HIS-ability Camp
"Sharing God's unlimited ability for campers with physical & mental disabilities"
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2008 Bus Schedule |
Campers:
Once again we have big plans here at Camp Barakel for this special week! The dates are August 12-16, 2008. The Awe family from God's Helping Hands Ministry will be presenting the Gospel through puppets and stories. An optional advanced Bible Study will also be available.
Plus, we'll have lots of great activities. Here's a list of some of the fun things that are being planned:
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Parents or Guardians:
Our staff at Barakel consider it both a rich privilege and serious responsibility to serve our HIS-ability campers. We accept the trust you place in us with a commitment to provide a camping experience that will be both enjoyable and beneficial. Some of the benefits available to the campers are a change of environment, new friends, new experiences, physical involvement and challenge, new insights and skills, spiritual counsel and good memories. We desire to expose each camper to as normal a camping experience as possible within the limits of their individual capabilities.
HIS-ability Camp is available for campers ages 13-55 who are classified by the schools as EMI or upper TMI, along with those who have physical but no mental impairments. All campers need to be able to communicate daily living desires and needs through some verbal or aided communication means. Only a very limited number of campers can be taken with the above classifications who also require assistance on a one-to-one basis in an active camp setting.
Although Camp Barakel offers this unique camping experience only one week each year, we have been doing it for more than forty-five years! The counselor and program staff are carefully selected and trained to provide a positive contribution to each camper. Our counselors are adults and all complete a two-day pre-camp training program (Introduction to the Care and Counseling of People with Disabilities). In addition, the lead counselors in each housing unit have completed a two-week pre-summer camp counselor training program. Campers are housed by age and gender with 6 or 7 campers and 2 or 3 trained adult counselors in each cabin unit. Including all staff, the ratio of campers to staff is about two-to-one.
Utmost care is taken to protect the health of our campers - nurses are on hand at all times. As a licensee of the State of Michigan we are constantly advised of health and safety regulations.
The daily program is a careful mix of outdoor activities, leisure time, group events and exciting opportunities to learn more about God. Our speakers for the week have years of experience in communicating Bible truths in creative, interesting ways.
Even though Camp Barakel is located in northern Michigan, transportation need not be a problem. Our own buses provide service from as far away as southern Michigan. They make stops in Lansing, Flint and Bay City. This extra service (at no additional charge) saves many families hours of driving, and it gives the campers an opportunity to make new friends even before they arrive at camp.
Cost for a camper to attend HIS-ability Camp is $160.
If you discover that your camper will be unable to attend their week of camp, the fee is refundable if we are notified by July 26th. Exceptions will be made for illness or family emergencies.
Camp Barakel is a year-round non-profit, non-denominational Christian camping organization serving roughly 10,000 people each year. Our own property totals 350 acres including all of the frontage on spring-fed Shear Lake. Barakel offers a variety of camp and retreat opportunities throughout the year for youth, adults and families. Feel free to contact us to request information concerning any of our other camp and retreat opportunities.
Camp Barakel does not maintain any discriminatory or segregating policies or practices on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin.