********************************************** Thanks for passing this on to whomever you feel might be interested.
TO: All Persons Interested in Considering Participation in L.E.A.F, an arts and nature Day Camp for adults with developmental disabilities - as campers or volunteers From: Patricia Haines, Level Green Institute, and Susan Franklin, Director, L.E.A.F RE: INVITATION and Introduction to L.E.A.F (Learning.Exploring.Arts.Fun) Susan Franklin brought her vision for an Arts & Nature Day Camp for adults with disabilities to Level Green (an Ithaca-based non-profit fostering sustainable community through the arts), in 2011. Thanks to 'seed' support from the Tompkins County Community Foundation, we are now pleased to invite you, your friends, clients and family members to join us in trying out Susan's vision for a FREE fun-filled week – July 29ththrough August 2 nd – at Robert Treman Park's handicap-accessible Lower Pavilion. Building on Susan's 20+ years of experience with a residential camp serving a similar population in Western New York, a team of volunteers from FLIC, Level Green and the arts and nature study communities has put together an exciting range of open-choice activities for the week. Facilitated by an all-volunteer staff, participants can choose to walk in the woods, swim, paint banners and murals, draw, take photographs, experiment with arts and crafts, sing, have their faces painted or paint someone else's, make musical instruments, dance, try out circus yoga and tai chi, make collages and wind chimes from woodland materials, listen to music – or simply lie on the their backs and watch the clouds. JOIN US? We are particularly looking for a core group of twelve persons with developmental disabilities, age 18 and over - and volunteers who would enjoy being part of the learning. We want campers who can tell us what they would most like to do, and then help us evaluate what worked and what didn't, what they liked and what they didn't like. This group will have an important voice in designing possibilities for building on the 2013 experience for future years. We would also welcome volunteer assistants, care-givers and family members who would like to share the week, offering an activity or simply being part of the L.E.A.F community. Children with parents, and service animals, are also welcome. A FEW BASICS ABOUT L.E.A.F Camp will begin on Monday, July 29th at 1 pm (we can't set up the Pavilion until 9 am). We will provide entrance vouchers as needed; if help with transportation is required, please so indicate on the Application Form, which we'll be glad to send you.. Tuesday-Friday hours will be 10 am – 4 pm. We will provide healthy snacks and lunch each day. On Friday there will be a party at 4 pm, designed by all campers and volunteers, with an art exhibit, magic by the Cayuga Wizards, a Stone Soup Supper, a solar-baked cake (weather permitting!), and whatever else the campers want to offer friends, family and whomever else they wish to invite. APPLICATION PROCESS We would be glad to send you an application form on request. The form is extensive, requiring information on medical, behavioral, interests and other needs, as well as requisite permissions. The form is an adaptation of that used by Caring Love (now Duffield) camp in Western New York, which inspired Susan's vision for what might be possible here in Ithaca. It also incorporates requirements from the NYS Camping Association. A Registered Nurse (Kathleen Harrington, from New Roots School) will be on hand at all times. Authorization for her to issue medications is required and may be found on the Application Form. If you have any questions or would like assistance, please let us know. This is an experiment. We look forward to learning a lot – and we would love to have your feedback. For now, we are glad to answer any questions you may have, and would enjoy your suggestions, information about other opportunities for adults with disabilities, and especially your presence. If you can't join us for the week, feel free to come for a morning or a day. But especially – let us know if you can join us for the Friday 4 pm party and hear first hand what the week was like, what it has meant, to everyone there. Patricia Haines <[email protected]> (607) 339-9472 Susan Franklin <[email protected]> (716) 698-2459 For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom Shelley, at [email protected].
