Podcast - Camp Arye, July 2009
Tim Kauffman, assistant executive director of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Columbus, joined us at the Foundation to speak with Sidney Hargro, Senior Community Research and Grants Management Strategy and Organizational Learning Officer, about Camp Arye.
This podcast was released as part of our monthly series in conjunction with the Spark Change e-Newsletter in July 2009.
You can download the complete podcast here or visit our podcast page at www.columbusfoundationpodcasts.org for more information.
The following is a transcript of the interview with Tim Kauffman.
Sidney Hargro: Welcome to The Columbus Foundation's monthly podcast where you'll hear insights from community and nonprofit leaders about exciting initiatives and programs impacting central Ohio. I'm Sidney Hargro of The Columbus Foudnation and today I am happy to be joined by Tim Kauffman. Tim is the assistant executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus. Each summer the JCC welcomes hundreds of youth as they participate in a varity of JCC camp programs including Camp Arye, a day camp focused on individuals with special needs.
During today podcast we're going to learn a little more about camp Arye and how the JCC has created a unique stimulating environment for these campers to enjoy.
Tim, welcome.
Tim Kauffman: Yes, Camp Arye has been operating for the past 22 years. It offers children, teens, and young adults, between the ages of 3 and 25 with special needs including physical, cognative, emotional, developmental, and learning disabilities, the experience of a recreational daycamp---a true summer camp experience. Hiking, camping, swimming; activities typical campers would also do but geared for kids with special needs.
SH: Well how many campers will participate in Camp Arye this summer?
TK: We have this year approximately 120 campers involved, with a variety of special needs but the common theme is... it's camp. And these campers are integrated with five other camps that we have with typical campers.
SH: What types of activities with the campers participate in?
TK: Our typical camp day consists of arts and crafts, music and movement, adaptive physical education, and social interaction and peer play. One of the most popular activities our Camp Arye campers is the swimming pool, where they're given instruction and they also have free time, but they love being in the pool. Our group of campers who are age twelve to twenty-one also do weekly community-based field trips. This summer, our campers will be going to slate-run metro park to go fishing, Graeter's Ice Cream for a tour of the ice cream factory, as well as the local cineplex to enjoy a movie, just to name a few. Our adult unit, which is age seventeen to twenty-five, they do work experiences. Monday, for instance, they go a grocery store where they buy food for the week. Tuesday, they work at a senior center. On Wednesdays, a local school, and on Thursdays and Fridays, they help out at Donatos. This is something that they do each morning and then in the afternoon, they're able to experience camp activities.
SH: Tim, you opened a new special needs building on the JCC campus last year. How has this space been used and how has it benefitted the Camp Arye campers?
TK: The spacious new Zussman building allows our campers to change for a variety of different activities. So there's changing rooms in there, there's activity space --- changing for the pool or cleaning up in between activities has been made much easier since the Zussman building opened. The camp nurse is also located in the Zussman building and has a very nice room with two lounge chairs and ample space to store medication and supplies. And in the heat of the summer, it is an air conditioned space that makes, you know, gives our campers the opportunity to re-energize after a long day of being out in the sun.
SH: How does it feel as an administrator to deliver this program?
TK: I think to watch the Camp Arye kids, to see the fun that they have on their faces -- and we talk to a lot of the parents and care providors --- you know, some of these kids have been coming nine, ten years in a row. And for 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks during the summer, this is something they look forward to the entire year. And the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction and enjoyment that they get, you know, is really very satisfying to our staff and to the counselors and camp staff that works in this particular camp. I mean I can tell you---it's work for these counselors, but they get such a rush from the kids, and I think that's what makes it all so special.
SH: Thank you, Tim. For more information on all the ways the JCC is making a difference in our community, please visit their PowerPhilanthropy portrait at www.columbusfoundation.org.
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