Several children with special needs were treated to some fun outdoors on Wednesday, as the National Disabilities Unit (NDU) in association with the National Summer Camp Programme hosted its Camp Reach open day.
During the course of the day, 30 young campers took part in a range of fun activities on the grounds of the NDU at ‘Maxwelton’, Lower Collymore Rock, St Michael.
NDU director John Hollingsworth said the camp was created out of the need to provide a safe and fun environment for children with special needs during the summer vacation.
“Parents and guardians of children with special needs outlined their concerns about the lack of spaces for their children within the summer camp programme,” he explained.
“This camp, Camp Reach . . . offers a secure environment, it offers the traditional things that you would find at camp, like craft, tours, some sports [and] etc. What is different is that in a normal camp, you may have one camp assistant to seven campers. We have like two or three to one camper because of the intense need for supervision.”
Asked how the children responded to the open day, Hollingsworth said the campers generally loved being outdoors in a relaxed environment.
“They just like to be outside. They would have had the experience of the water day last week Friday, where there were a number of swimming pools that were laid out and they would have enjoyed that activity,” he said.
Campers also enjoyed face painting and playing in a jumping tent during the day. (SB)
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