by Alyssa Mcgraw
Urban Mitzvah Corps, Participant
Working at Daisy, a day camp for mentally, emotionally and physically challenged children and adults, has been nothing less than an incredible experience. Over the past two weeks I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the happiest campers and most enthusiastic staff members I’ve ever encountered. The atmosphere at Daisy is one that cannot be replicated. It’s one where campers feel free to express themselves and feel accepted by an understanding staff and fellow campers who can relate to their social struggles.
On certain afternoons, the entire camp participates in a dance party, which typically begins with a performance from one of our most outgoing campers. This camper is severely impaired, but one of his favorite things to do is show us the dances he learned in dance class. Watching this for the first time brought tears to my eyes. To see a child who would typically be excluded in a group of people, or made fun of for his disabilities, feel so comfortable and happy around his peers and counselors was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever experienced.
At camp, these kids feel safe, wanted, and accepted for who they are. Seeing them so happy makes me grateful for organizations like Daisy, which are continually committed to creating experiences for these kids that they can’t find anywhere else. I look forward to my last week working at Daisy, and feel so proud to have been a part of these kids’ lives.
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