We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.
Belonging to a community inspires hope.
Recreational camp experiences can have a variety of positive outcomes, none more powerful than creating a sense of community. Community Camp Corporation (CCC) is dedicated to supporting peer-led groups develop camp communities by providing overall guidance, assistance with camp planning, and logistical support.
Managed by a dedicated board of "camp people" CCC currently operates Mountain Respite Camp (MRC) - a peer-led camp for individuals living with or affected by mental illness. MRC has been in operation since 2005 sending consumers, providers, family members, and friends to camp once or twice a year. If you belong to a group that you believe can benefit from camp, get ahold of us! You can learn more about the services we offer by clicking below.
Meet our Board
Shannon Peterson
Shannon founded the annual Mountain Respite Camp in 2005 as a weekend outing for 35 residents of HOMES, Inc. supportive housing for adults recovering from mental illness. For ten years the camp expanded to three, four, and then five days, and grew in attendance to a peak of 114 adults with mental illness. She served as director of the Camp until 2014, and is currently on the Community Camp Corporation’s Board of Directors. She first experienced YMCA Camp Arbolado as a camper in 1972, progressing through training stages to become a counselor in 1977. Shannon believes that Camp creates strong bonds of community, provides opportunities to learn and master new skills, and promotes the growth of leaders.
Shannon completed her BS in Human Services and MS in Counseling at California State University-Fullerton. She is employed as Behavioral Health Clinician II at County of Orange, and in her free time enjoys line dancing, square dancing, and traveling with her daughter.
Madeline Leon
Madeline first attended Mountain Respite Camp in 2008, she remembers witnessing the beauty of bringing people together and experiencing the healing effect of breaking out of social barriers in a safe environment. She remembers the leaders were encouraging yet gentle, creative, and lots of fun.
Camp was an experience Madeline wanted more of because it was a place where individuals could break out of their shells. Since first attending, Madeline has attended camps regularly and in 2016, she had the opportunity to help plan camp. In 2017, she became a Mountain Respite Camp board member after graduating from Telecare Services. Being able to take this step has been a dream come true for Madeline.
Raul Fernandez
Raul was introduced to camp in 2010, as an employee of HOMES, Inc., he immediately fell in love with camp calling it “magical”. His compassion for people living with a disability has given him the spirit to work with vulnerable populations. Raul is honored to serve as a member of the Community Camp Corporation’s Board of Directors.
Additionally, Raul is the Program Director at Wellness Center South. WCS is a place for members that provides a safe, supportive, and understanding environment to successfully meet their needs and achieve healthy recovery. Raul enjoys all aspects of the outdoors and dreams to be on a wilderness survival show.
Andrew Fahmy
Andrew serves as the Executive Director of Community Camp Corporation. He has been volunteering at recreational camps since he was first introduced to camp in 2008. Andrew led the initiative in 2016 to start the Community Camp Corporation as a registered nonprofit organization. He believes that camp changes lives, none more deserving than the populations that Community Camp Corporation serves.
Andrew graduated with a BA in Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton and currently works as the Executive Director, United for Financial Security at Orange County United Way. In his spare time, he enjoys discussing the latest movie, improving his lapidary skills, or coming up with a new business idea.
Anna-Marie Fahmy
Anna has served on the Board of Directors of Community Camp since its founding in January 2017. Attending a YMCA camp since childhood with her sister, Daneeka, she loves the sense of belonging that camp communities create. Through volunteering with residential youth camps, she has served as a counselor, session director, and helped plan and execute various teen leadership programs. Her favorite aspect of camp is the ability to bring like-minded strangers together, surrounded by nature, and form an inclusive community. Her involvement with Mountain Respite Camp has introduced her to the mental health community and she eagerly awaits the annual session to continue building community as a mental health advocate.
In addition to her involvement with camp, she also is the Associate Director of Admissions (West Coast) at Muhlenberg College, a selective, liberal arts college in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Previously, Anna was the Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Scripps College, a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California where she completed her undergraduate education with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She recently earned her Master of Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. In her spare time, when she’s not working or volunteering with camp, she enjoys debating what to watch on Netflix, browsing antique stores, or getting her nails done with her grandmother.
Robert Crowder
Robert Crowder has been volunteering or employed in multiple capacities with YMCA Camp Arbolado since the winter of 2000. He was introduced to HOMES camp in 2005 by Shannon Peterson and has been active through all incarnations of this program. He is proud to now serve on the board of directors of Community Camp Corporation. In addition to volunteering at the YMCA he has also volunteered for multiple organizations including serving on boards for nonprofit youth sports organizations, nonprofit youth theatre organizations, and the Boy Scouts of America. Professionally Robert owns and manages his own computer consulting company and also is a proficient sports official in soccer, water polo, and lacrosse. Personally he loves the outdoors and staying physically fit. His greatest strength is sarcasm and his waistline’s greatest weakness are buffalo wings served with copious amounts of ranch dressing.
Daneeka Wood
Daneeka has volunteered with Mountain Respite Camp since 2017, eventually joining the Board of Directors of Community Camp. Attending a YMCA camp since childhood with her sister Anna-Marie, she grew to love the utilization of “recreational therapy” as opposed to other forms of therapeutic support for adults and children. Through volunteering with residential youth camps, she has served as a counselor, motivating her to eventually volunteer her time at Mountain Respite Camp to better serve those living with or affected by mental illness.
In addition to her involvement with camp, she also is a Clinical Therapist at Heredia Therapy Group, a group therapy practice that serves clients located all throughout the state of California both virtually and in-office. After graduating with a Master of Social Work degree from Cal State Long Beach, Daneeka worked throughout the fields of mental health and social welfare at such places like the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Wellness Center South, Wellness Center Central, and Peer Voices of Orange County.
In her spare time, Daneeka enjoys spending time with Minnie, her Basset Hound/Golden Retriever Mix, reading Stephen King novels, and watching The Golden Girls with her grandmother.