Camp Mariposa® Sarasota
Camp Mariposa at JFCS of the Suncoast
Endowed By The Rubin Family
A Place Where Kids Transform
Camp Mariposa® Sarasota is a year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth affected by the substance use disorder of a family member. Youth ages 9-12 attend weekend camps up to six times a year. Weekend camps offer fun, traditional camp activities combined with education and support sessions led by mental health professionals and trained adult mentors. Additional social activities are offered for youth and their families throughout the year. Many Camp Mariposa® locations offer programs for teens ages 13-17. All program activities are offered free of charge to families. Camp Mariposa® Sarasota is part of Eluna’s national Camp Mariposa® program.
Eluna is a public, 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Founded in 2000 in Seattle by former MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer and child advocate Karen Phelps Moyer, Eluna was originally called The Moyer Foundation and launched a series of programs supporting thousands of children and families annually.
For more information about Eluna, please visit Elunanetwork.org.
Camp Mariposa® allows youth to:®
Youth who attend Camp Mariposa® learn coping skills that build resiliency and ultimately break the cycle of addiction.
- Connect with friends in similar situations
- Reduce feelings of guilt and isolation
- Learn that addiction is a disease and is not their fault
- Develop trusting relationships with adult mentors
- Build confidence and learn critical life skills
- Have fun!
Social Support
Camp Mariposa
Coping Skills
Positive Outlook
Camp Mariposa® strives to intervene early and break the cycle of addiction.
Camp Mariposa® helps Youth:
- Feel less isolated
- Understand addiction
- Stop blaming themselves
- Connect with others
- Avoid repeating generational patterns of substance use disorder
- Recognize attributes of a healthy relationship
- Find available resources and support
- Program is held at an overnight camping facility in Manatee County
- Camp consists of traditional fun activities, educational and support exercises
- Counselors and camp staff are employees of JFCS, an accredited and licensed substance use disorder and counseling agency serving residents of Sarasota and Manatee county
- Transportation is provided to and from JFCS to camp location
- All meals are included from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch
- Youth camp weekend program begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday afternoon. The Teen camp program ends on Saturday after dinner.
- Additional activities are offered to families on selected weekends
*CAMP MARIPOSA® is FREE to all youth approved through the Intake process.
Youth must be 9 – 17 years old by the weekends of attendance
In the event that Covid-19 prohibits in-person camps Virtual Programming will occur 9:00 am – 12:30 pm on the Saturday of following weekends, both youth and teens welcomed.®
Youth Camp Dates – Ages 9 – 12
- January 20-22, 2023
- March 24-26, 2023
- May 12-14, 2023
- July 21 – 23, 2023
- September 29-October 1, 2023
Teen Camp Dates – Ages 13 – 17
- February 10-11, 2023
- April 21-22, 2023
- August 20-21, 2022
- August 18-19, 2023
- October 20-21, 2023
Youth (*Chance for Teen Combined*)
November 10-13, 2023
*Additional Activities to be announced throughout the year
Eluna partners with youth-focused and mental health organizations in local communities to help fund, develop and grow Camp Mariposa® nationwide. For more information, please visit elunanetwork.org.
To enroll or receive more detailed information please contact:
Scott Ruggieri, Program Coordinator at 941-780-5929 or sruggieri@jfcs-cares.org
