Camp DECKA provides kids a chance to learn life skills and social skills
By: Paul Koepp
A new school district program is making sure that developmentally disabled children in the township can have a fun summer.
Camp DECKA, which stands for Developmentally appropriate Enriching Creative Kid Activities, provides children with special needs a chance to learn life skills and social skills, and to interact with kids in other programs, camp Director Shari Silverman said Monday, as the five kids in the camp romped around the playground equipment at Greenbrook School.
The camp, which began July 2 and ends Friday, was offered for the first time this year and costs $1,642. Ms. Silverman said she has been pleasantly surprised by the spontaneous help offered to her and her two staff members by kids from BASE camp, some of whom worked with special needs kids during the school year.
The 17th annual BASE Camp offers hands-on creative and physical activities for kids and costs $380 for a two-week session.
Some fifth-grade BASE campers, whose program is also at Greenbrook School, were accompanying the DECKA campers Monday, and they said they like helping kids with special needs enjoy their summer.
"I like it because I do this all the time during the year," said Nicole Shultz, 9, who said she made raisin bread and played with special needs kids in a kindergarten class. "I love to help out kids with special needs."
Matthew Cannon, 10, said he liked playing tag in the gym with the DECKA campers, as well as reading them Dr. Seuss books.
Ms. Silverman said that in addition to social interaction, the DECKA camp teaches life skills like cooking and cleaning.
"They make their own lunch every day," she said, including sandwiches and hot lunches like pizza and tacos. "It teaches responsibility and independence."
She also said the camp helps kids with developmental disabilities become more aware of the world around, since "just finding their way through the halls could be a big deal."
Ms. Silverman said the eagerness of the BASE campers to help out has been nice, and she would like to integrate the programs further in future years.
"Every day they make more and more friends," she said. "They’re meeting kids from all over town."
She would also like to include more children in the DECKA camp so it can be broken down by age groups. This year, the campers range from 8 to 14 years old, she said.
The DECKA Camp has a horticulture program, with campers growing their own flowers and vegetables so they can bring home their own garden at the end of the program. The kids also play sports and do arts and crafts like painting and scrapbooking.
They have also gone on field trips, including bowling at Brunswick Carolier Lanes in New Brunswick.

