Elks Camp Grassick completes season

Elks Camp Grassick has completed its season at its facilities five miles south of Dawson, N.D. Nearly 115 children and 75 adults with various disabilities and special needs benefited from the therapy programs and special services offered at the camp during the summer.

Camp Grassick, the North Dakota Elks summer camp, is operated each summer in the service of children and adults who are physically or mentally challenged or have other special needs. Around 35 children ages 7-17 attended a two-week camping session in early June and benefited from speech and language services, occupational therapy activities and social activities with their peers.

The second session at the camp this year was operated in cooperation with the Anne Carlsen Center out of Jamestown. Twenty- five students attended and worked with adaptive technology in order to communicate better with their peers. The campers also participated in art classes, music, recreation and all the fun activities associated with a summer camping experience. Many of the campers needed individual care.

A three-week therapy camp for students ages 7-15 was the third session held at the camp this year. The students benefited from the therapy programs offered during the first session and attended on a one-to-one basis rather than in small groups. The students also worked on skills to become more independent in their daily activities and practiced appropriate interaction with their peers in a safe, supportive environment. Craft activities, supervised recreation and swimming instruction were offered at the different sessions.

The fourth session at Camp Grassick this year was a one-week “Transition Camp” for older adolescents. During the week, the students attending participated in various classes and workshops in order to give them information and guidance with issues they will encounter when transitioning or graduating from high school and possibly moving on to first time jobs or independent living situations. Around 20 students attended this session in late July.

Two sessions were held for adults with special needs. A one-week recreational camp for adults with various disabilities was conducted in early August, followed by a one-week summer session for the visually impaired and blind hosted for the North Dakota Association of the Blind.

Elks Camp Grassick serves children and adults with various disabilities and special needs. Approximately 40 staff members are employed to offer therapy services and conduct the different sessions. The staff also encourages the campers to become as independent as possible in their activities of daily living and help the campers practice and use appropriate social skills with their peers.

For more information about the camp, its programs, or applications, contact: Dan Mimnaugh, Elks Camp Grassick, P.O. Box F, Dawson, N.D. 58428-0005 or call (701) 327-4251. Email: grasbek@bektel.com

Tags: community, clubs