A contest among the first campers
to stay at Camp Paivika decided the name, way back in 1947. It was at that time
that AbilityFirst (known then as the Crippled Children’s Society of Southern
California) was granted a permit from the U.S. Forest Service to build a camp
in the mountains of Crestline. Working in tandem with Lucia Laufeld - an LAUSD
special education teacher who first envisioned the camp – and several others,
AbilityFirst developed the first camp in the U.S. to be built specifically for
children and adults with disabilities.
At the outset, campers and
counselors stayed in tents. Over the ensuing years and decades, however, the
camp would construct many new facilities which allowed them to offer the
bountiful services they do today. With comfortable dormitories housing up to
130 overnight guests, swimming pool, craft center, health center, and much
more, Camp Paivika has become a desirable location to host events and retreats,
as well as the ongoing camps that started more than 65 years ago. It was in 1990 that camp rental became
available in the off-season, and since then Paivika has emerged as a unique Los
Angeles rental venue and outdoor retreat option.
1998 saw the completion of a new
lodge, which only materialized
after 20 years of planning and fundraising. That
lodge today is host to beautiful wedding receptions, family reunions, business
retreats and much more. The heartfelt efforts of Camp Paivika’s founders, along
with the involvement of all the donors and community members that have grown it
into what it is today, can be seen in the warm details and friendly faces that
abound at the camp. Paivika has proven to be the perfect name for this place –
whether you are watching the dawn softly rising through the pines, or
reflecting in the warm, sunny smiles of people around you, its presence is
inspiring.
If you are looking for a rental
venue for your next event, give us a call – or even better, drop by! Our
friendly staff is available to answer any questions you may have, or to help
you book your facility rental – just
contact Camp Paivika Director Kelly Kunsek via email, or by phone at (909)
338-1102, ext. 5001. Act now and SAVE
BIG – get 15% off when you mention this article!* We look forward to
showing you what makes Camp Paivika so special!
AbilityFirstCampPaivika
Camp Rental Facilities
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