Affordable summer camps also focus on youth experience
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — There are some friends that Ana Manderino only sees in the summer, but together they have some of the most fun she has all year.
This is Ana’s fifth summer attending Camp Apple, a summer camp operated out by Community Care Connections that provides activities that bring children with disabilities and children with typical abilities together in the same place. The camp is funded by grants and fundraising to provide programming for six weeks of the summer, starting this year on June 8.
On Friday, June 12, the 50, or so, children in Camp Apple ages 5 to 12 were having a Nerf gun battle.
“You can make a lot of friends at Camp Apple,” Ana, 10, said, before running off to join some of the people she was talking about.
Camp Apple, which also has activities for children ages 3 to 4 via Camp Appleseed and people ages 13 to 21 via Teen Camp Apple, is just one camp in Butler County that provides a cost-effective experience to youths. Camp Breakthrough is a summer camp in Butler that is described by its coordinator as a place that “money’s not a reason someone can’t come.”
Nick Yannotty, the founder of Breakthrough Butler, which operates Camp Breakthrough, said the camp is aimed at providing an inclusive place for youths, where they also get lunch through a city program during their days at the camp.
“What makes Camp Breakthrough different is our mission is come as you are, open doors, it doesn’t matter your background,” Yannotty said.
“It’s a place where you’re valued ... be around caring adults and team members and get that encouraging life.”
This is the 11th summer Sarah Sauers has directed Camp Apple and its age-spanning offshoots. She said it’s not just the children who look forward to the camp’s start each summer year after year.
“It’s definitely my favorite time of year,” Sauers said. “It’s just exciting to come back. And, honestly, I really don’t even consider this work.”
Directing the same camp for 11 years, Sauers said she tries to vary the activities each year, so returning children don’t balk at having to do an activity from the previous year. Some constants of the camp, though, include yoga sessions, buggy rides and the highly anticipated end-of-summer foam party.
“I’m probably most excited for the foam party at the end of the year,” Ana said.
What takes precedent when it comes to activities, however, is making sure they are accessible for children of any ability.
Sauers said the activities planned at Camp Apple go through a checklist of inclusivity, that helps the staff of the camp coordinate the games so everyone can do them. This includes children whose mobility is affected by a condition.
“A kid in a wheelchair could still play Nerf in a wheelchair,” Sauers said. “Fifty percent of our kids have disabilities, 50% don’t, so all the activities go through the checklist.”
Sauers added that the camp has a goal of integrating all children, so children without disabilities learn about other perspectives and abilities of others and vice versa.
But the difference in ability has never been the topic of strife with the children of the camp, according to Sauers.
“The kids are very accepting of all abilities,” she said.
Yannotty, too, said he and his counselors strive to make Camp Breakthrough an environment where all children can be comfortable. Camp Breakthrough has a different theme every week — from Penguin Paradise to World Cup to a Disney theme. They all exist to give the campers something new to look forward to each week.
And Yannotty said the activities and crafts are based on these topics, which also teach the campers new perspectives.
“Really, the main thing is for these kids to be part of something bigger than themselves,” Yannotty said. “Continue to get life skills and get joy and a purpose.”
Yannotty added that several of his camp counselors have worked at Camp Breakthrough for years — their familiarity with the children who return each year has helped create a good environment. Even with the mix of ages at the camp, everyone gets along, Yannotty said.
“It’s a mixture of a lot of kids who grew up here,” he said. “We have a good distribution from youngest to oldest; our youngest are kids entering kindergarten ... and seventh grade in the fall.”
Parents of both camps applauded their organizers for creating environments where children meet and make friends with many others.
Gayle Degasperis, whose grandson attends Camp Apple, said the integration of children of all abilities into one camp for the summer has been eye-opening for him.
“Community Connections is just absolutely amazing, she makes every child feel special and makes a difference in their lives,” she said. “It lets a child without disabilities learn what a disabled child goes through and that they are normal, they just can’t do everything someone else can do.”
Degasperis added that her adult son has lived with a disability, and Camp Apple is a place she wish existed when he was young.
“What a blessing that could have had something like this,” she said.
Jayda Vinroe, whose 11-year-old daughter has attended Camp Breakthrough for at least five years, applauded the affordability of the camp and the activities children do there.
“It’s definitely helps that he’s made it very affordable,” Vinroe said. “They do multiple field trips, I think they’re going to the zoo. They do themed weeks, really try to give them a lot of experiences.”
Kim Miller sends her 11-year-old twins to Camp Breakthrough, and she also commented on the good environment she has noticed at the camp.
“It’s definitely a safe option. I feel like it’s a safe place for them,” Miller said. “It has been a great experience.”
Vinroe also said that although her daughter has always been “very social,” the camp has given her a less-structured place for meeting other children, compared to school. Vinroe also noted that no child appears to sit alone while at the camp.
“I think it helps them be confident with other kids,” she said. “You can kind of see that there’s a general friendliness, you don’t see any kids sitting off to the side, everyone is together.”
