Stephen J Wampler

Stephen J. Wampler


Steve was born on August 22nd 1968 in Evanston, Illinois. Steve has cerebral palsy resulting from an accident during birth and today uses an electric wheelchair for mobility. The oldest of five children, Steve was mainstreamed into public schools at Spring Hill Elementary in Lafayette, California at the age of five and graduated from Acalanes High School. He then went on to graduate from University California at Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering in 1992.

Starting at age of 9, he attended the program operated by the Easter Seals organization out of Walnut Creek. At that time, Hawley Lake was owned by California State Senator, John Nejedly, and in 1992 he gave it to the Boy Scouts of Contra Costa County. Steve moved to Coronado after graduating and took a job with Raychem Corporation for 3 years as the Health and Safety Engineer for the San Diego Location. On July 3rd of 1995 Steve married Elizabeth L. Daniel. Steve and Elizabeth founded The Convention Company Inc. soon after they were married and continued to operate the company until September 11th 2001.

Camp Wamp

The Hawley Lake property was later returned in 2002 to the Nejedly family at which point, Steve, pursuing a life-long dream, approached the Senator's son Jim Nejedly to start programs again for physically challenged kids. WAMP (Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs Inc.) began operating programs in August 2004 after two years pf raising funds. The property is now owned and operated by the Contra Costa Youth Council under the direction of Jim Nejedly. Hawley Lake is now the operating model for the other programs. WAMP now funds programs in collaboration with the Yosemite National Institute and Environmental Travel Companions. All programs and activities are focused on learning the keys to successful interaction, responsibility and personal growth through leadership and initiative activities in the outdoors through field study activities, challenges, group building, environmental studies, living and learning together in a community.

Steve is now 39 and currently living with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Charlotte (8) and Joseph (7) in Coronado, California.

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