By Mike Brewer
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
We all know there are many hidden treasures on our mountain. Camp Paivika may hold a top spot for this accolade with their 78 years in the community, providing summer camp for disabled children and adults.
Seven decades ago, a group of special education teachers and visionaries – Lucia Laufeld, Lawrence Fran, and Paul Dietrich – combed the mountain in search of a location for a summer camp that could host children with special needs and physical accommodations. They did not want to see their children left behind from the traditional summer camp experience. With a boost from the Los Angeles Rotary Club #5, who partnered with the Crippled Children Society (now known as Ability First), a mission plan was drafted to create a “first of its kind” camp for children with special needs.
Campers stay in cabins with staff trained to accommodate their needs.
A perfect location was found atop a mountain ridge in Crestline. A special use permit was negotiated with the San Bernardino National Forest and the camp was created and designed for children with disabilities.
On July 1, 1947, the first campers set foot on “Paivika,” the Cahuilla tribal name for “dawn.” They set up tents and camped under the stars. By the end of that summer several cabins were ready for occupancy and they had their first meal in the new lodge. This writer had the heartwarming opportunity to meet one those original campers at the 75th anniversary, who was 5 years old that first year.
Kelly Privitt is the new senior director of camping services, transferring to Camp Paivika from one of the other camps in Malibu operated by the parent company, Ability First. She follows in the footsteps of Kelly Kunsek, who started at Camp Paivika as a counselor, eventually serving as the camp’s director from 1995 through 2023. She is now the camp’s food service manager.
The three-month-long summer camp includes arts and crafts, nature studies, swimming, performing arts and tons of music. Anyone who spends even a small amount of time at Camp Paivika will forever be changed by the beauty and spirit of the grounds and the people. There is something transforming about being in the presence of people of service wrapped with hundreds of smiling faces, joy-filled hearts and the sense of belonging that is imparted to these very special campers.
Director Privitt shared a paradigm shift for Camp Paivika – they would enjoy being more open for the local community to host special events, day retreats and select business meetings.
Director Kelly Privitt
The new openness to the community to use the property and catch some of the magic of Paivika will keep this vital mission alive for the next 75 years.
Every testimony of current and former campers will warm your heart, yet this one captures the experience well: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show you how I can fit into the world,” Camper Cooper, 2022.
For many years most campers were able to attend free of charge by way of state funding that abruptly ended in 2009. Out of this crisis, the “Pavika Champions” were born. To address this crisis, a collection of former campers and staff have to date raised $652,000 to ensure that no camper is left behind. Many organizations on the mountain have helped with donations, including the Rotary Clubs and the Knights of Columbus.
The Camp Pavika motto delivers the message, the meaning and the heart of the place: “Looking beyond disabilities, focusing on capabilities, expanding possibilities since 1947.”
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