Field trippin’…in Kentucky
I have never been to Kentucky and was really excited that I got to go this past weekend. I told a girl at my camp this and she smiled, “We don’t really have much in Kentucky! Except for hills and horses.” Well…I thought that was a lot! :) As part of my Hospitalized Child class, I volunteered with my classmates at Camp for Courageous Kids. The camp provides a cost-free, summer camp-like experience every weekend seriously ill and disabled children and their families. We, as counselors, got to spend the weekend with a camper and their family.
Every weekend, the camp has activities that are based on a particular theme. This week was “Spooktacular Week”; we had adorable halloween and fall activities. Staple activities of every weekend include horse riding, swimming in the enormous pool, boating, fishing, archery and playing in the bowling alley. Everything in the camp is able to service any disability and cater to whatever needs the child might have. It was so beautiful to see children experience these activities and not have anyone look twice at them. I loved seeing parents be able to connect with each other and form networks, also, hearing them say how wonderful it was for their children see that there were others like them.
On top of being a counselor, I worked in the kitchen managing the activity for kids to make dirt pudding. About five packets of pudding powder later and a few last minute pots with burned bottoms, evidence of my last minute attempts to make the recipe work, every thing worked out! Kids were settled eating their personally crushed Oreos, smushed in Ziploc bags now dispersed along the countertop, mixed up with chocolate pudding and little sour gummy worms sticking out. Even punch was served. The weekend was a whirlwind of events, including everything from apple float stands to pumpkin bowling. No one was bored! It was a life changing experience. I may have been the one volunteering, but I came away having gained so much knowledge and having built intimate relationships.