It's almost been a year since 21-year-old Beau Bullington died, and this year's campers at the Arc Summer Inclusion program are busy planning a tribute.

In his memory, campers this week will learn to sing and sign the words to "Little Deuce Coupe," and perform the song at an end-of-camp ceremony Friday. Bullington died after being in a car accident when he was 5, and suffering from a resulting brain injury the rest of his life.

"Beau's favorite thing was to cruise 'Main,' and so this year we chose the Beach Boys' song to remember him by. He will really be missed," said camp Director Susan Ellis.

The summer camp is for young people with differing abilities - some have Down syndrome, for example, others are hearing or visually impaired - who range in age from 4 to 25.

"For a lot of the kids that come here, this is part of their life - I see them in school in the fall and they ask when the next camp is," Ellis said. "It really is great - we cram so much in, it's like a whole year."

Campers such as Julie Huber, a 25-year-old with Down syndrome, said she's been going to the camp on Casper Mountain since before anyone - including herself - can remember. She has risen in camper status to become a senior counselor, which gives her the opportunity to continue to attend the camp, and also help the other kids, Ellis said.

The camp caters to all abilities, with activities that include horses, crafts and their own carnival. Crafts allow the campers to pursue things they want to do.

That's encouraging to 7-year-old Noah Sweeney, who is fascinated with vacuum cleaners.

"'What kind of vacuum to do you have?' is the first thing he says to everyone new, and then he asks what kind of bags it takes, and suggests other brands," the camp's executive director, Toni Hutchison, said. "He knows everything about vacuums and right now is making a scrap book of the different types."

The ARC camp is basically free. All that is required is a $15 membership to the ARC, which covers camp insurance.

"We pay for the camp solely through grants and fund-raisers," said Hutchison. "We sell Christmas trees at Kmart, we get a lot of private donations, as well as Kinder Morgan and United Way who also give us a lot."

In addition to gifts of money, the camp also receives help from scores of volunteers and assistance from the Lions Camp for the Blind.

"Everyone is very good to us and helps us a lot, which is what makes is possible for this camp to be free for the kids," said Ellis. "Unfortunately, we had to put a cap on the program this year; we didn't want it to get too large because too many kids can be overwhelming to some of the others."

The ARC Summer Inclusion Camp has also become a family affair.

Longtime 14-year-old camper Heidi Johnson started coming after her brother Tommie went to the camp and her mother realized the rest of her children could also attend.

"I am a junior counselor, I help the senior counselors, and I'm a peer," said Johnson. "I love it here."

Morgan Monpas, also a 14-year-old counselor, has been participating in the ARC camp for nine years.

"I love hanging out with the kids, and especially learning how to sign," she said. "Everyone has their own kid to watch and help, and it's really a blast."

For 21-year-old Sean Perry, it's not the games, or the horses, or the dogs, or the signing he likes best. It's the overnighter.

"Every Friday night we get to spend the night, and that's my favorite part," he said.

Perry said he didn't know when he started coming to the camp - at least since before Ellis took charge 12 years ago - but that he plans to come forever.