Shutaf

August 28, 2008 - 2:14 PM by

I’m a proud sister today; I just visited Shutaf, the inclusion keytana (daycamp) that my sister Beth, and her friend, Miriam, created for kids with special needs and their typically-developing peers. Held at the Ein Yael Open Museum, a great outdoor space that combines archaeology, ancient crafts, theater, music and dance — as well as some goats and horses — the kids have been attending camp for the last three weeks, doing the typical daycamp activities, from swimming and water gun fights to baking pita and feeding the goat.

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Like many programs of this kind, Shutaf was created because both Miriam and Beth have special needs kids; Miriam’s 12-year-old daughter, Adina, and Beth’s son, my 11-year-old nephew, Akiva. They were both frustrated with the lack of appropriate programming for their kids during the various vacations, and got Shutaf off the ground a year ago, adding week-long Shutaf programs during the Chanukah and Pesach vacations.

Now it’s a fact on the ground, albeit requiring a lot of organization, fundraising and planning. But they’re doing it, and they’re doing it well. They have teen volunteers as well as vocational training for young adults with special needs; they have a dedicated staff of twentysomethings who also undergo training session to work at Shutaf.

We sent my 11-year-old stepdaughter to the Pesach camp and many friends are sending their kids to Shutaf as well. Not just because they want to support Beth and Miriam’s efforts, but because it’s a great camp, and one in which special needs and typically-developing kids hang out together, without really thinking about it. What’s great is that it works.

Tags: , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Life 

Comments

2 Comments on Shutaf

  1. aliyah06 on Fri, Aug 29th 2008 7:22 AM

    2. It is truly a great camp! My boy just spent his three weeks there as a counselor-in-training and it was a remarkable experience for him! I bless Mirian and Beth for their work in putting together this camp–my son’s life would be a poorer place without their efforts.

  2. Robin on Fri, Aug 29th 2008 4:37 PM

    3. Now it’s a fact on the ground, albeit requiring a lot of organization, fundraising and planning. But they’re doing it, and they’re doing it well. They have teen volunteers as well as vocational training for young adults with special needs; they have a dedicated staff of twentysomethings who also undergo training session to work at Shutaf.

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