A five-year, $300,000 sponsorship from Procter & Gamble/Gillette has enabled the University ofMassachusetts Boston to expand the length and enrollment of Camp Shriver, an inclusive summer camp that serves school children 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 60 children, ages 9-12. This year, enrollment has increased to 90 students from Boston, Quincy, and Brockton, and it will operate from July 7 to August 1.
“Camp Shriver serves such an important purpose, so it’s wonderful to be able to expand the camp to reach more children and provide greater programming,” said Chancellor J. Keith Motley. “We look forward to having another fun and successful camp season.”
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 25 locations across the United States, in the Virgin Islands, and in Haiti, offering sports instruction, field trips, and other activities to children both with and without intellectual disabilities.
Camp Shriver Summer 2008 Slideshow
“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 Gary N. Siperstein, Ph.D., director of the Center for Social Development and Education (CSDE), which runs the local camp. “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 CSDE is a global research leader on attitudes toward people with disabilities. In a published study, Siperstein and colleagues conducted the largest national random survey of nearly 6,000 middle school students. The researchers found that young people are not willing to interact with a student with intellectual disabilities, particularly out of school, and that less than 10 percent report having a friend with such disabilities.
An evaluation of last year’s camp conducted by staff from CSDE found that campers both with and without disabilities significantly improved their sports skills. In addition, observations and interviews with campers showed that campers with and without disabilities were equally likely to have made new friends at the camp.
Campers enjoy many amenities of the campus, including the gym, pool, and playing fields. Enrichment activities center on topics including teambuilding and protecting the environment, and there will be field trips as well.
Camp Shriver is supported by a staff of nearly 40, led by experienced special educators, and includes 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.”
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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 app. 13,500 students in more than 150 fields. For more information, please see www.umb.edu.
About the Center for Social Development & Education: CSDE is a multidisciplinary research and training institute whose mission is to promote the social development of children with disabilities and increase their success in school and the community, while simultaneously working to eliminate the attitudinal barriers that limit opportunities for their full participation in society. Unique to CSDE’s mission is the value it places on translating research to practice.