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INCLUSION AT THE URJ CAMPS The URJ Camps are committed to
providing a Reform Jewish Camping experience to all children,
including those with special needs. Our Inclusion Coordinators,
trained professionals hired by each camp to support campers with
special needs, are prepared to work with caregivers and
professionals to plan for and provide a fulfilling camp experience
for your child. If your child has special needs, please reach out to
the inclusion professionals at our URJ Camps to discuss any
accommodations or support systems that we can put in place to ensure
the success of your child.
Read about URJ Special Needs camping in the Fall 2009 issue of
Reform Judaism Magazine
2010 Special Needs Camping Programs offered by the URJ Camps
“
Blessed are You, O God, who creates a variety of Creations”
Judaism finds holiness in people of all shapes and abilities
Mitzvah Corps Tzofim Program
at Kutz
2010 Dates
Session 1: Tuesday June 30th - Tuesday July 7th
Session 2: Sunday July 11th - Sunday July 18th
The Mitzvah Corps Tzofim Program at Kutz offers
a unique Jewish summer-camping experience for teens diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is operated through a
partnership with NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
The Mitzvah Corps Program operates within Kutz:
NFTY’s Campus for Reform Jewish Teens, a Reform Jewish teen
leadership program for high school students who are active within
NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) and their home
communities.
The program’s mission is to honor the unique
characteristics of every camper and provide access to Jewish camping
by creating individualized accommodations and modifications that
allows each camper to succeed. The unique feature of the “camp
within a camp” model is that motivated high school students serve as
peer-mentors, which allows campers to participate fully in the
Jewish camp experience in a safe and nurturing environment that
fosters positive self-esteem and social skill development.
The success of the program is due to careful
planning for each camper, extensive parent and school input, camp
staff training, mentor pre-training, ongoing mentor support and
twenty-four hour staff supervision. The most important component is
the Kutz community’s dedication to include campers with ASD in all
aspects of the camp community.
Due to the individualized nature of the
program, Mitzvah Corps is able to provide a safe, fun and
appropriate camp environment for teens at virtually all levels of
functioning on the Autistic Spectrum.
If you would like more information about the
Mitzvah Corps program visit our website at
http://kutz.urjcamps.org/mc/program/ or contact Samantha Dresser,
Mitzvah Corps at Kutz Program Director,
at sdresser@urj.org. |
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