“My daughter had an amazing time, she came back with so much chayus! Her self-esteem and sense of self-worth are higher than ever.”
These words resonate with many parents who send their children to summer camp. But for parents of children with disabilities, they are especially significant.
Parents often feel a little nervous sending their child to summer camp for the first time. How will they manage being away from home for the first time? Will they make friends? Will they get enough sleep?
For parents of a camper who has a disability, however, those questions are just the tip of the iceberg. How will camp make sure that my child gets to participate? Will the other campers be accepting or will they leave my child out? Who is going to provide additional assistance if my son needs that?
Camp Emunah, the pioneer of Chabad overnight camps, lovingly directed by Rebbetzin Chava Hecht and her family, were the first in supporting campers with disabilities for many years. For the past 2 summers the camp partnered with the Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative (RCII) to professionally train staff to provide practical tools to make camp a successful experience for all campers.
Several families who have children with disabilities had the opportunity to send their children to Chabad camps this summer, some for the first time, with the efforts of the RCII which works with Chabad communities to help encourage and support people with disabilities to participate in community life. The keys to successful inclusion and participation at camp revolves around parents and camp staff establishing good working relationships, training for staff, and recognizing that all campers have unique qualities to share at camp.
Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York runs an overnight camp and welcomed Baruch, a young camper who has Down syndrome. Baruch went to the camp for 2 weeks as a first time camper. Nachman Dov Wichnin, head staff member, thought that Baruch’s camp experience was “a great success. He fit right in and he was happy!” Rabbi Futerfas, director of the camp, stated, “We were able to give him the support that he needed and that is why it worked.”
Sholly Weiser at Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe partnered with the RCII to present the “Friends Including Friends” curriculum to the other campers, helping them to understand how to be better friends with Baruch. Baruch’s mother, Libby, remarked that he had a very caring counselor who wasn’t fazed by having her son in his group.
She continues, “From day one, Baruch was happy to go to camp. He loved it.”
It was important to Libby that Baruch attend a Lubavitch camp. She said, “We want our son in the culture he is familiar with. Having him in camp with typical kids is important as is having him at camp with other Chabad kids.”
Libby recalled her conversation with Sarah Kranz-Ciment, the director of the RCII. According to Libby, “When I saw Sarah on Shavuos I told her that I would love Baruch to attend this camp. The next thing I know they pulled it all together. I was so touched and felt blessed that this opportunity was sent from Hashem.”
According to another mother, Tzippy Dalfin, it was the partnership between the camp, Camp Chomeish, in Connecticut, and the family, that contributed to a successful experience for her daughter Rivki. “The success of this summer experience started with the positive and proactive attitude right at the top. The director, Rabbi Sholom B. Stock, immediately had a ‘can do’ attitude, and helped the staff realize that it was a privilege and an opportunity for them to have Rivki at camp.”
Rabbi Stock noted that “Rivki’s peers tried to include her and accepted her very well. We modified some programs to make sure Rivki was included. When a trip to the ice skating rink was scheduled, the rink didn’t want to let her go with her wheelchair, but the staff and her peers appealed to them and said ‘We want her to go!’ The rink agreed and let Rivki go around on the chair and everyone really had fun!”
Rabbi Stock offers this advice to other camp directors: “Inclusion can absolutely work. If you have the attitude to want to make it work…then it’s going to work.”
Tzippy Dalfin added this advice to parents: “Build a support system, choose good advocates and make sure the welcoming attitude starts at the top as it will filter down to all staff.”
Rivki provided a glimpse into her summer at camp. “Everyone made it easy for me to succeed.” Slight accommodations for Rivki, who uses a wheelchair, made all the difference. Just the addition of a bench in the bunkhouse shower made it easier for her. When she said that she didn’t need her paraprofessional with her all the time, camp provided a walky-talky so Rivki could communicate with her when she needed assistance. Rivki noted that although she didn’t want to go on every field trip, she was encouraged to do so and she always ended up having a good time.
What about friendship? “Girls were helpful without being overbearing,” Rivki said. “We had bunk talks every night and everyone participated. Staff cared about ALL the campers, not just me.”
The camp staff helped Rivki see she had an integral part at camp, bringing her own unique qualities just like every girl there. Rivki’s mother said her daughter taught her peers about courage and the ability to be the best that you can be. She knew that Rivki was having a wonderful time because she was too busy to call home! Tzippy Dalfin thanks the camp and her bunkmates for their respect and consideration, but mostly for being great friends who were welcoming and positive.
Camp Gan Israel Florida, under the direction of Rabbi Yossi Biston, has welcomed campers with a variety of disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome in previous years. This summer, Nechama Denberg, a camper who uses a wheelchair came to camp for the first time. Camp Director Liba Andrusier spoke about how the bunk prepared for her arrival a week into the session. “Before Nechama came, we sent her a picture of her whole bunk waving with the message ‘we can’t wait to see you.’ When she arrived, her bunkmates surprised her with a huge ‘baruch haba’ welcome. I had tears in my eyes. Nechama was beaming.”
Liba helped bunkmates by talking with them the night before Nechama arrived. She addressed their concerns and said they were excited. According to Liba, “Kids have so much love and inclusion. This camper had a great time, beaming, smiling and laughing all the time.”
According to Nechama, “The staff was really accepting of me.” Because she felt accepted, she said she felt included. She felt like she had a “normal” camp experience and wants to go back next summer.
Nechama’s mother spoke glowingly about how the camp prepared for her daughter. “The wheelchair wasn’t scary or a shock to them – it was like nothing. The staff and counselors were really great and felt very comfortable with her. Liba really trained them well.”
Parents and camp directors agree that preparation is the key to success. Nechama’s mother offered this advice to parents, “Inform. Inform. Inform. The more the camp knows about your child, the more prepared they are.”
With the hopes of helping to inform, the RCII sent trainers to work with staff at three camps this summer on inclusion practices as well as practical implementation. The RCII also provided virtual training to three more camps, reaching nearly 250 camp staff members. In addition, the RCII produced a free Camp Staff Training Guide that is available to all Chabad camps.
Gershon Sandler, the director of Camp Gan Israel in the Poconos, contacted the RCII to ask how to best include several campers who needed extra support to have a successful summer. RCII provided an onsite training program for the staff at camp. The counselors were older teens and young adults from the United States, South Africa and Israel. Some have had post-secondary classes in special education while others had no formal experience working with children and young teens with disabilities. All were at camp because they felt this is their shlichus and were eager to learn. These counselors participated in a three-hour training developed by the RCII team on how to support and include campers with disabilities such as autism, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions.
According to Chaya Perman, one of the two RCII trainers, “training requires a multi-faceted approach and gives participants a general overview of inclusion at camp, ensuring a solid understanding of how to meet the needs for all campers and establishing a structure for supporting campers with disabilities and building counselor confidence.”
Rivki Dalfin offered this advice to camp directors. “Make it comfortable for people to ask how to help to make a situation work better! Make sure every camper feels important and everyone feels responsible to make inclusion work!” And to kids with disabilities who are contemplating summer camp, she said, “Go back. Try again. Camp can be wonderful and a great experience.”
This summer Rivki learned that the staff really cares and that they can help campers grow and change. “I know because I did,” she confidently adds.
camp emunahs special bunk was the first of its kind in the world! and it all was started by the amazing Friendship Circle of Crown Heights. It is now run by Cham Cham Reichman. how remiss not to mention these pioneers!!
Thank you again camp Chomeish for everthing that you have done for my Rivki, she still talks about it and how special Rabbi Stock is. I thank all the staff and campers who made Rivki’s summar so exciting and fun.