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JCC camp program teaches developmentally disabled teens life skills.
by Alex Zaslo\s-
Top: Jon Rein-
heimer, 16, gets
real to practice
some job skills at
the JCC,
Front row: Erin
Finn, 1.7: Mallory
Stoddard, 15: Blake
Jackson, 16: Jon
Reinheimer, 16
Back row; Tyler
Davis, 16: Dylan
Yates, 16: and Jay
Hodes, 15.
hile washing windows last week. campers at the
Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield
were cracking- jokes and having fun. Washing
windows might seem like an odd task for campers. But
this is a very special camp. The JCC created it for teens
\s-ith developmental disabilities so they can enjoy summer
while also learning how to do simple skills.
The camp. now in its fourth Year. was developed by the
JCC's Pau-onik and Kirk Jude Goddard of Southfield-
based 5 -S.
It is designed for teens with developmental disabilities
entering 10th and lith grades.
The camp came about because no program existed in
the community for teens in this age group. "Their parents
work and the teens are not ready to be left home alone
vet,' Patronik said. It is a two-year program, and most of
the campers stay in it for both Years.
Currently. seven teenagers are in the program. The
campers work on gaining responsibility and indepen-
dence." said Laura Nardon. special needs program coordi-
nator. who is a recreational therapist.
She oversees the JCC campers on Tuesdays and Wednes-
days. when the campers work at the fitness center. senior
center and executive office. The campers do things such as
wash windows. vacuuming and light chores. JVS volunteers
help them work on their tasks.
On Mondays and Fridays. the teens do fun activities such
as going to the zoo. water parks. The Henn - Ford museum
complex in Dearborn. Detroit Tigers games and the Den-oit
Science Center.
On Thursdays. they go on field trips to learn commu-
nity-living, skills. For instance. they make shopping lists
and then buy groceries. They also learn how to make their
own lunch. They go to a salon to get their hair cut and
learn the proper way to order food at a restaurant.
They start each morning by walking around the track.
which helps them get ready for the day. On these walks.
they talk about the importance of health and fitness.
In late July. they will spend two nights at Tamarack
Camps in Ortonville. which helps teach the campers re-
sponsibility.
The kids have so much fun there because for most of
them it is their first time being away from their parents, -
Patronik said.
The campers ride horseback. perform activities on the
waterfront and work on arts and crafts. We try and make
teen teen July 16 • 2009 Bi