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For students, camping offers s’more to love - BostonHerald.com
He may have trouble hearing, but Dwayne Ellis has no problem sensing the beauty of nature and the great outdoors.
“Camping is fun because I like the outdoors, and the forest and nature are pretty,” said Dwayne, 13, a student at the Walden School, a Framingham center for the deaf.
One of the nation’s few comprehensive schools for deaf children, the Walden School serves students between 8 and 21 who have severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disabilities.
One of the most therapeutic activities the students have is a wilderness adventure program that teaches not only teamwork but self-reliance, trust and the benefits of communing with the natural world. It is funded by a grant of $5,000 from REI, the camping conglomerate.
“I definitely see a change in attitudes when we do these trips,” said Loren Wehman, an instructor at the school. “Getting away from Walden School and sharing this experience helps the kids relax and put aside the many challenges they face day to day.”
Camping usually includes campsite setup, hiking, swimming, biking, group meetings, fishing and storytelling. Students discuss their experiences as the trips progress.
“Many of the kids at Walden School have suffered through a lot. . . . It is sometimes painful to work with children you care about and watch them face so many challenges,” said Christopher Furzland, a supervisor with the program.
Though many students find it hard to adjust to life outdoors, Furzland said they walk away from the experience with new skills to combat life’s challenges.
“From these excursions, in addition to the actual skills involved with camping, the kids learn to be team players and work together,” he said. “It’s great watching them help and support each other.”
Students say they have learned to apply their knowledge of the outdoors to their own lives.
“Because I have the experience of working outdoors, I’ve learned to be more responsible and think things through carefully,” said Dalvin Hoffman, a 17-year-old Walden student. “I’ve learned to enjoy myself, have fun and relax.”
Dalvin said one memorable accomplishment was learning how to make the perfect s’more.
“I like to toast my marshmallows nice and dark, black. I add the chocolate, the cracker and gulp it right up,” he said. “I believe I ate close to 27 on our last camping trip. But I wish it was more.”
Travis Mitchell, 19, another student, said: “The best part is waking up in the morning in the middle of the forest and the view is so beautiful. It was very quiet and peaceful. I enjoyed myself so much.”
Angel, a 19-year-old ward of the state and a fan of biking on the trips, said he has developed a reputation for grinning. “I had a smile on my face the whole time I was camping,” he said. “Everyone would say, ‘There goes Angel smiling and happy because he is camping.’ I like that feeling.”
He may have trouble hearing, but Dwayne Ellis has no problem sensing the beauty of nature and the great outdoors.
“Camping is fun because I like the outdoors, and the forest and nature are pretty,” said Dwayne, 13, a student at the Walden School, a Framingham center for the deaf.
One of the nation’s few comprehensive schools for deaf children, the Walden School serves students between 8 and 21 who have severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disabilities.
One of the most therapeutic activities the students have is a wilderness adventure program that teaches not only teamwork but self-reliance, trust and the benefits of communing with the natural world. It is funded by a grant of $5,000 from REI, the camping conglomerate.
“I definitely see a change in attitudes when we do these trips,” said Loren Wehman, an instructor at the school. “Getting away from Walden School and sharing this experience helps the kids relax and put aside the many challenges they face day to day.”
Camping usually includes campsite setup, hiking, swimming, biking, group meetings, fishing and storytelling. Students discuss their experiences as the trips progress.
“Many of the kids at Walden School have suffered through a lot. . . . It is sometimes painful to work with children you care about and watch them face so many challenges,” said Christopher Furzland, a supervisor with the program.
Though many students find it hard to adjust to life outdoors, Furzland said they walk away from the experience with new skills to combat life’s challenges.
“From these excursions, in addition to the actual skills involved with camping, the kids learn to be team players and work together,” he said. “It’s great watching them help and support each other.”
Students say they have learned to apply their knowledge of the outdoors to their own lives.
“Because I have the experience of working outdoors, I’ve learned to be more responsible and think things through carefully,” said Dalvin Hoffman, a 17-year-old Walden student. “I’ve learned to enjoy myself, have fun and relax.”
Dalvin said one memorable accomplishment was learning how to make the perfect s’more.
“I like to toast my marshmallows nice and dark, black. I add the chocolate, the cracker and gulp it right up,” he said. “I believe I ate close to 27 on our last camping trip. But I wish it was more.”
Travis Mitchell, 19, another student, said: “The best part is waking up in the morning in the middle of the forest and the view is so beautiful. It was very quiet and peaceful. I enjoyed myself so much.”
Angel, a 19-year-old ward of the state and a fan of biking on the trips, said he has developed a reputation for grinning. “I had a smile on my face the whole time I was camping,” he said. “Everyone would say, ‘There goes Angel smiling and happy because he is camping.’ I like that feeling.”