Signs of Summer
A Day Camp for Deaf Children
During the Summer of 1996, MPS students and staff held a two-week summer camp. It involved the MPS students interacting with the children on a personal basis using total communication. The camp was a great learning experience for both the MPS students and the children.
During the two weeks, the students and staff chaperoned the children during MANY activities, such as:
 | Swimming at an area Wave Pool |
| Sailing |
| Bowling |
| Doing ceramics |
| Going to Presque Isle, a local beach for swimming and a cook-out |
| Visiting the Carnegie Science Centre in Pittsburgh, PA |
| Going to Camp Notre Dame, an area recreational camp |
| Riding horses |
| Visiting the local zoo |
| Going to Sea World |
Through each activity, the barriers between deaf and hearing were broken down, and friendships grew with each day.
Here are some comments from a few of the students who volunteered at the camp:
'My experience with the deaf children helped me to realise the importance
of deaf culture awareness'.
- Beth Fuhrman '97
'It taught me a lot about deaf culture and it was very fulfilling'.
- Melissa Zambrzycki '99
'It was a unique experience that I'll never forget. It was one of the most
exhausting, but fulfilling, two weeks of my life'.
- Kara Frankhouser '99
'It was incredible. I learned a lot of sign, made some great friends, and
had a ton of fun. The camp greatly influenced what I plan to do with my future. It was two
of the greatest weeks of my life'.
- Sara Rathburn '97
'It was the most influencing two weeks of my life'.
- Micki Henning '98
For more information about the camp, please email us!
