Camp gives kids chance to interact with nature

By KEVIN HOWELL
ROGERS— The Columbiana County Educational Service Center (CCESC) sponsored its annual two-day Outdoor Education Program Thursday and Friday for its students with special needs.

Held at Camp Frederick, a private church camp on state Route 154 a few miles east of Rogers, the program provides the students with an opportunity to interact with nature in an outdoor setting, something most of the students do not normally get in their routine lives, according to program coordinator Susan Wenderoth.

“The whole nature center is a totally different environment that they don’t usually get to experience,” she said “We get them out here and hopefully create lasting memories”.

According to Wenderoth, the program basically moves the classroom outside, with teachers preparing their regular lessons and therapists working with the teachers to provide consistency in learning.

Although focusing on the students’ normal lessons, therapists offered traditional camp activities such as campfire singing, and all county personnel — teachers, nurses, teaching assistants, interpreters, attendants and county office staff — joined together to make the program a success, Wenderoth said.

In addition to county personnel, community members also volunteered for the program. Members of the Beaver Creek State Park’s Wildlife Educational Center provided a hands-on presentation for the students, utilizing mounted scavenger animals, such as a turkey vulture, a skunk and an opossum, as well as live turtles and snakes.

“We offer a little bit about Ohio wildlife in a hands-on atmosphere,” instructor Jim Kerr said, “I just hope they can better understand about wildlife and hopefully build an appreciation for it.”

As an instructor, Kerr said he enjoys working with the special needs students.

“It feels good to get involved and volunteer,” he said. “And these kids tend to be the most attentive to what we are saying.”

Started in 1986 as a master’s project, the program has sustained throughout the years through the cooperation of all the county school districts, Wenderoth said.

At the end of the day Friday, the staff honored all seniors graduating from school programs, a ceremony which has become a tradition at the camp.

With a staff of 75 to 80 people, the program served approximately 140 students from throughout the county this year, according to Wenderoth, allowing for interaction between students from different schools.

Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net