Parks and Recreation Department Receives Grant for Summer Camp Inclusion Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2010

For more information contact
[Amy Shrake|mailto:shrakea@bloomington.in.gov], Inclusive Recreation Coordinator, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3747

Kristy Barnes, National Inclusion Project, (919) 314-5540

Bloomington, IN - The National Inclusion Project has partnered with the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department for the third year to allow children with disabilities to fully participate in Kid City camp this summer. The partnership includes training, consulting, networking, and an award of $8,000.

The National Inclusion Project provides services and financial assistance to promote the full integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without. The Parks and Recreation Department's Kid City summer camps are fully inclusive, serving children with and without disabilities.

"Bloomington Parks and Recreation is committed to an inclusive approach to recreation," said Amy Shrake, Inclusive Recreation Coordinator and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for the Department. "We help make it possible for campers with and without disabilities to have successful experiences in the same summer camp program by providing individualized inclusion plans." Shrake said the grant funds will be used to hire camp counselors specifically to provide one-on-one support for campers with disabilities.

The National Inclusion Project has been actively developing its "Let's ALL Play-Inclusion in Recreational Programs" campaign since 2004. Today the Project supports over 35 recreational programs across the country.

"Providing this grant to the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is another exciting step toward the National Inclusion Project's goal of full inclusion," said Jerry Aiken, Executie Director ofthe Project. "We feel that partnering with Bloomington parks and Recreation will help us further our mission to open doors in communities nationwide for children with disabilities to experience everything life has to offer."

Registration is currently open for [Kid City summer camps|Kid City], which serve children in kindergarten through 10th grade. For more information about Kid City summer camps or other Parks and Recreation summer camp programs, [visit the summer camp Web site|4735] or call (812) 349-3700.

To learn more about the National Inclusion Project or ways to get involved, [visit their Web site.|http://www.inclusionproject.org/]

###