Who We Serve

Prime Time serves families that have a member who is disabled or has a terminal/serious illness. A wide range of disability types are found among the children and adults who utilize Prime Time. A very large number of the campers with disabilities are under the age of 10 years.

Inherent to the situation of the families of the terminally/seriously ill or disabled, are the barriers to participation in leisure activities. Public facilities are not always accessible or safe. Public attitudes can also be a deterrent to the use of public parks or recreational sites by a family with a special needs child. In many cases, the membership costs to participate in private recreational programs eliminate access for these families.

Recreation which occurs away from the home environment provides many benefits. Unfortunately, there are very few programs designed for the entire family…the members of whom may be suffering great emotional pain as they attempt to deal with the care of their loved ones.

Prime Time is dedicated to providing a positive intervention in this dilemma. It is Prime Time’s purpose to offer an opportunity for families dealing with illness, birth defects, disabilities, and disease to become reacquainted with each other, free of the stress and routine often found in the home environment. Prime Time offers families the chance to enjoy one another’s company in an invigorating environment, surrounded by nature.

Groups Served

A wide range of illnesses and disabilities are suffered by the families who participate in Prime Time camps. 80% of the family members with a disability are under the age of 10 years old. Very mature for their young years, these children often return, looking for the friends they made in previous years.

Some of the support groups who currently participate in Prime Time programs include:

  • A Gift for Special Children
  • Angelman’s Syndrome Support
  • ARC Support Groups – statewide
  • Autism Support Groups
  • Boy Scouts of America, Troop 419
  • Broadway Learning Center
  • Candlelighters of Washington
  • Children’s Village
  • Community Living
  • Dad’s Supporting Dad’s
  • Development Disabilities
  • Down Syndrome Support Groups
  • Dynamic Family Services – Children’s Therapy Center
  • Early Childhood Center – PTO
  • EMPOWER: EOS Moms & Pops Organizing WA
  • Enumclaw Special Olympics Groups
  • Exceptional Families/Joint Base Lewis-McCord
  • Family Alliance for Mental Health
  • Friendship Adventure
  • Good Samaritan Hospital – Children’s Therapy Unit
  • Immune Deficiency Foundation
  • Ingraham High School Special Ed Program
  • Isodentric 15 Group
  • Ministry for the Handicapped
  • Moms Get Together
  • Mucopolysaccharidoses – MPS
  • NOFAS Washington (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
  • Northshore Special Families
  • Northwest Exstrophy Support
  • Northwest Rett Syndrome Families
  • Northwest Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
  • NW Behavioral Associates
  • Pacific NW Angelman Syndrome Group
  • Parent to Parent Support Groups – statewide
  • Parents Supporting Parents
  • Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
  • Progress Center
  • Rett Syndrome
  • Seattle Milal
  • SOLA
  • South King Early Intervention Program
  • South Sound Asperger Moms
  • Special Families of Pierce Co.
  • Velo-Cardio-Facial-Syndrome
  • Washington Elementary School Life Skills Class
  • Williams Syndrome Association
  • Yakima Valley Friends and Family
  • Yakima Young Adults

Where Campers Come From

Prime Time serves groups of families from across the Pacific Northwest.

Generally, campers from eastern Washington represent about 30% of the total yearly attendance. 65% come from western Washington (I-5 Corridor between Portland and Seattle). 5% come from other states, predominantly Oregon and Idaho.