Daycamp Integrating Special Needs Children With Mainstream Kicks …
Posted by | Posted in special needs | Posted on 17-07-2010-05-2008
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(Cedarhurst, N.Y.) — Camp Friendship recently kicked off its third season continuing its mission of bringing special needs children and regular needs children together to socialize, and learn valuable lessons of acceptance, friendship and understanding.
The inclusionary day camp is run by the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns, offers children ages 5 through 9 with autism and other developmental disabilities the chance to enjoy activities such as swimming, sports, arts, music, and other wonders experienced at mainstream camps. The camp which is held at North Woodmere Park is one of many programs and activities aimed at children with autism and other developmental disabilities offered by the JCC of the Greater Five Towns.
“Camp Friendship gives children with special needs the opportunity to educate their peers about their abilities and not their disabilities,” said Rina Shkolnik, executive director, JCC of the Greater Five Towns. “By integrating the children in typical day camp activities, we help break any pre-conceived notions and beliefs about those with special needs in a fun and social environment.”
In addition, Camp Friendship provides the physical benefits of increased activity as well. Many children with disabilities don’t often participate in sports or recreational activities that their peers do. Therefore, they often miss out on the social and health benefits of exercise. Camp Friendship is a six –week program which runs weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The staff ratio of one-on-one are specifically trained to work with a variety of different challenges a child may have.
About The JCC of the Greater Five Towns
The Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns is a beneficiary agency of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of New York, a member agency of the United way of Long Island, the Jewish Community Centers Association and an affiliate of the Five Towns Community Chest. it serves the communities of Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, far Rockaway, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Malverne, Valley Stream, West Hempstead, and Woodmere. For more information, please contact the JCC at 516-569-6733, or visit www.fivetownsjcc.org.
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