Sep 4, 2024
Summer Camp for Everyone: Miami’s Special Needs Campers Find a Home at One of Three Miami JCCs
Through unique and inclusive programming, Miami’s three Federation-supported JCCs are making sure that every camper has a chance for summer fun. A variety of special needs programming and inclusive day camp experiences are spread throughout Miami-Dade County, from Alper JCC Miami in south Miami and the Miami Beach JCC to the Michael-Ann Russell JCC in North Miami Beach. Some of the programs are so popular that participants come from as far away as Georgia, and even Canada, to take partake in them. In addition to receiving a yearly allocation through Federation’s Annual Campaign, the three Miami JCCs collaborate with the Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (MJAA), a Federation program that connects individuals with disabilities and their families with local resources, services, support groups, workshops and recreational programs via a user-friendly online gateway and disability specialist.
Approximately 100 differently-abled campers ages three to 30 had a summer to remember at Alper JCC’s Camp J. Of those, nearly half participated in the Tikvah Special Needs Camp. The self-contained program for individuals with severe cognitive disabilities offers personalized hands-on activities in a stimulating environment with the goal of instilling confidence, developing social and life skills, increasing attention span and improving fine and gross motor skills. The remaining campers, who exhibited developmental or physical challenges, participated in the inclusion program at Camp J facilitated by inclusion counselors (with a 3:1 ratio when applicable, or a Registered Behavior Technician).
Camp Klurman at the Miami Beach JCC (MBJCC) is also serving campers with disabilities and their families in Jewish Miami. The inclusion-based model integrates participants into the general camp population, resulting in remarkable relationships. Jenny Mermelszteyn, MBJCC Director of Camping and Children’s & Family Programs recalls one camper who hadn’t participated in an inclusion camp until this summer. “She attended a week of dance camp with her facilitator and really connected with some of the girls,” she said. “Now she is trying a gymnastics class after school, deepening those camp connections.” Mermelszteyn recently had the opportunity to introduce the campers’ parents to one another. “They expressed how important it was for their children to make friends with a diverse group of peers, and how grateful they felt that their kids were able to do this at camp, in a warm and welcoming setting,” she added.
The Michael-Ann Russell JCC (MARJCC) also offers two options for campers with disabilities. The Koach Inclusion Camp enables eligible campers to be mainstreamed into the JCC’s Variety Camp, using a buddy system, or “shadow counselor,” for individualized support. For teen and young adult participants who require either one-on-one or a lower counselor-to-participant ratio, Ometz Special Needs Camp includes adapted sports, sensory-friendly arts and crafts and meaningful Judaic programming. Campers also practice life skills through fun Friday field trips and a weekly bakery experience at Sonny’s Bakery, where they learn to make assorted pastries including cutting and rolling rugelach dough.
Susie Goldberg, Ometz Camp Director and Special Needs Coordinator for After-School Programming at MARJCC, has watched the program grow since being called upon 10 years ago to expand special needs programming at the MARJCC. “The summer is such an incredible high for them,” noted Goldberg. “They’re busy making new friends and seeing new things.” But once camp ends, many of them transition back to a more sedentary and less stimulating lifestyle. “Sadly, there is not always a place for them in society, which is why we don’t stop at summer camp,” added Goldberg. “We take advantage of everything our community has to offer and help spread the word, inviting them to participate in the JCC's Hebraica Maccabi Games, joining collaborative programming in which we are engaged with the local Friendship Circle, enjoy our Yedidut Night Out activities and join in after-school enrichment classes that include cooking, fitness and yoga.”
Alper JCC’s Camp J Special Needs Program nearly doubled in size from last summer. Partnering with community organizations like The Children’s Trust, Friendship Circle has expanded their reach, while working closley with The Behaviorist has enabled them to best serve participants with more profound disabilities, ensuring they get the support needed to thrive. “We work with top-notch, best-in-class organizations to help ensure our programming provides a quality experience to every camper while offering the specialized assistance they need,” said Nicole Miller, Alper’s Senior, Youth and Special Needs Program Director.
Mermelsteyn, too, recognizes that access to MBJCC camp resources, including a group of registered behavioral specialists that can assist campers a few hours a day, means there is almost always a solution for whatever challenge a camper may be facing. Camp Klurman’s strength lies in its flexibility. Catering to a small group of special needs campers, counselors can remove participants from activities that may be overstimulating and provide an alternative option, “even if that means they are with a younger group,” said Mermelszteyn.
While many may assume that inclusive programming is always the best option for individuals with special needs, one size does not fit all, which is why every family’s journey at Alper begins with an intake. “It provides an accurate depiction of the child along with their goals and intentions for the summer,” explained Miller. “And it reminds us that each camper has a different set of needs. Just because they are physically present, doesn’t mean they are included. Inclusion means receiving the right amount of support, and it’s our job to ensure that accessibility and accountability.”
For more information on MJAA and how to access community resources, click here or contact Disability Specialist Nancy Zaretsky [email protected] at 786.866.8657.
