Camp Hapitok is what it sounds like. If you close your eyes , say "Camp Hapitok," and listen to yourself: Camp Happy Talk.
Some of you may know about Camp Hapitok. Some may not. But, for everyone out there who loves kids, camp life, and miracles, you already have a bit of the Hapitok spirit inside of you.
I volunteered at this camp as a teenager, and later returned as a speech therapist. Camp Hapitok was founded in 1970 in San Luis Obispo, CA and serves children with speech/language disorders. Each camper is paired 1:1 with a specially trained teen volunteer (what I did almost 20 years ago) for 4 weeks of summer camp. I loved babysitting and working with kids, so camp was a perfect way for me to spend my summers. During camp, the teen volunteers and campers do everything thing together in a traditional summer camp environment - but the teen volunteer is always focused on their campers speech/language goals. Campers also get 30 minutes of intensive small group speech therapy each day, which is the job I did a few summers ago.
Camp Hapitok runs one 4-week session each summer, and during those 4 weeks most campers meet or exceed their goals. It was so amazing to see how fast campers met annual IEP goals using this model. In four weeks these campers meets a goal that was written for a year. It felt like I was witnessing miracles.
And guess what else? It is completely free for campers to attend. Free room. Free board. Free supervision. Free speech therapy.
Free camp life.
So awesome.
Heading into the 45th year, partnership with their lead sponsor - the County Office of Education - has changed, and Hapitok is in need of YOUR help to #SaveCampHapitok. Camp is a bit short on moo-la to sustain, not only for this summer, but future summers. How short? 55k.
So, on behalf of The Old Indian (Hapitok alumni know that guy), I am asking for help.
Dig deep for some camp spirit. I know all you former campers, parents of campers, camp counselors, and camp directors have camp spirit down in your heart. Down in your heart (remember that song?). Whatever camp you were a part of, that place gave you some spirit. I know it.
Please help to give a whole new crop of campers, counselors, and staff a chance to have what we have.
There is a crowd funding campaign at Indiegogo. If you are willing and able, please go here to help #SaveCampHapitok
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