Procter & Gamble/Gillette Sponsorship Expands UMass Boston’s Camp Shriver this Summer
A 5-year, $300,000 sponsorship from Procter & Gamble/Gillette has allowed the University of Massachusetts Boston to expand the length and enrollment of Camp Shriver, an inclusive summer camp that serves schoolchildren with and without intellectual disabilities on campus for four weeks this summer.
During its initial season in 2006, Camp Shriver operated for two weeks, serving 55 children, ages 8-12. This year, enrollment increased to 80 students from Boston, Quincy and Brockton between July 9 and August 3.
"To see Camp Shriver grow to a four-week program and serve even more children is very gratifying and will make a significant difference in the lives of these boys and girls from Boston, Quincy and Brockton,” U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy said. “Expanding the length of the camp as well as increasing the total number of schoolchildren who can attend Camp Shriver takes place because of the continued support from Gillette. I’m pleased that Gillette and Procter & Gamble, who have been dedicated supporters of the Special Olympics program, have worked with us to create great summer opportunities for children in Boston.”
Founded in 1962 when Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver invited 35 boys and girls with intellectual disabilities to her Maryland home, Camp Shriver has since expanded to 15 locations across the U.S., in the Virgin Islands, and in Haiti, offering sports instruction, field trips, and other activities to children both with and without intellectual disabilities.
Chip Bergh, the Boston-based Group President - Global Personal Care, Procter & Gamble, said the company’s support for Camp Shriver was a logical extension of its history of partnership with the Special Olympics.
"Gillette and Procter & Gamble have been longstanding supporters of the Special Olympics and Camp Shriver,” Bergh said. “We are pleased that our sponsorship will extend the length of the camp and increase the total number of schoolchildren who can now attend."
Gary N. Siperstein, Ph.D., director of the Center for Social Development and Education (CSDE), which runs the local edition of the camp, said the financial support allows Camp Shriver to offer an expanded program, while keeping costs to a $25 application fee.
“Camp Shriver at UMass Boston is a very unique summer opportunity, because we serve an equal number of children with and without disabilities in an inclusive setting,” said Siperstein. “All of these children are considered equal-status campers and given the same opportunities to improve their sports skills and make new friends. And for many of these children, both with and without disabilities, this is the first time they have had a chance to participate in a structured summer program.”
The official research center of Special Olympics, the Center for Social Development & Education is a global research leader on attitudes toward people with disabilities. In a just-published study, Siperstein and colleagues conducted the largest ever national random survey of 6,000 middle school students. The researchers found that young people are not willing to interact with a student with intellectual disabilities (ID), particularly out of school, and that less than 10 percent report having a friend with ID, according to the study reported in the summer 2007 issue of Exceptional Children.
An evaluation of last year’s camp conducted by staff from CSDE found that all campers, including children with disabilities, made new friends. In addition, the evaluation showed that campers both with and without disabilities significantly improved their sports skills.
Campers enjoy many amenities at the 12,400-student campus, including the gym, pool, and playing fields. Enrichment activities include teambuilding and protecting the environment, as well as field trips.
Camp Shriver is supported by a staff of nearly 40, led by experienced special educators, and assisted by counselors, including UMass Boston graduate and undergraduate students, teachers from area school districts, and local high school students.
“We are carrying Mrs. Shriver’s vision into the 21st century,” said Siperstein. “Camp Shriver is a model for how we can include children and adults with disabilities into the larger community.”
About the University of Massachusetts Boston
Established in 1964, UMass Boston prides itself on providing challenging teaching, distinguished research, and extensive public service to Boston and the Commonwealth. Through its six colleges and two graduate schools, the university offers undergraduate and graduate study to 12,400 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 150 fields. For more information, please see www.umb.edu.