The Low Country Down Syndrome Society is hosting its annual Camp Buddy summer camp in Effingham County. This educational and therapeutic camp starts June 23 and ends June 27 at Rincon Elementary School.
Effingham Camp Buddy is for children of all ages with Down syndrome. For children ages 3 and over, Effingham Camp Buddy runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Friday. For children under 3, the camp runs from 8:15-8:45 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Special education, occupational, physical and speech therapists have designed a customized curriculum to help children retain information they learned during the previous school year.
“Every year we see children improve their skills exponentially. This makes us extremely happy for the children and their parents,” said Savannah Camp Buddy director Pam Hussey.
The goal of Camp Buddy is to promote retention of information by offering programs to prepare children for the upcoming school year.
This year’s camp activities include music, dance, arts and crafts, as well as bike, trike and scooter board riding. After camp, each camper is sent home with an individualized therapy plan and a medal.
Chef Nick Mueller (Chef Nick Mueller & Company Catering) will provide hands-on food preparation activities for the campers and Armstrong physical therapy students are volunteering their time and skills for Camp Buddy.
“The therapists, camp counselors and volunteers work as a team to create a wonderful environment for the kids,” said Molly Marchese, mother of a child with Down syndrome and a Camp Buddy organizer, “helping them exercise their motor, speech and social skills, improve confidence, and have a lot of fun too.”
Camp Buddy is sponsored by the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society and is made possible through the generosity of the community, friends and family of LDSS and events like the Buddy Walk and Night of Champions.
Camp Buddy is $30 per child. This cost includes therapy sessions, entertainment and food.
For more information about Effingham Camp Buddy, contact Molly Marchese at (912) 213-9127 or Pam Hussey at (912) 220-6429 or visit www.ldssga.org.
2014 Camp Buddy
• Who: Low Country Down Syndrome Society
• What: Effingham Camp Buddy
• When: June 23-27 (Monday-Friday); 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for children over 3 and 8:15-8:45 a.m. (Tuesday-Thursday) for children under 3
• Where: Rincon Elementary School
• The goal of Camp Buddy is to promote retention of information by offering programs to prepare children for the upcoming school year.
