Good News Friday!

Even though it is only the middle of April, the folks in Imagine!’s Out & About department are already planning for their Summer Camp Program for school aged kids with developmental disabilities.

Starting June 7th, Out & About’s Summer Camp will be offering ten weeks of full day services, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, and is available to children ages 7 - 21.

Activities include fishing, equine assisted opportunities, art exploration, swimming, sports and games, gardening, as well as lots of scheduled field trips to local venues such as Water World, Elitch Gardens, and The Wildlife Experience. Out & About’s goal for their Summer Camp Program, and for all their programs, is to provide a sense of acceptance and self among peers, to enhance participants’ quality of life through the development of socialization skills and coordination skills, and to promote community integration.

The promotion of community integration is a cornerstone of Out & About’s philosophy, a philosophy that mirrors Imagine!’s mission. 91% of Out & About’s services are offered in the community and do not involve a base-site or segregated setting. Out & About management and staff members firmly believe that the best way to find and cultivate a sense of community is to actively participate in the community as much as possible, and that the community affords the best opportunities for learning and success. Take a look at what the Out & About website says about community integration:

Being community inclusive presents us with exciting opportunities. Providing community based services enables our participants to be included and welcomed in society, as well as enriching surrounding communities by encouraging tolerance and acceptance of all. However, being community inclusive does not occur without challenges. There are, of course, times when not everything goes as planned, and we adapt and adjust. Out & About embraces these teachable moments as they may arise in an authentic environment. Learning how to adjust to transitions and the unexpected are valuable life skills that can be taught through the community.

I couldn’t agree more, and I’m looking forward to another successful Out & About Summer Camp this year. To everyone at Out & About, thanks for all you do and keep up the good work!