Growing Our DHH Family
Joyce Atchison
HOW IT STARTED…
Joyce Atchison started attending the Congregation Church of Faribault in 2013, where the pastor was very interested in her deafness and leadership abilities. Joyce because responsible for recruiting ASL interpreters for Sunday services and began teaching Pastor Jan some basic ASL. They attended the State Conference of the UCC Church at St. John’s University in June, where Pastor Jan connected Joyce with Gigi, the camp director at Pilgrim’s Point. During their discussion, Gigi shared her idea of hosting an intergenerational deaf family camp at Pilgrim’s Point and suggested Joyce would be the perfect person to lead it!
In 2016, Gigi invited Joyce to visit the Pilgrim Point Camp for a weekend to further discuss the concept and to tour the camp. Joyce loved the location and so they set a date for their first week long Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children’s Family Camp in June of 2017.
“The reason I started this camp and believe in it so strongly is because most of these families with deaf and hard of hearing kids are very isolated…”
“…and their parents rarely meet other parents raising deaf or hard of hearing child or teenager. “
“These connections they are making at camp are miraculous and heartwarming! “
“…and the kids rarely have the opportunity to meet anyone like themselves… “
“It’s beautiful to see our DHH camp family grow!”
~ Joyce Atchinson
