City Parks Department Receives Grant for Summer Camp Inclusion Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009

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

Kristy Barnes, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, (919) 314-5540

Bloomington, IN - The Bubel/Aiken Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department to allow children with developmental disabilities to fully participate in Kid City camp this summer.

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation 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 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 Bubel/Aiken Foundation has been actively developing its "Let's ALL Play-Inclusion in Recreational Programs" campaign since 2004. Today the Foundation 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 TBAF's goal of full inclusion," said Jerry Aiken, Executive Director of the Foundation. "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 for [Kid City Summer Camps|541], which service children in kindergarten through tenth grade, is currently open. For more information about Kid City summer camps or other Parks and Recreation summer camp programs, or the Department's [Inclusive Recreation Services,|Inclusive Recreation] call (812) 349-3700.

[Visit the Bubel/Aiken Foundation Web page for more about about the Foundation, or ways to get involved.|www.bubelaiken.org]

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