“No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.” – Mahatma Gandhi. Let’s work together to make sure all children get the camp experience they deserve.

Inclusion for our campers with disabilities is one of the biggest topics in all of camping. Our annual episodes are some of our most popular ones, so we’re going to keep the content going!

Today, we’re joined by two camp professionals in the trenches, and look forward to their insight and best practices! This is the Day Camp Pod!

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YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District

  With special guests,

• Mia Ross, Manager of Inclusion at NISRA

• Lydia Gartner, Camp Director - Timber Pointe Outdoor Center

Get To Know Our Guests:

Lydia Gartner is the Camp Director at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, which is part of Easterseals Central Illinois. With over 10 years of experience in the medical and disability camp space, Lydia was a Special Education teacher prior to accepting a year-round camp position. She is passionate about creating camp environments and communities where individuals of all abilities are included, empowered, and shown unconditional regard. You can reach Lydia at LGartner@eastersealsci.com

Mia Ross, CTRS, Manager of Inclusion at Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association is driven by working closely with thirteen member districts to ensure participants with disabilities are successful within community programming. Ross actively conducts staff trainings, assessments, observations, site visits, and oversees NISRA’s internship program year-round. Ross has also formulated and implemented a mentorship program and Behavior Team within the agency for full-time staff. Throughout her career, Ross passionately researched and implemented training sessions on Inclusion Services, Ability Awareness, Active Treatment, Behavior Management, and Universal Design sessions. Ross’s involvement and leadership roles within Illinois Park and Recreation Association are past Inclusion Committee Chair and Co-Chair, past Pro-Connect Member, a current member of the Staffing and Supervision and Inclusion Committee, has presented at the 2021 Soaring Heights Conference, and Director-Elect for the Therapeutic Section Board. You can reach Mia at mross@nisra.org

Bonus Links:

Inclusion Resources & Tools - (PDF Download)

Inclusion Assessment Form NISRA - (PDF Download)

Inclusion Services Request - Fillable - (PDF Download)

Behaviour Plan - Blank - (Word .docx Download)

Big thanks to Lydia and Mia for these fantastic resources!

Sponsors:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AMSkier - https://amskier.com/

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) -  https://crs4rec.com/

  • CRS - Lightning Detection - https://crs4rec.com/product/lightning-detection/

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If you’ve gotten even one good thing from the Day Camp Pod, we would be so grateful if you left us a review and subscribed to this show in your favourite Podcast app.

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Thanks, Camp Pro!