Camp for Kids 2006

What is "Camp for Kids"?

Project Overview

The Deaf Service Center of Southwest Florida (DSC) will provide tuition, transportation, and other support for deaf or hard of hearing children in Southwest Florida to attend a week-long summer camp session.  

Background Information

Approximately 90% of deaf or hard of hearing children are members of hearing families. Many children with a hearing loss have few or no opportunities to spend time with deaf or hard of hearing peers and Deaf adult role models. This situation increases the possibility of isolation, frustration, and language delay, especially during long summer vacations at home.

Project Details  

YMCA Camp Indian Springs will hold their annual Deaf Week the week of July 16-22, 2006. DSC will arrange for deaf or hard of hearing children to go to Camp Indian Springs in Crawfordville, Florida (Wakulla County, near Tallahassee) on July 14 and return to Fort Myers on July 22.

Camp Indian Springs offers the opportunity for campers (ages 8 to 16) to develop in mind, body, and spirit by providing positive leadership, a fun environment, and an attitude of service to all. Since 1982, Camp Indian Springs has provided an environment where campers who are deaf or hard of hearing, their siblings, and their hearing peers can learn from each other and enjoy the camp experience together.

Camp Indian Springs is located in Crawfordville, Florida and is a residential summer camp accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). All ACA-accredited camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. The YMCA staff collaborates with a team of volunteers (Deaf counselors and sign language interpreters), in order to include all campers in the YMCA camp experience. Deaf campers participate in activities and share cabins with hearing campers. A Leaders-in-Training program is available for deaf campers who are 14-16 years old, focusing on leadership, responsibility, and Deaf culture.

Evaluation Plan

DSC hopes to sponsor and coordinate the Camp for Kids project in 2006 and for many summers to come. DSC staff will survey campers, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders in order to improve the implementation of this project. In the future, DSC hopes to send at least 10 children to camp every year. This experience will be invaluable and will positively impact deaf and hard of hearing children in Southwest Florida.

DONATIONS

Camp for Kids 2006 has been sponsored by the following generous donations: