WWU Recreation Management and leadership students host Camp TEAM for adults with disabilities
On May 4 and 5, students from WWU’s Recreation Management and Leadership cohort partnered with the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department and other organizations to host Camp TEAM, an inclusive day camp for adults with disabilities, at Bellingham’s Bloedel Donovan Park.
The camp was organized by WWU Assistant Professor of Recreation Management and Leadership Kristen Chmielewski as part of Recreation 261: Inclusive Recreation Leadership. As students prepared for Camp TEAM, Chmielewski said she hoped they would learn how to adapt activities to the needs of participants and how to think on their feet to make modifications to activities. Chmielewski wanted her students to learn how to do all these things while focusing on the goal and having fun.
“The fact I get to do this as part of my job is literally a dream come true,” Chmielewski said. “It’s really amazing we get to do this sort of stuff as part of an academic program.”
Chmielewski said since everyone in the recreation program will work with people with disabilities regardless of their future career plans, it is vital to understand how to include people of a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.
“Knowing how to create a welcoming and inclusive environment is vital to being an ethical recreation provider,” Chmielewski said.
The theme of the camp was “Surf’s Up,” based on the movie of the same name. In addition to the tropical decorations scattered around the camp, student leaders embraced the theme as some of them wore chicken or penguin costumes under their Camp TEAM T-shirts.
“Participants get to rotate and do whatever they want,” Chmielewski said at the event. “There’s the power of autonomy and choice that nobody has to do things they don’t want to, because there’s enough to do that everyone will find something they’re interested in.”
As the camp began, campers were matched with “buddies” -- WWU students assigned to guide them through the camp and to make them feel as welcome as possible. A wide variety of activities were available, and campers were free to explore and find what they most wanted to do. After a brief introductory meeting about Camp TEAM and where the activities were, tables were set with strings and colorful beads where campers could make seashell necklaces to take home.
Just outside the door to the meeting room, a white canvas hung under a white tent surrounded by tarps with “Camp TEAM 2023” written in duct tape. Campers were able to throw water balloons filled with paint at the mural and could use large, syringe-like tubes to spray the mural with colorful splotches of red, green, yellow and blue.
Josh Klein of Camano Island, one of the student leaders for the event, said Camp TEAM was a great experience for students and campers alike.
“I had way more fun today than I ever thought I was going to,” Klein said. “It made me realize working with people with disabilities can be really rewarding and something I can see myself doing in the future.”
A walk towards the shoreline also revealed a line of kayaks for campers to use and a volunteer from the Outdoors for All Foundation relaying safety information before directing campers to set sail with their buddy or one of the volunteers in the area.
Annelisa Ayars, one of the student leaders, said the cohort had worked since the beginning of the quarter to organize Camp TEAM.
“I think there was an unsureness about the group coming into it because a lot of us didn’t have experience working with individuals with disabilities before, but this has gone fantastically well,” Ayars said. “Everyone here has been wonderful. All the campers have been funny, amazing people.”
Campers were free to wander around the park as the activities continued, but some decided simply to throw a football with some of the student leaders. After lunch, campers were greeted by a petting zoo of several animals including rabbits, chickens and a goat as part of the Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) program.
ANT’s Director of Development and WWU alumna Jessie Pemble said animals are great at meeting people where they are.
“I love the approach that is strength based, it’s not about fixing people. It’s about providing people with meaningful activity,” Pemble said.
The day continued as campers were able to go kayaking, play frisbee or frisbee golf outside with student leaders, or paint small cardboard surfboards with student leaders. As camp wound down, campers and leaders celebrated with a cup of shaved ice from the Kona Ice truck parked in the front of the building.
One of the campers, Melissa Mashall, said she had an excellent time at Camp TEAM and enjoyed the activities.
“I had a really good time with the animals, surfboard painting and necklace beading,” Marshall said. “I just had fun meeting new people.”
Overall Chmielewski said the event was a success and that she was proud of the students for their hard work and willingness to take on a new challenge.
“I am tremendously proud of all the students, they’ve done such a wonderful job,” Chmielewski said. “I’m so glad we have a program where we can do this.”