Sanctuary GC Foundation Grants $50K to Trailways Camp

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation recently distributed a $50,000 grant to the Trailways Camp that provides overnight camping experiences for adults with special needs. The grant will help establish a camping program on Sanibel Island.

“This wonderful grant for the 2025-26 summer season will help us launch a creative new model of in-community camping experiences and establish unique partnerships between private businesses, non-profits, and collaborative partners,” said Trailways Camp Co-Founder Sharon Miller.

“The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation is pleased to partner in this arrangement, which will assist those with special needs in our community,” said Foundation President Lisa Schmidlin.

Approximately 1,000 adults aged 18 to 21 years old exit Southwest Florida’s special education programs each year. While some find social opportunities, many find themselves isolated at home.

Trailways Camp allows those adults to engage with others and gain memorable experiences while challenging themselves to grow. The new Sanibel camp will be held over the summer, when visitors are at their lowest numbers, allowing for affordable space. And camp activities are organized with the summer heat in mind.

“It’s a creative model,” said Miller, “that provides opportunities for amazing new island-based activities in the early morning, and movement to indoor locations in the heat of the day, while bringing business opportunities for lodging, meals, transportation, and recreational experiences.”

Camp sessions, until now, have been at a retreat center near LaBelle. This new Sanibel option would broaden campers’ experiences with the beach, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, and many other unique places.

About Trailways Camp
Trailways Camps was founded in 2007 by the Miller Family in honor of their sons, Robert and Benjamin, who were born with a rare disease that resulted in progressive, multi-system disabilities. Jerry and Sharon Miller initially operated 30 camps in Texas, and have provided 40 camps in Southwest Florida since 2012. The Millers established Trailways Camp, Inc. in 2021, focusing on future sustainability.