Five Questions: Cyndy Teas

Cyndy Teas is one of five recipients scheduled to receive the inaugural First Lady Awards on March 11 from first lady Melanie Blunt. Teas was recognized for her work at Purdy’s Camp Barnabas, a nonprofit Christian summer camp for disabled children that she opened with husband Paul in 1995. ABC featured the camp in a 2005 episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which led to an $8 million capital campaign and national recognition.

Q: What was your reaction to the award, and what will it do for the camp?

A: (Camp board member) Peter Herschend nominated me, and ... I was really surprised. It was great. It’s my hope that it will assist my true mission, which is … making sure people understand the importance of advocating for people with disabilities. Mrs. Blunt has selected me to be honored … but the real importance is the work that we do to make people understand that people with disabilities have a voice and need to be heard.

Q: After the feature on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” how did the camp change?

A: It was like a power surge to the camp. We went from being this little unknown but valuable camp for kids with special needs and chronic illness to being a national camp. It gave us national recognition. We had campers from 33 states this past summer, and volunteers from 38 states. If you think about it, most of us would spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get our name in front of 19 million people, so there really isn’t any way to describe to you what it did in simple words.

Q: What does the future hold for Camp Barnabas?

A: Our future is wide open. We have been entertaining the idea of other camps around the state and the nation. They’re all in our long-term plans, and they’ve now moved into our five-year plan. The possibilities are limitless.

Q: Are there any particular areas you’re looking at for expansion?

A: It’s easier to transfer the culture if you stay within a few hundred miles. We try to look at what we could do that would be that close. Northwest Arkansas is just ripe – it’s a beautiful area for camping, and it’s just an hour from us. There are areas that we can look at that aren’t too far away, and that will be easier to keep the culture of what we do. The geographic area is a part of the culture, and you want to retain that.

Q: What would you like people to know about how you got to where you are now?

A: What I want people to do is to open their own heart to whatever God has for them and not be afraid to step out. That so defines why I’m where I am today. I wouldn’t be getting this honor if I had been afraid to do something I knew nothing about. It’s about being open to inspiration. That’s who I am, and I would wish that for everyone. This kind of honor … was never on my radar. What was on my radar was a life adventure – more than just a paycheck – and this adventure has been amazing.

Interview by Jeremy Elwood.