by Super Kristi

Girls aged 12 to 16 went on a field trip to the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp as part of our Day Camp Program Aide program on Thursday. Girls were introduced to kids with different disabilities and learned how to plan and carry out lesson plans for them. The girls had an amazing time! Here are their accounts of the experience. Pictures to come soon!

Cash:
Today we went to City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp. Driving to the camp I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was unsure of how I was feeling. When we arrived and I saw some of the kids playing I became nervous about what was ahead. Once we went to the first class my group introduced ourselves. Then we tried our first game. We found it was hard for them to concentrate on the game. By the second class everything went smooth and the kids liked the games we played. I was enthusiastic about the last class. After lunch I felt good that I had gone and did this with the Girl Scout Camp. It turned out to be a wonderful time with them!!!

Cheerio:
We went to the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp today. I felt nervous and excited for the field trip. The day before our group got together and planned what we were doing: a beach ball name game, verb charades, rock the boat and Simon says. Except we forgot to bring our beach ball for the name game so we improvised, using a pillow. The first group, the little kids, was really enthusiastic. Really set our group at ease. We improvised for different activities, like with the little kids we sang songs, and with the older kids we played verb charades. I was glad I came and I had a very fun time.

Blossom:
As a part of a Girl Scout PA project we went to a summer camp for kids with disabilities, the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp. When we got there I felt nervous and excited. We were planning on singing the princess pat, and then have them draw a picture, and then play two games. But when we got there we didn’t do the song and went straight to the drawings. We had an idea to have them draw their pictures then take them back to camp, staple them together ten take them back to the camp before the end of the week. We also played would you rather and what’s the answer. When we were with the kids they were excited and ready to play but some kids would lose their attention easily and we would have to stop. I had a great time and to see their faces light up when we came in the door made me feel ready and welcome. I would love to go again and help the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp.

Sushi:
Today we went to the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp. In preparation we planned four different activities. One of the activities was a song called the princess pat, another one was a drawing where we draw something that represents us. Together we made 23 different drawings that will be hung up on a string together. Then we planned two games- would you rather and what’s the answer. Once we were there, the kids seemed really happy to see us and most of them enjoyed the activities even though they had a struggled with some of the games. In the end, I was relieved that I had nothing to worry about because it was so fun working with the kids at the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp.

Peanut:
During my first week of camp I got the opportunity to visit Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp. This experience was amazing and I am so happy that I was able to be a part of it. Before I ventured to this camp I was very nervous. I had no idea what to expect and now the kids were going to treat me. My group effectively planned out what games we were going to play such as fruit basket. This game was new to all of our members so it took some time for us to explain. Our backup games were the classic duck duck goose and red light green light. The planning period lasted a couple of hours so that we would be fully prepared. As I arrived at camp the next day my butterflies were starting to kick in. when the time came to hop in the car, I was fully pumped and ready to go. When we arrived I was guided to the different classrooms and was told some facts about the camp itself. This gave me a better background of what the kids were going to be like. After our short tour we were assigned to our first class. We opened the door and played the first game. Some kids didn’t understand the point of it but we tried our best to keeps it entertaining. We soon realized that many of the kids enjoyed playing red light green light because they got to control what was going on. In the end my experience at this summer camp was amazing and could not have asked for a better time.

Smiles:
At times when I don’t know what expect I sometimes get very nervous and this was one of those times. As a part of being a Girl Scout you get to take chances and have new experiences but when I got there, to the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp, I knew I didn’t have much experience with disabled kids and I thought the children would lose interest. I was wrong. During the experience I had the chance to connect with the girls and boys there. They were excited, curious and most importantly I feel as if they felt like they can connect to us without worrying. When I saw them smile I smiled myself. After, I wished I could have stayed and interacted with them more. I was so curious about how these kids became disabled, how we could prevent it and I wish I could see through their own eyes but that didn’t matter at the moment what mattered was that experience gave me the chance to see how they feel and now that had the chance to feel like themselves without feeling less than others.

Sparkles:
Before we went to the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp… I was really nervous because I thought that maybe they wouldn’t like the games or wouldn’t participate. But most of them had a lot of fun. Some of them had a little trouble saying their name or talking. But it was ok because there were people to help them. Over all I thought it was really fun!!!

Crush:
Before the City of Tucson Therapeutic Day Camp I as not feeling scared or nervous because I felt that it was just like being at a program I did at camp. I felt it was going to be fun and another new and great experience for me. During the camp I got along great with the kids and I felt really great. Well, except for putting my hand in saliva. After the camp I noticed that the diseases are real and people just can’t magically get over them. But in a way I felt good because I hot to meet new people and help them do something that they might not get to do every day.

Dot:
Today we went to a summer day camp for kids with mental disabilities. Before we went we planned about what kinds of things we’d be doing with the kids. Our group decided on playing fruit basket, red light green light and statue tag. Today when we got there I was feeling kind of nervous and anxious because I’ve never worked with these kinds of people before. After the first rotation was feeling a lot better about what I was dealing with. We found out that the fruit basket game was hard to grasp and that red light green light was a big hit. Duck duck goose wasn’t on our list of games to play but everyone liked playing it. When we finished up, I felt really good about myself. I also felt like I understood a little more about what those kids were going through. I had a lot of fun.