At Camp Easterseals, CVS Helps Make the Joy of Summer Camp Accessible to Everyone

For one week each summer for the past 53 years, Easterseals SoCal holds a fully accessible camp in the San Bernardino Mountains in Big Bear at the YMCA’s Camp Oakes location. Camp Easterseals gives up to 125 people with disabilities—regardless of age (14+) or disability—the opportunity to fully experience the joys of summer. 

Being held July 13-17 this year, campers—with the support of about 140 volunteers and staff members—will enjoy the opportunity to swim, canoe, zipline, tube slide, do archery, put on talent shows, attend concerts, make crafts, play games, go boating and on hayrides, sit around the campfire and experience the joys of summer—including the much-anticipated, end-of-the-week formal dance!

CVS Pharmacy—which has partnered with Easterseals SoCal for more than 14 years on various initiatives and fundraising campaigns—will once again be on hand for some of the festivities and is planning a campaign in stores to support the camp and the unique experience it provides to people with disabilities to experience the joys of summer.

At Camp, ‘No’ is Not an Option

Lora, who utilizes a wheelchair and has been attending camp for 19 years, said, “Going to camp changed the person I was inside and out. I realized that all I wanted all these years was to be treated like everyone else. We celebrate the little things that you usually don’t celebrate in life.”

Added Hillary, who also uses a wheelchair and has been attending for 17 years, “I never got to attend camp as a kid. It has changed my life in ways that nobody can really understand. It’s where our disability disappears and we just feel like everyone else.

“I love the zipline and swimming the best,” she continued. “I only get to go swimming once a year—at camp. The water is just so free for those of us who are in a wheelchair.”

“It is very liberating, agreed Lora, who overcame a fear of heights to zipline and found it “beautiful up there.” She also particularly enjoys the formal dance, the talent show (she writes skits), the final campfire and the opportunity to take a boat ride around Big Bear Lake.

“No is not an option up there,” she explained. “If you want to do something, they try to make it happen.”

CVS Brings the Glam to Annual Dance 

Each year, CVS Beauty brings a team of beauty advisors to Easterseals Camp on the day of the formal dance, a highlight of the week, to do hair and make-up and help campers glam up for the big night!

“The dance is awesome,” said Lora. “CVS is so wonderful to come up every year to do our hair and makeup. They’re the artists, so I let them do whatever they want. Everyone sings their hearts out and it doesn’t matter who you dance with.”

2026 CVS In-Store, Summer Promo

Every summer, CVS also holds in-store promotions to raise funds to support ESSC initiatives and this year’s campaign will directly benefit Camp Easterseals, helping to provide accessible, joyful camp experiences for people with disabilities.

For every product sold, a portion of sales will go to Camp Easterseals:

• June — Celsius (Live Fit Orange Sparkling)
• July — Monster Energy (Strawberry Lemonade, Green, Red/White/Blue Razz & Zero Ultra)
• August — Select Banana Boat & Hawaiian Tropic products

“Camp is where people feel seen, included and celebrated for exactly who they are,” said Camp Director, Amanda Showalter. “We’re grateful to CVS for helping make these experiences possible year after year.”

Lifelong Friendships

As Camp Easterseals prepares to welcome another group of campers, the impact of the experience and the lasting memories created extend far beyond one week in the mountains. 

For campers and volunteers alike, camp is a place where friendships are formed, confidence grows and everyone can experience the simple joy of belonging.

Both Lora and Hillary agree that they’ve made lifelong friendships at the camp. “There’s never a dull moment up there and it’s beautiful,” reflected Lora. “Camp is the best experience I’ve ever had. You can do anything you set your mind to. They’ve become family and I look forward to seeing them every year.”

Learn more about how you can support Camp Easterseals with CVS Pharmacy all summer long.