Program has lasting Impact on special campers, counselorsASHLEI N. STEVENS,
ashlei.stevens@shj.comPublished July 17, 2007
Amid the squeals of children playing kickball in the hot sun and swimming in the cool indoor pool, Patrick Moran feels welcomed.
The bright-eyed 13-year-old eagerly enjoyed dancing and singing cheers with fellow campers Monday.
"It's fun when you have friends around playing with you," said Moran, who attends E.P. Todd Elementary.
Mingling with other kids is important for children like Patrick, who has special needs. And to make him feel included, a group of local volunteers worked with the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to bring Camp IMPACT to the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan.
IMPACT stands for Inspiring, Motivating and Progressing to Achieve Challenges Together. Begun in 2004, Camp IMPACT is a part of the "Let's All Play" program, which creates communities where all children can learn, live and play together.
There are four sites across America that have begun Camp IMPACT - one in Kansas City, one in Indiana and two in North Carolina. These are the model sites, and the goal is to have at least 100 camps by next year. The Middle Tyger camp is a pilot program, and hopefully it will be able to receive grants and donations to hire more staff and offer services to more kids next summer.
Currently, 16 children with special needs are mixed into the Middle Tyger's summer camp, which is serving about 100 kids. The program is free for children with special needs, and there are still a few more open slots.
"That's the beauty of it - that with the right community support, you can almost do this without adding money to your budget," said Aron Hall, director of services for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.
Rita Smith and her friend, Sandra Graham, heard about the foundation because they are Clay Aiken fans. The two Spartanburg women decided to work with the local YMCA and gather volunteers to make it happen. Camp began last Monday and will end this Friday.
"It's not just kids with disabilities who benefit from being included - everybody involved gets some benefit out of it," said Hall.
And Smith agrees that the program allows children with special needs to feel accepted by other children.
"This is stretching their abilities to do things and to extend their capabilities," said Smith. "For the typical children, it's giving them the opportunity to feel comfortable around children with disabilities. So it helps them, too - helps them become more sensitive."
Camp IMPACT's youngest volunteer is 10-year-old Mikayla Johnson. Her 7-year-old brother is autistic. And although her brother is not a part of Camp IMPACT, Mikayla has devoted last week and this week to helping young people better understand children with special needs.
"They need to spend some time with them and see that they're just like regular people," said Johnson, who aspires to teach special education one day. "I live with a sibling that has special needs, and I know how to take care of him."
And at least one parent says Camp IMPACT is truly making its mark. Betsy and Jeff Randall's 7-year-old daughter Micah attends S.O.A.R. Academy, a newly opened private school that serves children with special needs. So interacting with children outside of her classmates and 4-year-old brother and teenaged sister is beneficial for Micah.
"They don't have a lot of choices to be with other kids, and there aren't a lot of other camps they can go to where they have the supervision they need," Betsy Randall said.
Micah's made a new friend at camp and is looking forward to horseback riding later this week.
"She has been so excited," Randall said. "This is a great opportunity for her."
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