Special Friends Add to Summer Fun

by Marci Seither

 I pulled my car into Camp Alta’s gravel parking lot and slipped a whistle over my red lifeguard shirt.

    “She is here!” shouted one of 68 campers as several familiar faces made their way toward me. This was one of my favorite weeks of summer.

   “Hey...hey.. swim lady are we going to the pool today?” asked Jimmy.

“Did you bring your bathing suit?” I asked him.

“Yes, but I’m not going swimming today. Too cold.  Are you bringing your puppy tomorrow?” Jimmy leaned forward with anticipation.

  “Yes I am.”

  “O.K.”   He turned his tall frame around and walked back to where a group of campers were playing a game of basketball.

   “I missed you!” another camper exclaimed. She wrapped her arms around me. “You are my best-est friend ever.”

  “I missed all of you.” My honest response was reminiscent of when I taught pre-school, only these are not children, these are adults and all of them have special needs.

               Most of the campers work at Pride Industries in Auburn, Roseville or Sacramento. Others are enrolled in adult education classes. Several meet for “Special ministries” every Sunday.

This year marked the twenty-second year that “Special Ministries” met at Camp Alta with Eleanor Bailey of Auburn, as the driving force behind the program. Bailey, whose child was born with disabilities, knows how important it is to give special needs adults the chance to experience summer camp. 

      The volunteer staff of registered nurses, counselors and helpers make each year a success. I have had the honor of being the camp lifeguard for the past six years.

     The first year I helped out I took pictures of every one who came to the pool. 

    “Here Mitch,” I said as I handed him the picture we had taken together. He looked at the photo then handed it back to me.

  “No, it’s yours to keep.” I told him.

  “No thanks,” he replied. “You take it…that way you won’t forget me.”

   I was speechless. How often we miss the simple gift of friendship these “special” campers so freely give.

     Another camper that loved coming to the pool was a girl named Julie.

   “I have Down’s.” Julie told me one day.

  “What does that mean?” I asked her.

     “I have three brothers. I was born last because I was sick. I’m .. different.” she shrugged her small shoulders.

“Oh,” I replied. “so having Down’s Syndrome makes us different from each other. But we are both people, so let’s think of ways we are alike.” Her eyes looked into mine and danced with delight.

“We both like being with our friends,” I told her. “We both love our families.” A smile spread across her face.

  “And we both like coming to camp and swimming!” I said.

Julie laughed.

     “So,” I continued. “Having Down’s may make us different in a few ways, but we are really alike in a lot of ways.”

   “Yes, we are.” She replied and gave me a hug before heading off to her next activity.

 When camp comes to an end Eleanor always thanks me for helping out. The campers say their good byes and tell me that they will miss me.

   “You’ll be here next year?” asked Jimmy as I got ready to leave.

     “Absolutely,” I tell him as I shake his outstretched hand. “It’s my favorite week of the whole summer.”

    “Mine too.” He smiles.

      Sometimes people pass through our lives. Sometimes they linger in our hearts. I can’t help but think of how many friendships I would have missed if I had not opened my life to include people who are “special” in the truest sense of the word.