Friday, August 7, 2015
Last day
Parents, your campers had so much fun on their wheels, and did a GREAT job in the arts showcase. We miss your campers already and feel this week went by really fast! Staff and stellar parents packed up camp in record time and went above and beyond today. Have a great and relaxing weekend, everyone, and we hope to see you all again next year!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Paws for Tales today!
Are you ready for Paws for Tales? Meet Annie and Sara! Campers can read to and brush the two dogs after lunch today. :) Bring your favorite book!
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Magical Bridge Playground
With the drought, we weren't able to visit the water play area at Mitchell Park, so we went to the Magical Bridge Playground instead. We had a blast!
Monday, June 1, 2015
Seeking a Camp Director for Week 2!
Seeking Camp Director for Sun Camp, an inclusive day camp for children with Down syndrome
Sun Camp is in our 3rd year as a summer day camp for children with Down syndrome and their siblings from grades K-6. We’re looking for a skilled, enthusiastic director for the second week of this two-week camp in Palo Alto, which runs from 9am-2pm. The focus will be on building friendships through fun activities, especially, this year, music, art and performance.
The director should have specific, direct experience with children with Down syndrome, and be skilled and passionate about helping children build long-term friendships. The director should feel comfortable supervising fun and social activities inside, and especially outside the classroom at our great location in Mitchell Park. Most of the curriculum and activities will be developed this year by our first week’s director, but we welcome additional input and ideas. Knowledge of different learning styles, alternate modes of communication, and facilitating transitions between activities will be especially valuable.
The director can expect support from an assistant director who’s been with Sun Camp since its pilot year, and counselors who will support and lead kids in a ratio of about 1:2. The director will be expected to supervise and mentor the staff, which will also include a few volunteers. Camp will feature a few visitors and guest teachers—past visitors have included a Captain from the Fire Department, therapy dogs and their handlers from Paws for Tales, music therapists, a Taekwondo teacher and self-advocate, and Animal Assisted Happiness.
Please include your resume (including 2 references with contact info) and cover letter. If you have unique skills that you think would contribute to your success as a camp director, please tell us about them!
Compensation for the dates below will be a flat fee of $1250.
Training day: July 25; Aug 3-7, 8:30am-2:30pm, extra 2 hours on Aug 7 for takedown (2:30-4:30pm); we strongly recommend spending some time observing the first week in action.
Hiring will be contingent on a clear background check.
Sun Camp is in our 3rd year as a summer day camp for children with Down syndrome and their siblings from grades K-6. We’re looking for a skilled, enthusiastic director for the second week of this two-week camp in Palo Alto, which runs from 9am-2pm. The focus will be on building friendships through fun activities, especially, this year, music, art and performance.
The director should have specific, direct experience with children with Down syndrome, and be skilled and passionate about helping children build long-term friendships. The director should feel comfortable supervising fun and social activities inside, and especially outside the classroom at our great location in Mitchell Park. Most of the curriculum and activities will be developed this year by our first week’s director, but we welcome additional input and ideas. Knowledge of different learning styles, alternate modes of communication, and facilitating transitions between activities will be especially valuable.
The director can expect support from an assistant director who’s been with Sun Camp since its pilot year, and counselors who will support and lead kids in a ratio of about 1:2. The director will be expected to supervise and mentor the staff, which will also include a few volunteers. Camp will feature a few visitors and guest teachers—past visitors have included a Captain from the Fire Department, therapy dogs and their handlers from Paws for Tales, music therapists, a Taekwondo teacher and self-advocate, and Animal Assisted Happiness.
Please include your resume (including 2 references with contact info) and cover letter. If you have unique skills that you think would contribute to your success as a camp director, please tell us about them!
Compensation for the dates below will be a flat fee of $1250.
Training day: July 25; Aug 3-7, 8:30am-2:30pm, extra 2 hours on Aug 7 for takedown (2:30-4:30pm); we strongly recommend spending some time observing the first week in action.
Hiring will be contingent on a clear background check.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Apply as a Camp Counselor
We're looking for some great new counselors!
Job Description: Camp Counselor for Sun Camp, July 25-August 7
We're seeking skilled and enthusiastic counselors for Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network's inclusive summer day camp for children with Down syndrome and their siblings, now in its third year. Our aim at Sun Camp is to facilitate long-term friendships, increase interest and skills in art, music, and performance, and provide a fun summer day camp experience for children that gives some respite to parents.
Counselors will lead one or two children at this small, fun, and active day camp in Palo Alto. They will facilitate friendships, participate in group recreational activities, guide campers through art, music, and performance instruction, maintain communication logs between camp and parents, and be responsible for their campers' safety. We expect counselors to have significant experience with children with special needs, and caring for children in a camp, class, or other group environment. They should be well-versed in transitioning children from one activity to the next.
We value backgrounds in speech, occupational, or physical therapy, child development, elementary education, special education, and a knowledge of ASL or AAC devices. Inclusion aides and aides in special day classes will have especially pertinent experience. A background in music, performance, or art and special talents that can be shared in group activities are also pluses. About a third of Sun Campers are siblings to children with Down syndrome.
