JEMS Special Camp Website

Welcome to the JEMS Special Camp website!

JEMS Special Camp is a week-long Christian camp, primarily for individuals with developmental disabilities of Asian descent. Sponsored by the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS), Special Camp runs concurrently with the other JEMS summer camps in the Santa Cruz area of Northern California. The mission of JEMS Special Camp is: photo of Kathy, Bethany, & Sarah

To share the message and model the love of Christ to those with developmental disabilities, primarily of Asian Pacific American descent.

The JEMS Special Camp ministry has been touching the lives of the campers, their families, and a countless number of aides for more than 30 years.

The upcoming camp

Plans are now underway for Special Camp 2012! This year's camp will again be held at the Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, CA during the week of July 1-7, 2012. The theme for this year's camp is:

“ ...the Lord will be your confidence... ” - Proverbs 3:26

We are so happy to have Mrs. Koko Yee return to Special Camp again this year as Special Camp's Bible lesson teacher! To read more about Koko and her call to serve, click here.

Applications are now being accepted to apply to serve for the 2012 camp. Please see the "How Do I Volunteer?" section for details on how to apply. Male aides are especially needed!

Last Updated on Monday, 20 February 2012 02:18

What we do at camp

A typical day at camp begins with everyone getting ready for breakfast, followed by morning exercises, worship, Bible lessons, and arts and crafts. After lunch, activities vary daily such as bowling, swimming, a presentation at JEMS Family Camp, a carnival, and Special Camp field games. After dinner, we have a time of worship followed by a special evening activity and cabin time. After the campers go to bed, staff enjoy worship and a brief devotional time, staff meeting, and fellowship.

All of these events and activities add up to a fun-filled and meaningful program geared specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities. Special Camp is a place where they can come to learn, fellowship, worship, and grow in the Lord.

Last Updated on Sunday, 05 October 2008 08:59 Read more...

How do I volunteer?

The Lord has provided sufficient applicants to serve at this year's JEMS Special Camp, and thus we are not accepting any more applications at this time. For additional inquiries regarding the application process, feel free to e-mail:

If you have any general questions about serving as an aide, feel free to e-mail:

Thank you for your interest in JEMS Special Camp!

Last Updated on Sunday, 15 April 2012 07:45

History of JEMS Special Camp

In 1973 the growing awareness of a need to have a camping experience for Asian American developmentally disabled persons and their families came to a head, and Marion and Saburo Masada sought out training events to develop skills and information with the intention of developing a program to serve both the developmentally disabled persons and their families. Marion conceived the idea of a special camp and support program for these Asian Americans, utilizing an already existing JEMS Family Camp, which the Masadas had been attending for over twenty years.

Marion and Sab Masada Sab and Marion Masada