This is a CampSite Camp Spotlight – An opportunity to highlight the amazing work being done by those within our ecosystem. This edition features The Helen Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children (The Diller Home), an organization providing blind and visually impaired children an all-expense paid week of summer camp.
For more than five decades, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home on the New Jersey shore has opened its doors to nearly 8,500 blind and visually impaired children — all at no cost to their families. For many, it’s their first time at the ocean. For all of them, it’s so much more than a week at the beach.
Where Adventure Meets Purpose
Nestled two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in Avalon, New Jersey, this extraordinary organization has been giving visually impaired children access to the joy, freedom, and adventure of summer — and a community to share it with.
Founded in 1970 with a donation from the Stone Harbor Lions Club, the Diller Home was originally used as apartments before being converted into a vacation home in 1972. That summer, it hosted its first week of camp. More than 50 years later, it hasn’t stopped. The Diller Home is named in memory of island resident Helen L. Diller, whose husband William made a generous donation in her honor — a tribute to her dedication and deep commitment to her community.
Today, over the course of eight weeks each summer — from mid-June through mid-August — the Diller Home continues that legacy, providing blind and visually impaired children with a rich and diverse recreational experience.
A Week That Opens the World
At the Diller Home, no two days look the same. Campers venture out into the wider world through a carefully curated mix of adventures and everyday experiences that build confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.
On any given week, a camper might brave the thrills of Morey’s Piers, set sail on a boat ride hosted by the Avalon and Stone Harbor Yacht Club, or explore the Cape May County Zoo and Park. They might splash through the lake at Belleplain State Forest, dine at a local restaurant, or take in a live performance at Veterans Plaza or a Bay Atlantic Symphony concert. Some borrow audiobooks from the Avalon library. Others participate in programs at the Avalon Community Hall.
Each activity is intentionally chosen not just for fun, but for growth — helping campers discover what they’re capable of.
Powered by Community
None of this happens without an extraordinary network of people who believe, as the Diller Home does, that every child deserves a summer to remember.
The Diller Home is funded entirely through community donations, volunteer efforts, and foundation grants. It costs approximately $1,500 to sponsor one camper for a full week — and thanks to cornerstone supporters like Tim Kerr Charities, Inc., the Avalon Lions Club, and The William G. and Helen C. Hoffman Foundation, no family ever receives a bill. The Diller Home is also a proud NJ Lions International District 16-C supported project.
Through the “Sponsor a Camper” program, supporters can fund half a week or a full week of camp, as well as trips, carnival rentals, supplies, and other enriching experiences. Every contribution makes another week of possibility real for a child who deserves it.
The Impact: By the Numbers and Beyond
8,500+ children have come to The Diller Home since 1972. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
The real impact of the Diller Home lives in the friendships formed between children who truly feel understood. It lives in the camper who arrives with pre-camp jitters, and leaves standing a little taller. It lives in the child experiencing the ocean for the very first time, waves at their feet and the whole shore ahead of them.
At the Diller Home, campers find a community of peers who share similar experiences, challenges, and triumphs. The bonds formed during a week at camp often continue long after summer ends — with campers staying in touch for years and returning each summer eager to reunite with friends they consider family.
The Diller Home is a powerful reminder that when given the right environment, the right support, and the right community, there is nothing they cannot do.
Q&A: Emily Mulhern on 17 Years of Making Magic at the Diller Home
Behind every great mission is a team that believes in it deeply. Our team reached out to Camp Supervisor Emily Mulhern to find out what makes the Diller Home unlike anything else out there.
1. How did you get started in the camp world?
I began working for the Diller Home in 2009 as a camp counselor while I was a college student. This summer marks my 17th year with this organization. I spent 2 years as a counselor, 2 years as the assistant director, 10 years as the Camp Director, and have been the Camp Supervisor for 5 years.
2. What do you think sets your camp apart and makes it special?
What makes the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home truly special is its unique combination of accessibility, independence, community, and opportunity. Unlike many traditional summer programs, the Diller Home is dedicated exclusively to children who are blind or visually impaired, providing a safe and supportive environment where campers can explore new experiences, build confidence, and form lasting friendships with peers who share similar challenges and experiences.
The Diller Home offers much more than a summer vacation. Through recreational activities, community outings, cultural events, and everyday life experiences, campers develop greater independence, social skills, and self-confidence. Whether enjoying a boat ride, navigating a local restaurant, attending a concert, or spending a day at the beach, campers are encouraged to try new things and discover what they are capable of achieving.
