Miss-Delectable
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WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Summer Camp Reaches Out To Deaf Children
"So y'all ready to go into the kitchen?" a volunteer asked a group of children.
"Yeah!" they shouted with excitement.
"Ready to cook?" he asked the youngsters.
"Yeah!" they responded.
This week, 20 enthusiastic children are carving up dough to make strawberry tarts. They are also using their imagination to create works of art.
"We're going to learn about different artists, like Michelangelo," a volunteer told the children.
At this special summer camp, the official method of communication is American Sign Language.
"Deaf children, they can do the same as hearing children," said Camp D.E.A.F. Director Jamie Olson. "So there's nothing really different from a typical camp. I mean, they're exactly the same. The only thing is I sign when I talk to the children."
The theme this year is "The Renaissance." And the goal is to create a place where deaf children can socialize with others who also live in silence.
"At home, it can be a struggle. You feel like an isolation," said Olson. "This is a place they can come and see that it's pretty normal. There are other families just like them, with the same struggles."
Half of the participants are deaf or hearing-impaired. Twelve-year old Lance Mock has been coming to the camp for the last four years.
"I want to have fun with everybody here," said Lance Olson. "It's exciting to have a bunch of friends to play around, a bunch of art stuff."
Siblings and parents of deaf children are also encouraged to share in the experience.
When asked if he likes having his brother at camp with him, Lance said, "Oh yeah. I love my brother."
It's a loving environment where deaf children don't have to feel like they're different. Besides the daily activities, the children will also go on field trips to the summer fair, water park, and the swamp tour in Slidell.
"So y'all ready to go into the kitchen?" a volunteer asked a group of children.
"Yeah!" they shouted with excitement.
"Ready to cook?" he asked the youngsters.
"Yeah!" they responded.
This week, 20 enthusiastic children are carving up dough to make strawberry tarts. They are also using their imagination to create works of art.
"We're going to learn about different artists, like Michelangelo," a volunteer told the children.
At this special summer camp, the official method of communication is American Sign Language.
"Deaf children, they can do the same as hearing children," said Camp D.E.A.F. Director Jamie Olson. "So there's nothing really different from a typical camp. I mean, they're exactly the same. The only thing is I sign when I talk to the children."
The theme this year is "The Renaissance." And the goal is to create a place where deaf children can socialize with others who also live in silence.
"At home, it can be a struggle. You feel like an isolation," said Olson. "This is a place they can come and see that it's pretty normal. There are other families just like them, with the same struggles."
Half of the participants are deaf or hearing-impaired. Twelve-year old Lance Mock has been coming to the camp for the last four years.
"I want to have fun with everybody here," said Lance Olson. "It's exciting to have a bunch of friends to play around, a bunch of art stuff."
Siblings and parents of deaf children are also encouraged to share in the experience.
When asked if he likes having his brother at camp with him, Lance said, "Oh yeah. I love my brother."
It's a loving environment where deaf children don't have to feel like they're different. Besides the daily activities, the children will also go on field trips to the summer fair, water park, and the swamp tour in Slidell.