Camp will be from 9am-2pm, and counselors will work from 8:30am-2:30pm Monday through Friday. There will be a required Saturday training and camp set-up on July 25th, from 8:30am-2:30pm, and counselors will also be required to stay until 4:30pm on Friday, August 7th to strike camp. First-time counselors will be paid $1020 for 11 days' work ($15/hr). Staff alumni will be paid more, based on their direct experience with Sun Camp.
Please send a cover letter detailing why you would be a good fit for our camp, as well as a resume including two references with contact information, to Rachel Matta for the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network, at rachelmmatta@gmail.com. Hiring will be contingent on a clear background check.
Qualifications:
2 years of experience with children with special needs
High school degree
The ability and willingness to run after children, and personal care, including assistance with toileting, is required. Counselors should be able to lift an elementary-aged child.
Job Description: Camp Counselor for Sun Camp, July 25-August 7
We're seeking skilled and enthusiastic counselors for Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network's inclusive summer day camp for children with Down syndrome and their siblings, now in its third year. Our aim at Sun Camp is to facilitate long-term friendships, increase interest and skills in art, music, and performance, and provide a fun summer day camp experience for children that gives some respite to parents.
Counselors will lead one or two children at this small, fun, and active day camp in Palo Alto. They will facilitate friendships, participate in group recreational activities, guide campers through art, music, and performance instruction, maintain communication logs between camp and parents, and be responsible for their campers' safety. We expect counselors to have significant experience with children with special needs, and caring for children in a camp, class, or other group environment. They should be well-versed in transitioning children from one activity to the next.
We value backgrounds in speech, occupational, or physical therapy, child development, elementary education, special education, and a knowledge of ASL or AAC devices. Inclusion aides and aides in special day classes will have especially pertinent experience. A background in music, performance, or art and special talents that can be shared in group activities are also pluses. About a third of Sun Campers are siblings to children with Down syndrome.
Camp will be from 9am-2pm, and counselors will work from 8:30am-2:30pm Monday through Friday. There will be a required Saturday training and camp set-up on July 25th, from 8:30am-2:30pm, and counselors will also be required to stay until 4:30pm on Friday, August 7th to strike camp. First-time counselors will be paid $1020 for 11 days' work ($15/hr). Staff alumni will be paid more, based on their direct experience with Sun Camp.
Please send a cover letter detailing why you would be a good fit for our camp, as well as a resume including two references with contact information, to Rachel Matta for the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network, at rachelmmatta@gmail.com. Hiring will be contingent on a clear background check.
Qualifications:
2 years of experience with children with special needs
High school degree
The ability and willingness to run after children, and personal care, including assistance with toileting, is required. Counselors should be able to lift an elementary-aged child.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Sun Camp 2015 Description and Registration
Sun Camp
…growing
up together
An inclusive day camp for children with Down syndrome and their
brothers and sisters
Silicon Valley Down
Syndrome Network sponsors a summer day camp, now in its third year, for
children with Down syndrome and their siblings entering grades K-6. This will
be a two-week program from July 27-August 7 at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto,
based at the Mitchell Park Field House. It will run from 9am-2pm.
The focus will be on
building friendships through fun activities and building interest and skills in
art, music, and performance. The rest of the time will be spent in fun and
social activities inside, and especially outside the classroom in Mitchell
Park. We will continue to do many of the popular fitness activities from last
year. Families are welcome to visit our art gallery before seeing a short talent
show each Friday!
Counselors will
support and lead kids in a ratio of 1:2, with a few 1:1s available. Our on-site
director of the last 2 years, Karie Philips, intends to return this year.
Cost will be $325 per
week per child. SVDSN subsidizes the cost of camp, in particular the cost of
having more staff, to keep camp affordable and safe for our kids.
Please register your child(ren) online at:
http://form.jotform.us/form/40706319460148 for Sun
Camp Week 2
and send the $75/wk
per child deposit (SVDSN c/o VMCF) to Emi Mason by Friday, April 24th (Address
on online form). A hard copy form is also available. Camp has filled all spots
with a waitlist for two years running, so we advise signing up sooner if you
are certain you want to register your child.
Registrations will be
counted as having been received when the deposits are received. If you cannot
afford the deposit and want to register your child, I will connect you with Marcy
Mamiya about a possible scholarship.
Please contact Rachel
Matta (rachelmmatta@gmail.com or 650-321-1257) if
you have questions. (Se habla español.) We’re looking forward to camp!
Friday, January 16, 2015
Possible dates, times, and location for 2015 Sun Camp
Right now we're thinking July 27-August 7, Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm for camp
this year, at the same location as last year, the Mitchell Park Field
House in Palo Alto, at 600 East Meadow Drive. Comments or suggestions?
Email rachelmmatta@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Planning for 2015 Sun Camp
 |
| Sun Camper |
We've learned that we'll need to raise an additional $2,500 to make this year's budget in addition to the very generous funding of the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network, as well as camper fees. Do you have ideas for fundraising? Feel free to leave a comment.
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