As one of the first chemists assigned to test the polio vaccine and later, as a pioneering developer in the field of group dynamics, our founder, Alex Krem, carried within him the compassionate seed of a brilliant career as a special education teacher for the developmentally disabled. Shortly after doing ground breaking work main-streaming exceptional children into a regular public school he thought it would be interesting to take some of his students along on family camping trips to see how they managed. The first camp-outs were on school grounds or in the Krem's backyard, with wife, Elsie, and sons, Alex Jr. and Tom, being the first camp counselors. Alex noticed how these little forays gave his students opportunities to develop a sense of competency and freedom that enhanced the perception of their self-worth. He also realized how easily such opportunities could be developed within the context of the outdoor experience. It was the inspiration that inspired the creation of our organization.
Soon, with the help of parents, teachers and friends of the developmentally disabled, Alex founded Camping Unlimited. In 1961 it became a tax-exempt corporation and in 1965, forty-five acres were purchased in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek for a new camp facility. In the beginning, the camp was simply a few platforms with tents on them. Since then, with the help of volunteers and donations, "Camp Krem" has evolved into a complex of buildings with a paved road, hiking trails, and even a large swimming pool, specially designed for the disabled. See the facilities page for a more detailed look at our camp.
