Adventure Camp Empowers Special Needs Kids

Each year during winter break, day camps pop up across St. Louis, letting kids burn off some of that extra energy left over from the holidays. But for many children with disabilities, camp is just one more activity in which they end up sitting on the sidelines.

Until this year.

For the first time in its history, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, which helps children with physical and mental disabilities reach their full potential, expanded its popular summer Adventure Camp to two fun-filled days in December. During the camp, which welcomed 34 guests, kids played and learned in a safe environment with activities adapted to each camper’s ability level.

According to Missy Fiore, mother to six-year-old Dominic, who has cerebral palsy, Variety’s Adventure Camps ensure her active little boy doesn’t have to miss out on a minute of fun. “Dominic can’t go out and play sports with his friends or participate in after-school activities on a regular basis,” she remarked via email. “Variety gives him the chance to do these activities because they provide a one-on-one counselor to assist him.”

It’s this camper/counselor relationship that truly makes the difference, said Barb Kramer, Program Director for Variety, “There are a myriad of programs offered during winter breaks/vacations to families and children. Yet very few have the support and expertise required to accommodate a child with a disability. Often the child with a disability needs one-on-one support staff in order to participate in activities. Camp offers Variety kids the opportunity to be like all of the other kids as they swim, play sports and meet new friends.”

Fiore agreed – while Dominic loves bowling and singing karaoke at camp, it’s his friendship with his counselors that he looks forward to most of all. In fact, she noted, Dominic was so excited to find out who his counselor was going to be, he called his counselors from summer camp to see if they’d be joining him in the winter. For children who may feel unaccepted on occasion, this one-on-one interaction is powerful in building their self-esteem.

Contributing to the camp experience

Adventure Camp is only one of the many programs and services Variety has offered to children in its 75 year history. From Bikes for Kids, which provides traditional and therapeutic bikes, to the Variety Children’s Theatre, which allows children of all abilities to let their talents shine, Variety strives to assist children with special needs every time they require assistance from birth until age 21.

For the Fiore family, Variety has made a tremendous difference in Dominic’s quality of life. Said Fiore, “Variety has paid the insurance co-pay on all of Dominic’s equipment since he was a year old, including his braces, walker and two sets of canes. Variety also paid in full for his stroller, and also provided Dominic with a custom therapeutic bike in December at the annual Bikes for Kids event. Beyond equipment, Dominic has been an active participant in a number of Variety programs such as Adventure Camp, the annual parade to kick off Variety Week, and outings to the Magic House, Science Center, and Becky Thatcher Riverboat.”

Now’s your chance to help! This weekend, Young Variety, comprised of St. Louis professionals between ages 21 to 40, will be hosting a Trivia Night at St. Louis University High School on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Tables of eight range from $200 to $320 and can be reserved by calling 314-453-0453, ext. 126 or by visiting www.varietystl.org.

By putting that random 80’s trivia and those sports stats floating around your head to good use, you can send Dominic and other children from around St. Louis to Adventure Camp in 2011 for a day of fun and a lifetime of memories.

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger forSmartParenting