By Penny Williams
Staff writer
August 20, 2008 01:54 am SANDOWN — There are summer camps for average kids and there are summer camps for special needs kids — and then there's Camp Ucandoit. It's all about inclusion at Camp Ucandoit, the brainchild of Mitch Mencis and his mother, Linda. Last summer, Camp Ucandoit was designed for special needs children, ages 6 to 12, and was specific to that group. This summer, the Mencises decided to include all campers in the same camp. The camp was just one week this summer, a part of the bigger Camp Sandlot. But the Mencises say the pilot program was such a success every week of camp next summer will be modeled after Camp Ucandoit. "It is working very well," Linda Mencis said. "We plan to change the entire Camp Sandlot program to be inclusionary next summer. Each camp week will be open to both typical and special needs campers. We are convinced this provides all campers with the best environment and experience." Nine-year-old Patrick Ford of Chester is convinced, too. "It was nice to interact with other kids who have disabilities and make friends with some of them," Patrick said. "I hope I see them again next summer." Staff member Stephen Winglass, a University of New Hampshire student, said the experience changed his life." "Helping these kids get over those barriers and reach their goals is so worthwhile, and it just makes me smile," Winglass said. "The addition of typical campers has been great. I see both groups interacting, growing and gaining maturity. It is wonderful for the special needs kids to discover they can be friends with the typical kids." Sue Parker's 14-year-old son Robbie danced and smiled every day when he talked about camp — and Winglass. "It was very beneficial for Robbie to be able to interact and connect with the typical campers and to get to do what they did," the Atkinson mother said. " When I would pick Robbie up, the kids would all call out goodbye to him, and it was obvious they had all made a connection with each other." Parker said she thought the experience would make a difference in all of the campers' lives. Robbie, she said, will "absolutely" return next summer. Anthony Napolitano of Sandown said he enjoyed meeting and talking with children who might have needs different than his own. "I learned that they can be cool kids," said Anthony, 9. Staff members Holly Brown and Collette Dubois, a special education teacher and preschool teacher, respectively, said the makeup of the camp population served every camper's needs, expanded their experience and allowed children to serve as role models for other campers. It all seemed to work for 8-year-old Alycia Basdekis of Sandown. "Some kids are different and they need to learn things that you already know," Alycia said. "But Camp Ucandoit is pretty exciting, fun and good." Mitch Mencis said he is happy with the evolving Camp Ucandoit. Having all the camp weeks open to all students next summer will provide more unique opportunities for learning and growing while having fun, he said.
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Photos
Colby Dudal, left, 11, of Atkinson has Patrick Ford, 9, of Chester sign his T-shirt during activities at Camp Ucandoit in Sandown on Friday. For a single weeks this summer the camp has included typical and special needs kids in its program. The experiment worked, and every week next summer will be open to all campers. Staff photo
From left, Michael Meehan, 11, of Sandown and Colin Burke, 6, of Chester decorate foam picture frames during activities at Camp Ucandoit in Sandown on Friday. Staff photo