Kulanu’s eight weeks of summer camp will come to a close this week on August 25th Thirty children with special needs were served by Kulanu’s unique camp experience known as a “camp within a camp”. Kulanu shares facilities and activities with Camp Hillel at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway. Several Kulanu campers were “mainstreamed” into Camp Hillel being supported by a trained shadow.
This year’s camp added a new group for older campers, dubbed Camp Outlook. Campers were afforded a variety of challenging activities to help with team building and socialization. Kayaking, hikes in local nature preserves, harvesting eggs from chickens, planting vegetables, rocketry lessons, and trips were some of the “out of the box” activities for the teens.
In cooperation with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance , our group participated in a community service project that involved cleaning up beach and dune areas in Far Rockaway. Jonathan Cooper, Kulanu’s Director of Community and Inclusion Services praised the campers stating, “I am proud that our campers donated their time and energy to improvements in the Rockaway community. They worked hard as a group and felt good about their accomplishments”.
Read a parent letter to Jonathan about her son’s summer experience at Camp KULANU!
The program you have there is truly amazing, and the kids, especially my XXXXX, woke up in the morning and was so excited to go each day!! This was the first experience he has had going on the same bus with my other boys and it was very special for him. He didn't feel "different". He loved seeing my kids during the day at camp and being in an environment with other typical children.
Your staff at Kulanu/Hillel was also amazing. Highly experienced professionals, wanting only the best for each child.. going out of their way to make that happen. And of course all your staff so loving and caring and making each child feel special.
It’s so hard with a special needs child and what Kulanu does, the amazing program you run does so much for the kids. I can’t thank you enough for everything you do, for caring when most people don’t, and putting so much time and effort to help enrich the lives of those kids who need that special attention and care. That one week at Kulanu/Hillel was a week filled with fun and games and playing but also helped XXXXX with his independence, self esteem and feeling "normal" like everyone else. And for that we will always be grateful.
Thanks again
XXXXX XXXXX
Parent
If you would like to learn more about Kulanu’s “camp within a camp” program we invite you to visit the camp blog at http://www.kulanucamp.blogspot.com/
1 comment:
Camp was a great experience this summer. The Kulanu staff was excellent. They displayed energy, compassion and stamina in the face of a long summer. Of course our campers were great. I think they liked the many different and challenging activities they were engaged in. Our camp is a unique and rewarding experience.
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