July 18, 2024
Clovernook Center once again expanded the Summer Camp Series for 2024 with new offerings and celebrity visits. In June, we hosted Socialization and Leisure Camp at the Procter Center, followed by Clovernook Camp Abilities Ohio, our popular sleepaway camp, at Miami University’s Oxford campus.
Socialization and Leisure Respite Camp offers a multi-sensory experience for children with visual impairments and additional disabilities. This structured camp experience provides one-on-one support for campers. Throughout the week, campers enjoyed arts and crafts activities, music, games, and watching movies with friends.
Now in its second year, Clovernook Camp Abilities Ohio sleepaway camp at Miami University hosted 24 campers in mid-June. This year’s camp included visits from Paralympians Anthony Ferraro (Judo and Skateboarding) and Mindy Cook (2020 Tokyo Paralympic Goalball Silver Medalist), as well as Eli Banish, 15, who is an international motorcycle road racer. All three guests inspired campers as they helped lead programs specific to their respective sports. Ferraro, also an accomplished guitarist, shared his love of music during the week. Campers enjoyed goalball, tennis, biking, swimming, rock climbing, ice skating, hockey, cooking, art, and hanging out with friends, culminating with a talent show Thursday evening. The week concluded with a celebratory pizza party as families arrived to pick up campers.
“This was an incredible experience that I will remember for a long time,” said Banish. “I’ve met amazing people and I’m grateful I was able to help kids have an experience riding bikes that they may not have had otherwise.”
“Clovernook Camp Abilities Ohio brings together campers from all over the region to learn about new sports and activities,” said Kelly Lusk, director of program services. “Campers work on their self-advocacy skills and become more independent. From living in the dorm all week and eating at a dining hall, to working to solve a real-world issue they are facing in their everyday lives, campers leave with increased skills in so many areas, along with a huge boost in their confidence and self-image.”
The Summer Camp Series continued in July with Clovernook Center hosting day camps in the areas of Orientation and Mobility, Intro to Musical Theatre and Arts & Culture. All youth programming at Clovernook Center aims to help children build confidence and independence so they can work to achieve their dreams.
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