Perhaps most remarkable is that every camper attends free of charge. Thanks to the generosity of volunteers, donors, foundations, and community organizations, families can provide their children with a memorable and enriching summer experience without financial burden.
For generations, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home has been creating opportunities that many visually impaired children might not otherwise have, helping them experience the joy, freedom, and adventure of summer while fostering personal growth and lifelong memories.
3. Do you have a favorite camp tradition or memory and if so, can you tell us a little bit about it and why it stands out to you?
One of my favorite camp traditions is our annual Diller Duels, a friendly week-long competition between the girls and boys that brings an incredible amount of energy and excitement to camp. Throughout the week, campers earn points for their team through a variety of activities, including games, yard competitions, clean floor awards, demonstrating good manners during meals, and our popular Sand Castle Challenge.
The Sand Castle Challenge has become a camper favorite. Teams work together to design and build creative sand sculptures on the beach, and then we invite our Facebook followers to vote for their favorite creation. The campers love knowing that family members, friends, alumni, and supporters from the broader Diller community are cheering them on and participating in the fun.
Diller Duels builds anticipation all week long as teams earn points and track their progress. What makes it especially memorable is the grand finale. At the end of the week, following the talent show, the losing team’s counselors face a fun consequence- either getting a bucket of ice water poured over them or taking a pie to the face!
What stands out most is how much the campers love it. Diller Duels encourages teamwork, creativity, sportsmanship, and camp spirit while creating countless laughs and unforgettable memories. The excitement is contagious, and by the end of the week everyone is invested in the outcome. It’s one of those traditions that campers talk about long after camp ends and look forward to year after year.
4. What lasting impact do you hope your camp leaves on campers?
One of the most meaningful and lasting impacts of the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home is the lifelong friendships our campers develop. Many of our campers come from different parts of New Jersey and neighboring states and may not have many opportunities to connect with other children who are blind or visually impaired. At The Diller Home, they find a community of peers who share similar experiences, challenges, and successes. The bonds formed during a week at camp often continue long after summer ends, with campers staying in touch for years and returning each summer eager to reunite with friends they consider family.
The impact of The Diller Home extends well beyond a single week at the shore. In 2022, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children Foundation established the Helen L. Diller Scholarship Program as a way to continue supporting our campers as they pursue their future goals. Through this program, eligible campers can receive scholarships of $5,000 per year for up to four years, totaling as much as $20,000 per recipient, to help fund higher education or vocational training opportunities.
Together, the friendships, confidence, independence, and educational support fostered through The Diller Home create a lasting legacy. Our goal is not only to provide an unforgettable summer experience, but also to help campers build meaningful connections and pursue their dreams long after their time at camp has ended.
5. How has working at a camp shaped you as a person?
Working at the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home has shaped me in countless ways and has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. The Diller Home has been a part of my life for 17 years, and over that time I have had the privilege of watching generations of campers grow up. I have seen children arrive at camp feeling nervous and unsure of themselves, only to return year after year with greater confidence, independence, and friendships that last a lifetime.
Being part of their journeys has taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of creating opportunities for every child to succeed. The campers continually inspire me with their resilience, determination, and willingness to embrace new experiences. They remind me that limitations are often far fewer than we imagine and that confidence can flourish when children are given the support and encouragement they deserve.
What makes The Diller Home so special is that it is much more than a summer camp – it is a family. Over the years, I have built relationships with campers, counselors, volunteers, and families that have become an important part of my life. Watching former campers grow into young adults and seeing the lasting impact that camp has had on them has been incredibly rewarding.
After 17 years, I can honestly say that The Diller Home has changed me as much as it has changed the campers. It has given me a deeper appreciation for service, community, and the power of creating meaningful experiences for others. The memories, friendships, and lessons I have gained through The Diller Home will stay with me for the rest of my life.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating — and Supporting
For over 50 years, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children has proven that a single week can change the course of a child’s life. Thousands of campers have walked through its doors, found their footing in the sand, and left with something they carry long after summer ends.
The Diller Home isn’t just a camp. It’s proof of what’s possible when a community decides no child should be left out — and puts in the work to make sure they never are.
Curious to learn more about The Helen Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children’s mission and the work they’re doing? Visit their website here to dive deeper into their story.