"MY PARENTS ARE FORCING me to go on vacation when I want to stay and work!" A response from a teenager? Yes! A junior leader at the Naperville Park District's Day Camp for the Trainable Mentally Handicapped children expressed this feeling, which was typical of all fourteen of the volunteers.

In fact, this tremendous enthusiasm was shared by all concerned from staff to local community groups to residents of neighboring communities. Even the police got into the act when the police officer visited the camp and gave all the boys and girls a ride in his traffic control scooter and returned later with a squad car! The Park District cooperated with a private school for the Retarded-Little Friends-in setting up the goals and outline of the program, reaching the people and finding and training the staff. In order to serve a special population, such as the retarded, an agency must go outside its own boundaries, and that's what Naperville did. Transportation is a major problem in such an operation, but in many cases, children would not be able to attend without transportation being provided.

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation approved a grant of $1,000.00 towards initiating the camp. An Evaluator, Dr. Jack Anderson, visited our camp and made many great suggestions, as well as making a report as to whether or not the Park District be awarded a grant for a second year.

The Park District retained experienced staff, which conducted a six-week program for 23 TMH, profoundly retarded and emotionally disturbed children, between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Children arrived at Centennial Park at 10:00 A.M. just in time for a mid-morning snack, games and crafts. The park facilities adjoined a river, a beach swimming area, ballfield and had its own shelter, and rest-rooms, which proved to be the "summer home" for 23 children. At 11:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M. they swam daily, back to home base for a daily song fest and lunch. Special events, trips, hikes, and bike rides filled the afternoon, and at 2:30 P.M. the children left camp tired and happy. Archery, tumbling, cook-outs, bowling, miniature golf, canoeing—all were part of the program for those who were able. A creative and adventure some staff took the group to Brookfield Zoo, a farm, a circus, and a few of the older boys to a Cubs ball game.

Philosophically, our camp was rather unique. The camp was recreationally orientated, rather than a training experience. The leaders and volunteers were to respond to the childrens' needs, expressed or inherent, rather than to demand performance. Learning was an important goal, but the primary goal was fun-new experiences, social adjustments and adventure.

Volunteer leaders show tremendous enthusiasm as they lead the trainable mentally handicapped in a variety of activities. Its all a part of the Naperville Park Districts Day Camp program.

The children were constantly challenged with different environments — physical, mental, emotional and social. They were not grouped and assigned a staff member all day every day. All staff members were to help all the children every day. All the children knew all the other campers, and all the staff by the end of the program, thus learning to accept and relate to some 40 different new people. The staff-child ratio was nearly one to one, but as a leader involved

Illinios Parks and Recreation 10 November/December, 1971

a child in an activity successfully, he or she would float to another child. This is harder to do because it takes time and effort to get one of these children to relate to you, but the approach is far more beneficial because all the children were exposed to a variety of talents and personalities and no favorites were allowed to develop.

Bicycling for the handicapped is no different than for the normal. Pictured is a volunteer leader assisting with the bicycle instructional program.

Meeting and responding to lots of people, taking trips, doing a variety of different activities constantly challenged the children. By the end of the program, they were able to adjust to change without regression and without fear. This program was extremely beneficial and rewarding to all who participated.

The program could not have come about without the full cooperation of the School District in making available a school bus, the police department for their personal interest, local summer theatre for special performances, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for financial assistance and professional advice, and local businesses and residents who are too numerous to mention for their innumerable kindnesses.

The program also provided recreational leadership experiences for three college girls majoring in recreation at the University of Illinois. This program was not only valuable to the student, but invaluable to the success of the TMH program of the Park District.

Allyson Herzeg is a Recreation Supervisor for the Naperville Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10-11 November/December, 1971