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Friendship Circle's Camp For Special Needs Kids

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Contributed by: Diane Rumbaugh on 12/13/2007

If the popular notion is that teenagers nowadays tend to be self-absorbed and narcissistic, an organization called the Friendship Circle is disproving this perception many times over. The latest debunking comes in the form of a "Winter Camp" program in which more than a hundred specially-trained teens from the West San Fernando and Conejo Valleys will be devoting five full days of their winter break to providing companionship and a good time to children with special needs, ages six through 12.

Beginning on Sunday, December 23, and continuing on through Friday, December 28, the Winter Camp for special children will include field trips as well as a host of creative and recreational activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts and music. The program will be based out of the Milken Jewish Community Campus in West Hills (22622 Vanowen St.) from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. While directed and coordinated by a staff of teachers and professionals, the vitality of the entire camp experience will be driven by the teenage volunteers. After all, these particular teenagers are no strangers to the children on whose behalf they joyfully give of their free time and energy throughout the year.

Winter Camp is one of ten or so programs featured by the Friendship Circle, a non-profit organization founded in April of 2003 under the auspices of Chabad of the Conejo as an innovative resource for children with special needs and their families. These children face any number of emotional or physical challenges - as for example, autism, ADD or Down's syndrome - which prevent them from typical interaction with peers. Another FC program is "Friends at Home" in which duos of teenage volunteers are paired with a designated "special friend" with whom they visit on a weekly basis for an hour of fun and games. The Friendship Circle also features a full schedule of group activities, special events and support groups - all structured around the goal of bringing the joys of friendship into circumstances otherwise fraught with loneliness, disillusionment and despair.

Parents of the special needs children also praise the relief, respite and support the Friendship Circle's programs provide the rest of the family as they struggle to cope with an almost constantly taxing and distressing situation. The most telling observation that has been made by parent and professional alike is that what the teenage volunteers - with their youthful enthusiasm and caring spirits - have been able to provide these children, socially, is unlike anything they have been able receive elsewhere, therapeutically.

As for the teenagers, they will invariably comment that as much as they may be giving, it doesn't measure up to what they feel they are receiving from the time they spend with these children: The sense of unconditional love that comes from a deep soulful bond between two human beings. In fact, very few teens who volunteer for the Friendship Circle remain unchanged by the experience. It is said to build character and engender a sense of communal responsibility.

The Winter Camp is a setting in which the bond becomes that much more animated and pronounced. In an environment permeated completely with laughter, music and invigorating spirit - on busses, in swimming pools and at Southern California attractions - the volunteers have yet another dimension through which to connect with these special children.

While a blast for the kids, the camp is by no means a picnic for the teens. As per their training, chaperoning and attending to these kids requires a constant investment of patience and attention. FC organizers are proud of the fact that their office was inundated by calls from recruits on the volunteer roster who were willing to forego their own time off to make this investment. They point out that there will be a ratio of about 1.5 teens for every camper participating in the program.

"With so many negative stories reflecting the dark and selfish side of our youth flooding the media these days, this is a beautiful phenomenon worthy of recognizing and appreciating during this holiday season," says Friendship Circle Director, Eli Laber. "Some of these teenagers passed on very tempting ski trips so as to put a smile on the face of a special friend. This is special. This is friendship. This is the promise of our future."

Co-coordinator Rochel Laber underscored the value of the teenagers' contribution and sacrifice by pointing out that the Friendship Circle's Winter Camp is an important response to a terrible void children with special needs otherwise feel during school vacation. "These children tend to be dependent upon highly structured environments. When the schools they attend is suddenly let out for two weeks, it can throw them. This program provides them with a splendid synthesis of structure, fun and friendship. As a matter of fact, as we saw last year, these kids are probably enjoying their best days of the year right here and now. And at the same time, their families are getting a much needed respite and a chance to regroup in preparation for the resumption of the school after New Years."

The children, their families and the teenage volunteers; all will benefit in their own special - and deeply memorable - way from the Friendship Circle's Winter Camp experience of 2007. For more information about the Friendship Circle, call 818-865-2233.

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Diane Rumbaugh

Thousand Oaks , CA

Diane Rumbaugh has posted 364 stories and 0 comments since joining on 2/25/2006. Diane Rumbaugh 's average story rating is 3.76.

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