Article in Lexington Family Magazine

July Issue includes a Letter to the Editor about CAMP! 

Click on the link to read:
http://lexingtonfamily.com/extras/July%2011/ReaderResponse.html

In June, Seton Catholic School, through the SPICE (Special People in Catholic Education) committee, sponsored an inspiring drama camp performed by a very creative group of campers!  

When asked to describe the All Abilities Drama Camp, the director, Anna Brannen, responded, “This camp is special on many levels.  Children and adults with special needs (and without) are involved as campers as well as volunteers.  We aren’t focusing on one activity to address one disability, such as gymnastics for children with Autism; we welcome everyone, ‘all abilities’, as it were, to join in some aspect of putting on a play.” This year, Brannen and several of her co-workers and friends volunteered for the second year, to develop and lead this camp. 

The purpose of the All Abilities Drama Camp is to embrace the gifts of all campers through the arts by celebrating differing skills, personalities, and abilities.   Campers with and without disabilities, ages 5 and up, work together for a week, to put on a musical play. At the beginning of the week, campers choose their preferred job in the play - music, background/props, or acting.   During the week, the campers within their chosen group are exposed to strategies in teamwork, inclusion, and various learning styles.  Participants gain appreciation of the arts, as well as self-esteem for being a contributing member of the culminating performance. Interactions of respect and encouragement for all campers are modeled by staff.  In order to make sure the campers with special needs have appropriate supports in place, the Special Needs Director contacts each family with a follow-up phone call or email. This is intended to give families peace of mind, as well as an ally to contact should questions or concerns arise.  Information is shared with the volunteers, in order to give an idea of modifications and adaptations needed during activities.  

In addition, training for volunteers is held prior to camp, discussing appropriate ways to work with children with special needs as well as ways to promote inclusion during the week. The program also schedules a “Meet and Greet” held a few weeks in advance, for the campers and volunteers to meet each other and to also ease any anxieties of a new situation.

In June, the campers performed an originally written play called “I’m Special Because I am me!”, promoting the theme of inclusion. The camp had 49 campers, 16 with disabilities,  26 trained volunteers and 10 with various degrees in Early Childhood Education.  The play was an overwhelming success!  Participants left with not only a camp t-shirt, but with satisfaction of completing an entertaining play, inclusively! 

Brannen explains, “The underlying focus of the All Abilities Drama Camp is not necessarily drama, but it is for campers and volunteers to learn to love themselves and others, with ALL of their abilities. “

Visit our blog to participate in next year’s camp:   www.allabilitiescamp.blogspot.com