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From: Julie Raynor
Date: 18 Oct 2011
Time: 10:36:15 -0500
Remote Name: 204.38.148.67
Laj, Summer Camp experiences have been around for over 100 years. According to the American Camp Association, "Camp provides children with a community of caring adults, who nurture experiential education that results in self-respect and appreciation for human value. All of the outcomes — self-identity, self-worth, self-esteem, leadership, and self-respect — build personal competencies. These personal competencies are reflected in the four "C's" of the camp community: compassion, contribution, commitment, and character! For years, campers' parents have reported that when their children return home from camp they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible. These are the qualities that will help build a successful nation and a civil society." You can see that these characteristics would be beneficial for all children, perhaps even more so for children with any sort of disability be it communication, physical, emotional, or other. More than 10 million children attend a camp of some sort in the summer. Several of our Camp Shout Out families indicated that their child had always wanted to go to camp but didn't because they were afraid of being teased for talking 'differently'. Camp Shout Out allows young people who stutter to meet others who also stutter while building communicative competencies. Improving communication skills, I believe, is something we ALL can work throughout our lives. If you would like to watch a short video clip of parent/camper perspectives go to campshoutout.org where a news clip from a local TV station is posted. Respectfully, Julie R