Born weighing less than a bag of sugar and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Dorcas longed for the chance to camp under the stars.
Dorcas was born three months prematurely and weighed less than a bag of sugar when she entered this world. By the age of two, she had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and her parents had been given a fairly bleak prognosis. However, she grew up as a curious and open-minded child with a keen interest in the natural world.
This affinity with the great outdoors was nurtured by her involvement firstly as a Brownie, and then as a Girl Guide. She welcomed all the opportunities that these activities offered to her, but her biggest regret was that her Girl Guide unit, based as it was in a residential special school for disabled youngsters, was unable to take the girls camping… Yes, they had day camps in the school grounds, but Dorcas wanted the chance to sleep in a tent… or maybe even under the stars!
Dorcas had heard about Woodlarks Campsite from older girls at school, and was determined to apply… from her first camp in 1960, and for more than thirty summers after that, she ensured that her camp application went in. Woodlarks Campsite enabled her to get much closer to nature… and she revelled in it…
It had been the freedom and simplicity of outdoor living that had enticed her along to Woodlarks, but she soon found that she could take on leadership responsibilities and learn new skills… she had grown up as a natural problem solver, and was delighted to find that her positivity and encouragement could inspire others… she had achieved an ambition of becoming a ‘people person’ and loved it… she knew in her heart that she wanted to give back…
We now know that she had left a provision in her will for a generous legacy to come to Woodlarks. We can only imagine how fulfilling it must have been for Dorcas, once she knew that her own camping days were done, to know that her gift would enable Woodlarks to continue to offer such life-changing opportunities to campers and helpers alike.
This affinity with the great outdoors was nurtured by her involvement firstly as a Brownie, and then as a Girl Guide. She welcomed all the opportunities that these activities offered to her, but her biggest regret was that her Girl Guide unit, based as it was in a residential special school for disabled youngsters, was unable to take the girls camping… Yes, they had day camps in the school grounds, but Dorcas wanted the chance to sleep in a tent… or maybe even under the stars!
Dorcas had heard about Woodlarks Campsite from older girls at school, and was determined to apply… from her first camp in 1960, and for more than thirty summers after that, she ensured that her camp application went in. Woodlarks Campsite enabled her to get much closer to nature… and she revelled in it…
It had been the freedom and simplicity of outdoor living that had enticed her along to Woodlarks, but she soon found that she could take on leadership responsibilities and learn new skills… she had grown up as a natural problem solver, and was delighted to find that her positivity and encouragement could inspire others… she had achieved an ambition of becoming a ‘people person’ and loved it… she knew in her heart that she wanted to give back…
We now know that she had left a provision in her will for a generous legacy to come to Woodlarks. We can only imagine how fulfilling it must have been for Dorcas, once she knew that her own camping days were done, to know that her gift would enable Woodlarks to continue to offer such life-changing opportunities to campers and helpers alike.
Now that is just one person’s story… We guess that most of us who have embraced being a part of the Woodlarks community have our own stories of special friendships forged… new and exciting experiences… a place of so much ‘love and laughter’… So the question might become, ‘Could you give the gift of camping adventures in your will?’
For many people who camp at Woodlarks, it is not just a holiday, or somewhere to volunteer or use to tick the box for their Gold DofE Residential … it is an adventure, a place to build lifetime friendships, it is a little glimpse of “Heaven on earth” … Legacy gifts can play a vital role in ensuring that Woodlarks can continue to provide this transformative experience. No matter how big or how small a donation, you can make a real difference.
For many people who camp at Woodlarks, it is not just a holiday, or somewhere to volunteer or use to tick the box for their Gold DofE Residential … it is an adventure, a place to build lifetime friendships, it is a little glimpse of “Heaven on earth” … Legacy gifts can play a vital role in ensuring that Woodlarks can continue to provide this transformative experience. No matter how big or how small a donation, you can make a real difference.