The Camp Koinonia Foundation

Our mission is to serve individuals with disabilities in multiple functional domains with unique, needs-based programs that enrich their lives and provide the opportunity for life-long learning.

The Koinonia Foundation of Tennessee/Camp Koinonia Foundation, a Tennessee based charity founded in 2001, is a 501©3 non-profit organization. The mission is to serve individuals with disabilities in multiple functional domains with unique, needs-based programs that enrich their lives and provide the opportunity for life-long learning. In partnership with The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the Foundation has supported the operation of Camp Koinonia for the past 15+ years. Camp Koinonia is an outdoor education/camp program for children ages 7-21 who have multiple disabilities. The program was developed in 1977 and is now part of a service-learning class at UTK with the primary purpose of providing a meaningful, experiential learning opportunity for university students while involving children and young adults, some with severe disabilities, in outdoor activities that they would likely not be able to do otherwise. In 2016, The Koinonia Foundation expanded its local impact by identifying and responding to community needs and opportunity gaps for children and adults with disabilities. Monthly programs, called We Adapt, supplement the successful legacy camp programs and include both weeknight and weekend activities. Each event has a specific theme and life-long learning and enrichment goals. Activities provide social interaction, independence building and community engagement opportunities for adult participants. These programs enhance the quality of life for children and adults with multiple disabilities and their families. The newest addition to the Koinonia Foundation's umbrella of programming is called Koinonia Classroom. Originally a Covid response program, Koinonia Classroom is designed to serve special education classrooms in grades K-12. Taking inspiration from activities we would typically do at our overnight camp programs, asynchronous video content is produced for us in the classroom. In addition to the videos, each student in registered classrooms receive a supply kit filled with every supply they will need to complete the activities. Koinonia Classroom has provided material for almost 1,400 special education students since 2021.