Day 5 was all about soaking up every last bit of Camp Oz. Campers reflected on a fun night of campfires and s’mores, then jumped into one final round of favorite activities. From eagle sightings to squeezing in just one more game, the energy never slowed down. The day wrapped with a lively talent show and a sendoff full of laughter, memories, and stories for the ride home.
A Full and Joyful Final Day at Camp Oz
S’mores and Smiles by the Campfire
Our campers woke up to a calm morning but also with the tasty memory of s’mores from last night. With a campfire on both sides of camp, it was so fun to see all of the campers really let loose with laughter, games, singing, dancing and silly poses. The eternal question of golden brown or burned to a crisp marshmallow was much debated but of course everyone could agree that s’mores are a treat that can’t be beat.
Making the Most of Every Moment
After a breakfast burrito breakfast, the campers moved on to their final sections of activities to make sure that they didn’t miss out on everything that Camp Oz has to offer. There was archery, there was arts & crafts, there was climbing, there was canoeing, there was swimming, there was everything! Not unlike the rest of the week, every camper committed fully and squeezed every ounce of fun there was out of each activity.
An Eagle-Eyed View of Camp Oz
A special shout out too to the bald eagle family that recently took up residence in a nest above the arts & crafts building.
Our canoers were treated to multiple fly overs on the river by both the parents and their baby as they went scouting for a fishy lunch.
Apparently earlier campers this summer got to see the baby eagle trying to fly for the first time and ending up falling into the Gaga Pit! But unlike a lot of our Oz campers, the eagle actually left the pit and didn’t play game after game after game!
Fueling Up for a Final Round of Fun
Our cookout lunch was a great hit as our plates got loaded with hot dogs, baked beans, chips and watermelon. As tasty as it was, it was no surprise to see kids wolf down their meals so they could get back to playing basketball, Nuk’em, yard games and more one final time.
Celebrating Together
We then celebrated a week that went by far too fast with the ever-popular Oz Got Talent Show. This year we were entertained by singers, group dances and even a jump rope demonstration. Our kids are the best and wild applause from the crowd helped support our brave performers.
After that we packed up, played a little bit more (of course!) and waited for parents to arrive so campers could tell them all about the amazing time they had. Was your car ride home long enough for them to fit in all of their stories? 😊
Prepare yourself for a fresh round of stories too when we send out our official 2026 Camp Oz Flickr Photo Album in the next few weeks where you can see these blog photos, plus hundreds more, in all of their full-sized glory.
With Gratitude from the Camp Oz Family
As we close out another incredible year, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for trusting us with your kids at Camp Oz. They are the heartbeat of this place and without them, Camp Oz simply wouldn’t exist.
We hope that even just a small bit of the wonder of Camp Oz shines through in these blog posts, but so much of what happens here lives in the powerful bonds that form between our campers. Nobody wants to be in this epilepsy club that is often defined by uncertainty, fear and isolation. Yet during these five whirlwind days, our campers discover that they are part of something bigger, and they thrive in the strength of that shared community.
Camp Oz is, and will always be, a place where epilepsy is not an excluding force, but one of inclusion and togetherness.
We love watching our kids step out of their shells as they gain confidence surrounded by peers who truly understand them. We take immense pride in creating a place where every camper belongs, and Camp Oz becomes that place because of the compassion, acceptance, goofiness, and remarkable spirit each camper brings.
Your kids make Camp Oz the highlight of my year and I already cannot wait to hang with, play against and joke with them again in just over 360 days! With so much love from all of the Camp Oz Team! Camp Oz for Life!
Erik Williams, Camp Oz Director
Explore more photos from Day #5 below:
