Camp Korey July 2010!
"Every child deserves a childhood"
This was my 2nd year volunteering as a nurse for Camp Korey. Camp Korey is a fabulous camp dedicated to giving kids with chronic or life-threatening illnesses a chance to be 'normal' and have FUN! This camp does NOT disappoint! These kids can swim, boat, fish, create arts and crafts with an abundance of supplies, horseback ride, climb an indoor climbing wall and ZIPLINE at the end of a ropes course. The best part is: each camper can participate in every activity. Even the ropes course and zipline was wheel chair accessible.
I am not suppose to post pictures of campers on social networking sites so I will only post a few. The campers arrive excited but hesitant; some have not been without one or the other parent his or her entire life. But by the end of the week, the campers have a sparkle in their eye and a glow about them that shows they have definitely changed. They are 'normal' for that week. Their illnesses take second stage. No one has looked at them differently but each has supported each other to try new things and best of all: each camper is accepted by EVERY other camper. The talent show is my favorite and this year did not disappoint. Each performance received a standing ovation from every camper and staff member....and it was truly awe inspiring to see the deep sincerity in the applause the campers each gave each other. At this camp there is never any negativity to each other....the campers open up sometimes about the difficulties in their lives, but each one knows he or she is not alone. For as long as I can, I will try to volunteer at this camp. For a week, this camp definitely makes each kid have a childhood!! GREAT JOB CAMP KOREY!The theme is year was Superheros! The counselors had great fun with this theme! Last year, camp even brought in a hot air balloon and let each camper and counselor and staff member ride up in the balloon about 25 feet. Very awesome, but hot when the gas raises the balloon.
The campers had to be superheros to find camp's lost mascot. They had to do certain challenges to find the clues.
Preparing for the 'food fight' ~ ALWAYS a favorite at camp! And yes, it is a food fight. Anything is eligible to be included in the food fight. The firefighters always come to help give a pre~wash down and a post~wash down. This year's menu: canned spinach with maple syrup mixed in, pudding, canned cherries, flour, mashed potatoes...probably forgetting one or two.
Just beginning...it starts tame...the campers throw food in an "organized manner" at the counselors and staff. But...soon the counselors and staff can't resist and take the 'food fight' to a whole new level. I think the staffers and counselors have even more fun than the campers, if that's possible.
I think it took Jessica 10 minutes just to get the mashed potato out of her ear I lobbed at her...and even the next day...we were still finding bits of mashed potato! ALL in good fun! The powder being flung around is just flour after everyone is fully covered in goo, just because!!
Post food fight ~ see we are smiling. Check out Jessica's ear!
Being sprayed down by the firefighter's hose!
This year, much to Jessica and my dismays, we were elected the nurses to camp out with the campers on their camp out in T-pees night....we all trekked our sleeping bags out...with a little effort we all made it! A few smores, camp songs, trips to the portapotty...and a billion mosquito bites later for some!
And a favorite activity for most: swimming. She was an all star swimmer and competed in the Special Olympics!
The last night of camp was the formal dance. There is a huge costume closet and most of the campers and even some of the counselors enjoyed rummaging through the closet for spectacular outfits for the dance. One camper changed his costume every 3 hours or so for the whole week! Each couple hours he was a new character and he totally loved playing the part!
The dance in full swing, complete with Camp Korey DJ mixing the beats!!
The talent show: Spidergirl showing her moves. Her main talent: showing how she moves her arms just so to make the web shoot out of her arms. Very impressive!
One camper created a skit...and the counselor actually let him buzz his hair!
LAST day of camp. One of my buds!
Thank you to Jessica and my sister Christine for being a part of Camp Korey with me! Jessica was my room mate and fellow volunteer nurse. Christine was a counselor and bunk mate with 2 campers. You made camp even more fun this year! Love you both!
