The Best Week
If you ask people where the most magical place on Earth is, they will most likely say Disney World. I disagree. The most magical place is an 85 acre plot off the back bay of Biloxi, Mississippi called Camp Wilkes. More specifically Coastal Civitan Camp, a four day/three night summer camp for children with special needs.
When you step onto the grounds, chances are you will still be confused about why over 100 people (over half are high school age) choose to take a week off of work or out of their already short summer vacation here. There's no internet, the mess hall isn't air conditioned, the bathrooms are communal, and sometimes the floor is more comfortable than the beds. But the real magic doesn't happen until the campers arrive.
Quite frankly, I don't know who is more excited: the camper, counselor, or some of the families. For the campers, this week will be one they will reminisce about until the memories are replaced with the next year's camp. For the campers, this is the week that all their unique qualities are accepted and valued. This is the week that no hate or judgement exists in our little snowglobe we call camp. This week is full of boating and fishing on a gorgeous lake, super fun water slides and activities, creative arts and crafts, and all the snowballs you can eat.This is the week they form never-ending friendships. This week is a normal summer camp. This week is inclusion.
For the counselors, this is the week where we get to step into the lives of people with special needs. This week is exhausting even for the most experienced staffers, but even through the fights, fits and sleepless nights, we all still come back because when you hear a squeal of excitement from a camper because it's pool time, or you finally get a hug after days of your camper wanting to be with anyone but you. This week when we feel like jumping up and down because you understood exactly what your non-verbal camper was trying to say. This week you are willing to get stabbed by a catfish whisker, risking infection, because there is nothing more beautiful than the joy on the campers face. This week builds a life-long connection with your camper where you get to learn every like, dislike, allergy, diagnosis, quirk, and anything else that makes that person special. This week anything is possible. If a camper wants to do an activity, we will find a way to adapt it to make it possible.This week, a stroller is not stopping a camper from being able to experience the rush of going down a water slide. This week also gives us a bonding experience unlike any other from helping each other change diapers to calming meltdowns or even just being an extra hand. This week gives us a second family.
For the families, this week gives them a moment to breath. This week gives them time to clean the toy covered house, to wash the clothes with unrecognizable stains, to not have to cook mac-n-cheese with every meal, or to simply sit and have a glass of wine without having to worry about the struggle to get their child to bed that night. This week could also be a quite stressful waiting game especially if this is the first time sending the camper to camp since the majority of special needs children rarely stay away from home for one night, let alone three nights. This week gives the families a break from the constant routine and responsibility. But at the end of this week the families get to witness the amazing people who truly care about their children and carry that relationship on year after year.
For me, a nineteen year old girl with a sister who has a severe disability, this week gives me hope. Hope for the future generations to see how vital inclusion is. Hope for everyone to be accepted for who they are. Hope that all buildings will be handicap accessible. Hope that these counselors will recognize that they have a calling for working with special needs and they will build a career out of that talent, so there will be better education, social programs, and living facilities. Hope that the love and acceptance that everyone experiences at camp will be spread out into the world. Hope that together we can make this world a more loving, happier, and magical place.
