There's something almost hard-wired about human beings—when
we repeatedly see the extraordinary, it becomes ordinary. That
may be true, except when it comes to the thousands of children
who exhibit such great courage and desire when they attend
camp. It is during these days and weeks at camp that children
who are far too often described as "special needs kids" get
to become just kids. Yes, often there are parents and counselors
holding their collective breath until there's that first
splash in the pool or the swaying walk of a patient horse—all
rewarded with that sense of pride and joy on a child's
face. These children may have come a long way to get to camp—sometimes
in the literal sense—but, regardless of how long the
journey, the value of camp is defined by the experience not
these children's special needs.
Parents often wonder what their children might do at camp—will
the activities be camper-friendly and adapted to their children's
special needs and abilities? One only has to spend an hour at
such a camp to understand what makes these children and the staff
so extraordinary. Watching these children and youth experience
the joys of friendship, the thrill of adventure, and the pride
of accomplishment on a daily basis is exactly what makes camp
so important and so necessary. Camp is a community where all
children get to be children first—regardless of their abilities
or their limitations.
Camp becomes a place of acceptance, of finding other young people
whose experiences may be similar—it's about growing
up, forming friendships, taking healthy risks, and enjoying the
outdoors. Foremost, it's about being a "kid." Whether
the experience comes at day camp or overnight camp, when a camp
focuses on the needs of a special population, hands down children
find a place to be themselves, grow, and transform the word "able" into "able
to succeed."
Whether that special camp is right around the corner or miles
away, the staff and counselors have been preparing all year to
assure that our children have the times of their lives—every
summer and for the summers that follow. And for nearly one hundred
years, the American Camp Association (ACA) has supported
the professional development of those who serve these young people
as they join the millions of other children at thousands of camps
across the country.
So many "firsts" await children and families looking
for just the right camp. It could be the taste of independence,
that outdoor voice singing the camp song, or the chance to take
that horseback ride of their dreams. For families, it may be
the peace of mind knowing that their children are experiencing
these activities in a safe and healthy environment—now
that's the summer they'll remember forever.
Peg
L. Smith is the chief executive officer of the American
Camp Association.
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