A Year-Round Opportunity for Healing, Growth, & Connection

Mac Camp, hosted by the nonprofit Hope WINS (What I Need to Succeed) in Freeport, Illinois, is far more than just a summer camp—it’s a trauma-informed haven built on the foundation of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). This powerful approach emphasizes connection, empowerment, and gentle correction, making it especially effective for children with special needs or those impacted by trauma. At Mac Camp, every activity is intentionally designed to build trust, foster emotional safety, and promote meaningful growth through real-life skills, positive relationships, and joyful engagement.

While the summer program is the heart of Mac Camp, Hope WINS also offers seasonal sessions during spring and winter breaks, as well as pop-up day camps on select non-school days throughout the year. These shorter but equally impactful versions of Mac Camp give children consistent opportunities for support, fun, and skill-building even outside the summer months. Whether it’s a full week or just a single day, every session continues to model inclusion, acceptance, and trauma-informed care. This year-round model ensures that the relationships built during camp are sustained, reinforcing trust, stability, and growth through every season.

Campers participate in a vibrant mix of activities—from arts and crafts, life skills cooking, and interactive lessons, to therapy animal visits and group games focused on social-emotional learning. Field trips to local favorites like the Freeport Public Library, Read Park pool, and Nicholas Conservatory offer hands-on exploration and help build confidence in new settings. Community support, including generous partnerships with Grace Episcopal Church, plays a vital role in expanding the reach of Mac Camp. By embedding TBRI into every element of the program, Mac Camp becomes a space where children are seen, heard, and celebrated—a place where healing is possible, inclusion is real, and every child has a chance to thrive.