An Amazing 2024 Kids Kamp
The 2024 edition of Kids Kamp was one of the biggest yet with 35 attendees enjoying a wide variety of experiences both on site and off.
Both the numbers and the enthusiasm of the campers brought a smile to the face of D&HHS Community & Partnerships Manager Erica Chapin.
“It was wonderful to see so many kids, including some who traveled from out of the area to participate,” she said.
The event was held at West Oakview School because of construction at the D&HHS home at the Special Olympics of Michigan Unified Sports and Inclusion Center. Each day had a theme with a variety of activities planned around that theme. Kids Kamp also included a special field trip to Rockford Equest Center where campers not only learned American Sign Language words specific to horses but also made treats for the horses, learned how to take care of the animals, and had a chance to lead the Center’s mini horses.
Animals also were on center stage on Nature Day when a staffer from Blandford Nature Center came to visit with a number of items for campers to see and sometimes touch, including a turtle, a kestrel, and an owl.
Campers included both Deaf children and their hearing siblings and friends. And, as is always the case with Kids Kamp, there were numerous volunteers and also Deaf presenters on hand to serve as guides and role models for the campers.
Chapin said the presence of Deaf presenters was intentional and appreciated.
““We had two teachers from Michigan School for the Deaf come and work with the kids,” she said. “Claire Roberts, a science teacher, did a variety of activities and Dianne Kinne led them in art projects. We also had Dom Bearwood, a business owner who makes furniture and does home improvements, and he came and built birdhouses with the kids.”
Betsy Smith, a teacher and Deaf adult, brought four students from out of the area for one day of camp and was thrilled to do so.
Each of my students is the only student in their school who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” she said. “When they arrived (at Kids Kamp), they were culturally in shock to see sign language and other Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids and adults who are like them.”
She is hopeful that next year parents can get together and take turns carpooling the kids each day.
“They all want to come again next year,” she said with a smile.
Kendra Gailey said she signed her girls up for camp to continue to create a close connection between one child who is Deaf and two who hear.
Kids Kamp allows my hearing kids to fully immerse into the Deaf world through ASL and gives daily opportunities for not only direct learning, but incidental learning from the many Deaf individuals, campers, and ASL fluent volunteers that give their time,” she said.
She also liked the variety of activities.
“Providing these different learning atmospheres allows for more ASL vocabulary to be presented and absorbed and in turn used at home and out in the community,” she added.
Such feedback from the parents is what camp is all about, Chapin said.
“Kids Kamp is important because it gives our Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing kids a chance to create fun summer memories where they have language access,” she said. “Many students can feel isolated, especially during summer months, and while there are a lot of summer opportunities for kids in our area, most are not accessible to our communities. It is important that kids can come to Kids Kamp and know that there will be leaders and other students who they can communicate with.”
Gailey agreed.
“Thank you DHHS for making not only Kids Kamp a wonderful experience but also for the many events you provide throughout the year,” she wrote in an email. “Having these opportunities to connect with the local Deaf community really instills pride and confidence in her Deaf identity, which is crucial for us in raising a strong, capable, independent Deaf individual who knows her worth. Thank you!”
Thank you Kids Kamp Sponsors!
