Camp PEARL (Providing Everyone A Rewarding Life) was developed to meet a need in our community for a population that requires low ratios and often has challenges finding an appropriate and purposeful program during the summer.
- The camp offers educational, meaningful and social experiences which are all greatly needed for this population.
- It is designed to provide daily community outings that offer purpose and education to the participants.
- It gives them opportunities to experience their community and activities of daily life that they may not otherwise be able to experience. They not only get to have a world presented to them at an appropriate level of interest and understanding but they also get to experience these situations along with their peers. This in turn gives them a sense of belonging and in some cases it gives them the unique opportunity to be a leader among their peers.
- The experiences and knowledge gained at Camp PEARL are extremely beneficial as they can easily be applied to the participants' daily life providing them with more tools to lead a more fulfilling life.
Educational
The educational aspect of our camp is accomplished by the participation of the campers in a daily community outing (ie. farmer's market, berry patches, local park, grocery store, Museum of Natural Sciences, and a local dance studio). On these outings the campers are accompanied by their one on one provider. Their provider is able to keep them engaged and interested in their surroundings as they are being presented with information that they will find appealing, fun and gratifying. Many of these outings will offer new and different experiences for participants allowing them to better understand the world around them. Controlled exposure to new situations and environments enables the campers to live outside of their comfort zone which can increase their knowledge, familiarity and tolerance of the world around them.
Meaningful
The meaningful aspect of our camp is realized during the time that we spend together at a local church to enjoy activities that bridge our community outing with expanded meaning. The campers (participants) get to engage in creative activities that build on what they may have experienced or participated in earlier that day. These activities both structured and leisure are offered on a broad range of developmental levels. This allows the one on one provider to individualize the activities in order to maximize the enjoyment and comprehension for each of the campers. These fun activities reinforce aspects of each outing which encourages a greater understanding of the campers' experiences.
Engaging
An extremely important aspect of Camp PEARL is the opportunity for the participants to be able to engage in socialization among their peers. For many of these campers, the summer months can be lonely as they do not have the opportunity to be involved in activities with their peers outside of the school environment. Camp PEARL opens the door to its participants during this time allowing them to be engaged with others on a more consistent basis. This, in turn, encourages them to enjoy each day and those around them. The importance of social interaction to the growth and well-being of any person is immeasurable. In addition, for some of our campers, Camp PEARL provides the opportunity for the growth of leadership skills. Campers, who are able, are encouraged to work with other campers to assist them with the educational activities offered each day. As a result, these campers can experience the pride and gratification of helping others. Likewise, the other campers get to experience the pleasure of working alongside their peers. This is a win-win situation for all.
In addition to being a unique and beneficial experience for the participants the camp is tremendous blessing and gift for the families. It is a challenge these families face every summer to provide days filled with new experiences, fun activities and ways to make learning and developing fun for their children. It gives the families a piece of mind knowing their loved ones are in an environment that caters to their unique needs. Camp PEARL provides opportunities for growth, discovery and especially JOY!!!!
