography, or finances never stand in the way of belonging.
Inclusion as a Way of Life
At CCK, creating a space where all children can thrive isn’t just a mission—it’s a way of life.The team believes that every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the camp experience, with opportunities that match their interests, strengths, and dreams.
True accessibility means removing every obstacle—whether physical, financial, or emotional—so that no child is left out. By welcoming children and families from all backgrounds, abilities, and communities, CCK not only creates a more inclusive camp, they enrich the experience for everyone.
Their philosophy is simple but profound: “It’s never a ‘no.’ It’s always a ‘you can.’” No matter the challenges a child faces, CCK finds ways to say yes — offering adaptive, affirming experiences that build confidence, independence, and life-long joy.
The Power of Recognition
Recognition by the .ORG Impact Awards had a real, tangible impact on CCK’s momentum. After being honored, the organization experienced a surge in visibility, both locally and nationally — including being nominated for Nonprofit of the Year by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.
Award platforms like the .ORG Impact Awards, don’t just celebrate great work, they help amplify it. For CCK, the recognition helped open new doors to donors, partners, volunteers, and even families who might never have heard about the camp otherwise.
The Center for Courageous Kids is a model of what happens when a nonprofit leads with heart, innovation, and an unshakable belief that every child deserves the chance to grow, thrive, and experience joy – no matter what.
Learn more about The Center for Courageous Kids at www.courageouskids.org.