By Callie Stezar | Director
Dear Friends of Take2,
Since we communicated last, we were in the midst of a wonderful camp season. Now, with another summer behind us, I’d like to take a moment to report on the success of our first summer of Take2 Middle School Camp.
This pilot curriculum, which was brought to life by a generous grant from the Reckson Foundation, surpassed our expectations. Even more exciting was the impact the camp had on our campers. The first two weeks of camp focused on flexibility and listening/communication. The final two weeks of camp emphasized code-switching (changing behavior based on your surroundings) and self-advocacy, two essential skills for maturing adolescents. Throughout the course of the program, campers used videos from their previous excursion to assess their progress and create new goals. They got a chance to see themselves successfully advocating for correct change, asking a tourist at the zoo to take a group picture of them and problem-solving together when a plan went awry.
For the middle schoolers, learning to work together as a group was a central goal. While it was sometimes challenging, the campers were always supportive of each other. One camper whose expected item wasn’t on the menu at Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC received support from all of his fellow campers to come up with a solution to feel better and get a little of what he wanted. What a victory!
We consider your contributions to Take2 a victory as well, as they help us continue foster these wonderful moments. Wednesday, October 15th is the final Bonus Day of the year through Global Giving. All donations made will be matched 30%. Donate early to get matching funds before they run out!
Recently, several families have contacted me, asking about the 2015 summer availability. Crazy? We don’t think so. We’re thinking about the 2015 summer too. In fact, we’re always thinking about Take2—but never without first acknowledging that our donors have afforded us, and the children who attend, the opportunity to count on Take2 year after year.
Warmly,
Callie Stezar
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