Summer Camp 2024

The summer after my Sophomore year of high school was the first year I was old enough to be a one to one counselor with Keshet, and I immediately jumped into this role, learning about: non-speaking communication, adaptive technology, wheelchairs, bathroom lifts, bus lifts, pool lifts, seizure rescue medications, feeding tubes, accessible activities, and so much more. My camper did not speak verbally, and had many support needs that I hadn’t considered before. My goal that summer was to create the most accessible and enjoyable experience for her, finding ways for her to fully participate no matter what measures I needed to take in order for that to happen. Our summer looked different from many other campers’ and counselors’, and it was perfect. We participated in all of the traditional camp activities, just with our own accessible spin on them. Swimming, field trips, music therapy, art therapy, cooking, community outings, dance, sports, and of course the hot, stuffy bus rides that are a summer camp staple. The memories we created and the joy I experienced was unmatched to anything I had felt before.