Brief moments that change our lives

Lauren Rice, a freshman at The Kinkaid School, volunteered at a camp for kids with special needs and their siblings.

I believe that many of us can appreciate brief moments that change our lives. Have you ever had an experience that changed your life? This summer, I did. In July, I spent a week volunteering at Camp Buckaroo at St. John the Divine Church. This camp is sponsored by Easter Seals, and it’s for kids with disabilities and their brothers and sisters. They get to spend days in a camp setting, and their parents and caregivers get some personal time.

At this camp, the children get to experience what most all kids would love to do at any day camp. There are arts and crafts, animal rides, dog shows, drama demonstrations, magic shows, aquarium presentations, dance classes, gym play and more. Because many of the children need constant care or help, they are matched up one to one with volunteer counselors.

Spending a week with children with all types of struggles taught me so much about people. On the first day, I wasn’t sure how I would talk and guide children with cerebral palsy, autism or Down syndrome for an entire week and enable them to have a good time. Yet, within a few hours, I discovered everybody just wanted to have fun. I was paired with a loving, energetic boy named Ben, who has Down syndrome. It was so rewarding to watch Ben transition from not wanting to leave his mom to not wanting to leave Camp Buckaroo.

Camp Buckaroo taught me how quickly some children, despite hardships and struggles, can have so much love, kindness, humor and individualism within them. They just want to have fun like you and me. Possibly, their approach is different, but the end result is the same. One of the many great things about Camp Buckaroo is that everyone learns something different from the experience. I hope that everyone will get the chance to have a life-changing experience that makes them appreciate people differently, special needs or not. Maybe you’d like to volunteer for Camp Buckaroo. It’s life-altering.

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