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Remember wonderful days of summer camp - playing with old friends, meeting new ones? Messy art projects, group games and special treats?? Children with multiple disabilities have few opportunities to attend summer camp; their medical, physical, or cognitive needs cannot be managed by most camps. Camp Hollywood offers the qualified care and caregivers these children require and the fun that all children should have!! Camp Hollywood makes all children feel like STARS!!
FOCUS' Camp Hollywood
is a unique camp model. FOCUS plans one week of camp and moves the camp
to different locations around metro Atlanta. Children with disabilities,
and their brothers and sisters ages 4 (by September 1, 2009) to 21
(dependent on needs of camper),
enjoy a week of art, music, science, cooking, and other cool projects
based on the themes of favorite children’s movies. Camp hours are 10 am to 3 pm. Transportation is not provided.
FOCUS is planning a week of Camp
Hollywood in ten locations in 2010! For questions about locations, please call FOCUS at 770-234-9111.
Brochures & applications for Camp Hollywood
will be mailed to all active families on our database in February. Parents must call FOCUS for an application to register their child for camp.
Camp Hollywood is a wonderful volunteer
opportunity for Scout troops, Youth groups, and community-minded individuals.
To volunteer for Camp Hollywood, please call or e-mail FOCUS for information.
Applications for all
FOCUS camps will be mailed in late February.
By Allie Hush
It might sound like a cliché, but volunteering
at Camp Hollywood was one of the best experiences of my life. Everyday,
I learned something new from the kids. They taught me to really appreciate
life and to make the best out of every situation, whether it is good
or bad.
The first day, I have to admit I was not “excited”
about waking up at eight in the morning to get ready for camp. Everything
changed as soon as I walked into the music room filled with smiling
kids in walkers and wheelchairs. After that, I knew that waking up every
morning would not be a problem. From that day on, I couldn’t wait
to go to camp and see the kids’ faces light up in science after
an experiment and play basketball in recreation. With each new day I
got closer to the kids and started to forget about their disabilities.
I was really sad to see the week come to an end. I had such a good time;
I didn’t want to leave. During closing music of the first week,
I decided I had to come back for the second week.
The second week was even more fun than the first.
I was in the same group for both weeks so I became best friends with
these children. I felt so lucky to be able to work and play with some
of the coolest kids I had ever met!
Whether it was talking about the Braves
with Geoffrey, “surfing” with Ricardo, or going over the
schedule with Max and Grant, I had a blast at FOCUS camp. Volunteering
at camp enriched me far beyond what I had anticipated. It was an experience
I will never forget and as soon as I left on the second Friday, I was
already looking forward to participating at next summer’s camp.
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