Summer Service Opportunities

Counselors & Volunteers

With an average of 50-60 campers each year, DASA requires a large number of super-dedicated counselors to adequately meet the needs of each and every individual over the whole week of camp.

DASA recruits students and other individuals from various fields and backgrounds to assist at Camp WeCanDu. Although camp serves as a great opportunity for those headed into therapy and related professions to put their education and knowledge to work in a unique, real-world setting, it offers each and every counselor a life-changing experience – no matter their background.

• Those 18 and older (or high school graduates) are welcome to apply to be a counselor.
• In order to be a counselor, you must be vaccinated, fill out a staff application and attend an interview.
• Counselors who need physical assistance will be required to provide their own assistance and transportation.

Sign up to serve at DASA WeCanDu Camp here.

Camp Rainbow is a local non-profit organization that provides free camping experiences and programs to children and families of children with cancer and blood related diseases who are treated in the St. Louis area (at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Cardinal Glennon and Mercy). We have 7 camping programs and serve over 1,000 campers every year. I wanted to share some information with all of you about potential volunteer opportunities at Camp Rainbow’s Summer Oncology Camp, Day Camp & SIBS Camp (for the Super Important Brothers & Sisters) in 2023. Volunteer applications are open now! If you want to learn more about Camp Rainbow, I encourage you to check out their website www.camprainbow.com.

All new volunteers will also be required to attend a 1-day training prior to camp.

In 2023, we are requiring all our volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID, and will likely be requiring volunteers & campers to have a negative COVID test upon arrival at camp. We are also planning as much programming outdoors as possible and planning everything based upon the most updated guidelines from the American Camping Association, the Children’s Oncology Camping Association & the CDC, in addition to recommendations from our Camp Rainbow medical advisory board.

The mission of the Clubhouse is to be an environment for brain injury survivors to use/develop their skills to be productive through real work, giving back to the community.

Students would come for an hour or two (or however many hours they need) and they would sit and work with our members on different activities. Some of the activities we do are make blankets for the homeless out of t-shirts that we weave together on a loom. We also make dog and cat toys for the humane society. There are games that the members play that are specifically geared towards memory and brain work. We also make cards to send to nursing homes for those who don’t receive mail. They are cards that typically have some type of motivating message in them. There are other activities that we do but everything always has the mission of giving back to the community and/or increasing memory for our members. Activities are done in the morning from 10-12. 12-1 is lunch break.

During the afternoon 1-3 it’s all about education and learning. So, we watch documentaries or TEDTalks that talk about different topics (what is a brain injury, different types of brain injuries, how to manage finances with a brain injury, what are healthy foods to eat and why is it important to eat them, etc.). All of these topics are for the betterment of the members so that they can gain knowledge that will benefit them and their families.

Clubhouse is open M-Th 9am-3pm. Our first hour is social hour where our members practice interacting with others and having a fluid conversation rather than something formal. Some members don’t arrive until 10 so that is when we begin our work-ordered day.

Contact: Jazzlyn Harris, Clubhouse Supervisor, 314-645-7230 x200, or www.bifstl.org

Camp Independence is run through the Carol and Paul Hattfield Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
2023 Summer Camp Independence

DATES: June 12-16, June 19-23, June 26-30, July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28

TIME: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

LOCATION: Webster Groves Recreation Complex, 33 E. Glendale, Webster, MO

CAMPERS: Children and young adults with a primary diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (CP) between the ages of 7-21 years old, functioning at a first-grade level or higher and able to follow directions. Campers must also be able to sit independently or with minimal adaptive support (i.e.-wheelchair).

ACTIVITIES: Camp activities will include adaptive basketball, dance, soccer, martial arts, baseball, swimming, yoga, and more. Participants will receive specialized attention from pediatric therapists in adaptive sports programs designed to challenge campers to increase their activity level, aerobic fitness, strength, and balance in a safe, fun, and rewarding atmosphere. Our program will provide campers the opportunity to experience sports in a whole new dimension. Our goals are to offer a wide variety of adaptive sports options to keep individuals with CP active for life and to help them embrace the concept that health and physical fitness are possible and necessary to maximize INDEPENDENCE.

REGISTRATION: Summer Camp Independence 2023 camper registration will be open from Jan 25-Feb. 27, 2023. Please email or call Mary Eckhard if interested. Mary Eckhard: mary.eckhard@bjc.org or call her at 314-305-2353.
 
Volunteer at Camp Independence
If you would like to volunteer at 2023 Summer Camp Independence, and are over the age of 16, please complete this volunteer application.

If you have questions about volunteering as an individual or as a group please email Julie.Grassi@bjc.org

Practicing the teaching, compassion, and love of Jesus Christ, St. Francis Community Services walks with our vulnerable neighbors to create opportunities, to build resiliency, and to advocate for justice.

Summer Camp: Our fun, enrichment side. Volunteers, and potential employees, would work in teams to ensure our 1st-8th grade campers have a safe, fun, and action-packed summer from mid-June to mid/late-July. We go on field trips, swim at the local YMCA, play games on campus, watch movies, and other fun activities. Hours are ~8:30am-3:30pm, Mon-Fri. If any students are looking for a summer job, we may have employment opportunities during that time.  

Matt Roberts (he/him), Youth Program Manager, 314.773.6100 ex. 119, mroberts@ccstl.org     OR

Esteban Bakx Bermúdez, Legal Assistance – CLAM & Abriendo Puertas Coordinator – Southside Center, (314) 384- 6528, Esteban.bakxbermudez@slu.edu

www.sfcsstl.org

WORTH Industries, Inc. (Work Opportunities Rehabilitating the Handicapped) is located at 4124 North Broadway in St. Louis city, just north of downtown. WORTH employs about 100 individuals with a variety of disabilities. WORTH provides meaningful employment opportunities by providing assembly, recycling, packaging, and manufacturing services to a variety of businesses and organizations.

At camp, Variety Kids are empowered to form new friendships, try new things, grow in self-esteem and explore the world around them with independence and confidence. Each camper is paired with a counselor “buddy” to ensure their needs are met each day.

Summer Camp 2023 will be held in-person from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is sure to be filled with all sorts of exciting adventures for our campers.

Summer Camp 2023 Schedule:

• Week 1: June 5 – 9
• Week 2: June 12 – 16
• Week 3: June 19 – 23
• Week 4: July 10 – 14
• Week 5: July 17 – 21
• Week 6: July 24 – 28

The location of camp will change daily to accommodate different activities and adventures. Each will be located within the St. Louis region.

Campers will be split into groups based on their age, with activities geared towards each age group. These activities may include swimming, ice skating, fishing, playing games, making crafts, music time, visiting area attractions and more – all under the guidance of a caring and enthusiastic staff.

Want to become a Camp Counselor? Paid and volunteer positions are available – learn more and apply today here.

The Moog Center for Deaf Education is an independent, not-for-profit school that provides educational services to children with hearing loss birth to early elementary years and their families. Our goal at the Moog Center is to make it possible for more children with hearing loss to talk and experience success in their lives both in school and in the world at large. At the Moog Center for Deaf Education we teach deaf children to talk. And we teach others how to do it, too. High school volunteers should expect to engage in play with children ranging in age from two to eight in order to enhance the students’ learning of language, academics, and social skills. High school volunteers are typically placed in a Toddler Classroom, a Preschool Classroom, or the Learning Center with our oldest students. 

Serve at Moog Center during days off, half days, extra late start days, or in the summer months.

Contact: Liz Fales

Phone: 314-692-7172   Contact: lfales@moogcenter.org