Camp Shriver

Information and Registration for La Crosse Camp Shriver 2013

The unique experience of Camp Shriver brings together an equal number of children with and without disabilities who engage in the same camp activities alongside one another. In doing so, the camp creates opportunities to promote the social inclusion of children with disabilities and to allow children without disabilities the opportunity to interact with and achieve a greater understanding and appreciation of their peers with disabilities.

Unlike the school setting, where the differences between children with and without disabilities are often accentuated, the Camp Shriver model stresses the importance of recognizing the similarities that exist among all children who participate. Camp Shriver uses sports as a venue for improving not only campers’ sports skills, but also their self esteem, social skills, and confidence in building friendships with peers.

The specific goals are:

• To provide sports, recreational, and enrichment activities for all campers.

• To improve campers’ sports skills as well as their social skills and self esteem.

• To create an atmosphere of understanding and caring so that campers with and without disabilities can develop friendships.

History

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics and the youngest sister of President John F. Kennedy, opened her home in Rockville, Maryland, to a camp for thirty-five individuals with ID in the summer of 1962. Camp Shriver, as it became known, grew into an annual event through the 1960s and served as the forerunner for the Special Olympics movement, which has since grown to reach more than two million athletes worldwide. During the summer of 2006, in celebration of Shriver’s 85th birthday, the Camp Shriver concept was rekindled and nationally implemented in five sites across the United States.

In Wisconsin

In 2009, the La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department piloted a Camp Shriver in Wisconsin through a three-day winter camp and a five-day summer camp. In 2011 Camp Shriver events were held in two communities, La Crosse and Greendale. Special Olympics Wisconsin plans to add a new community Camp Shriver program to the state each year.

For more information, contact

Krysten Kirsch - Director of Youth Initiatives
kkirsch@specialolympicswisconsin.org

10224 N. Port Washington Rd.
Mequon, WI 53092
(262) 241-7786
(800) 924-5202