Blog

June 8^th, 2020

Summer Program

EAFWR’s Summer Program is made possible with the support, funding and generosity of Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation and the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation.

By Evan Hoffmann, On-Site Director/Coordinator

Summer Program 2019 was definitely one to remember. We had a number of changes take place. We welcomed Ron Trajano as the new Director of Programs, who did a fantastic job in supporting and wanting to learn everything he could about Summer Program. We also bid farewell to Jeff Barber, the longtime Program Manager of the Summer Program and wished all the best to Niki Stevenson, Director of Programs, on her retirement. 

We began our first week going All Around The World, where we had some fluffy and scaly friends visit us from Hands On Exotics, and ended our week touring African Lion Safari, a favourite for both participants and staff.  For week 2, we Got Our Game On by learning traditional Austrialian games from X-Movement,spending time at Kingpin Bowlounge and the Waterloo Recreation Complex.

We Discovered Our Community on week 3, where we floated on a hoverboard from Mad Science, explored the MUSEUM and their engaging exhibits, and cooled down swimming at the Waterloo Recreation Complex. Everyone had their time in the spotlight for week 4’s Hidden Talents, including an amazing Paint Night led by artist Sean Greenberg, magic and talent shows, bowling and watching the new Lion King movie.

 

After a blistering hot summer, we worked up a sweat for Wacky Water Week with our special guest from X Movement and their Dance-X program, and went down every waterslide as many times as we could at Bingemans Big Splash Waterpark. It was a fantastic way to cap off an amazing summer at Day Program. 

With the Day Program at its end, our team took a couple of days to rejuvenate before spending the rest of the week preparing for our two weeks at Overnight Camp. Camp Impeesa has always been praised for its comfortable sleeping arrangements in private rooms, its cozy, cabin feel, and a bunch of fun activities that are only a few minutes hike away!

Our days were filled with nature walks, outdoor and indoor games, and swimming, while our nights were spent around the campfire, watching movies, participating in a trivia contest, and our annual overnight dance, where we danced the night away (with ice cream sundaes in our hands!) We welcomed many new and returning participants to our overnight camp this year, and continued to have our expanded numbers of 15 participants each week. We also welcomed a returning peer vacationer this summer, who did a fantastic job of exemplifying the idea of normalizing living alongside people with disabilities.  

Just as quickly as the summer had begun, it had come to a close. While there were many changes that happened this year, one of the things that never changes is the amount of joy and the huge benefit that this program has for its many participants.

Moving forward, we hope to continue the theme of change, as it is a way for us to constantly improve on an already fantastic program. The feedback that we receive each year from families helps us to make sure that we are always striving to be as accommodating and as excellent as we can be, and this year we were able to collect a lot of great feedback from many of our summer program families.