The seven-week “Mix It Up” camp, initiated by a local Girl Scout group, came to an end in mid-February with a party at Pump it Up.
The club, held weekly at Kirby’s Mill Elementary School, was intended to allow special needs children to try new things while incorporating teamwork and building social skills. Each week had a different theme including games and puzzles night, science night, obstacle courses, music and movement, arts and crafts, and cooking.
The camp was developed by four girls in Girl Scout Troop 25863 as part of their Silver Award, the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Through their project, officially called “Possibilities for All Abilities”, the girls worked with the Medford Recreation Department to expand program offerings for special needs children.
The project involved planning themes for the camp, gathering supplies, and conducting fund-raising to raise money for necessary supplies and equipment. To raise money, the troop sold soda tab bracelets, held a car wash, and collected donations to reach their $1,400 goal in October.
As part of the project, the troop left behind all of the supplies and equipment they gathered so the township can continue to expand the camp and special needs programs year after year.
The group tracked their weekly progress through a blog. Click here to read how the program went from their perspective.
