Summer remains a busy time across UNMC. This week, UNMC Today will highlight some of the many happenings during summer break.
When you walk through the south entrance to the Munroe-Meyer Institute, one thing is for certain — it is summer camp season. The voices of more than 250 participants — and those of the 68 staff members and 136 volunteers who commit their summer to supporting campers — can be heard cheering, singing and offering encouragement during activities such as games, cooking, art, music and creative arts, sports and, of course, swimming.
Thanks to the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation giving the Munroe-Meyer Institute a summer expansion grant, we have extended our Camp Munroe season from six weeks to seven weeks. Additionally, we were able to bring back our much beloved Theater Camp program to provide eight weeks of opportunities for our families and participants.
Our team spends nearly six months in preparation and exhibits the utmost dedication and care. Prep work includes talking to new and returning families, gathering required medical forms, hiring staff, recruiting volunteers, training, planning activities and entertainment and other behind-the-scenes tasks to ensure a safe, successful, engaging and fun summer for all.
I always tell others how grateful I am to work alongside such a committed team, that we get to make a difference in our families’ lives and provide a place where our campers feel like they belong.
The laughter, camaraderie, kindness, compassion and friendships that are formed make this weeklong camp experience simply amazing. The halls are filled with a buzz of activity each morning as the groups excitedly discuss buddy lists for the day and families line up for check in. For our team, staff and volunteers, Camp Munroe is truly more than a job. It is seeing people flourish and grow in their skill sets. It is a community that is all about acceptance, inclusion and helping everyone reach their dreams, and it is just the best place in the world to be.
Nicole Giron is the director of recreational therapy at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. Her column appeared in the July edition of MMI Monthly.
Camp Munroe is a wonderful thing for kids with disabilities in and around Omaha! The volunteers are amazing kids that don’t get enough shout out, and the staff is wonderful! My son recently within the last few years started attending and its his favorite part of summer. Thank you so much for the work that goes into this experience!
Great to see this today!
Great program. Congratulations on all that is provided.-cdf