Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is
brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on NewsRadio KMAN.
Welcome back to the GMCFCommunity Hour here on NewsRadio
KMAN.
And one of the greatorganizations in our community
(00:21):
that has a fascinating start isthe Flint Hills Summer Fun Camp.
The camp director is SarahBennett.
This camp got started today andshe's already got some
youngsters in the background.
So in case you're wondering whothose kid-like voices are, it's
not Sarah's, but Sarah.
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Well, let's talk a
bit about what the Flint Hills
Summer Fun Camp is.
Tell us how you got started andwhat all you do.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
So Flint Hills Summer
Fun Camp started back in 2010.
There was a group of moms whohad children with special needs
autism specifically that wantedtheir kids to be able to
experience camp-like activitiesduring the summer just like
everybody else.
The difference is, when youhave a child who has special
needs, they also need additionalsupport and not all of the
(01:14):
camps in our area can providethat or allow outside services
to come in to support those kids.
So we've grown over the yearsWe've added teachers, we've
added paras, we've added othervolunteers.
This year we have an ABAprovider services at Astra who
(01:35):
is working with us as well toensure that the kids who want
and need the opportunities areable to come and experience
those opportunities.
So we serve kids age fivethrough high school and we take
kids with and without needs.
We're just open to everybody.
Everybody should have anopportunity to come and enjoy
(01:55):
summer activities.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And what you know.
A lot of people may notunderstand what a wide array of
challenges that some of yourcampers have when they walk in
the door because you've got alot of kids that come in to live
a fun week or so, whatever thecase may be, and you know, it's
very impactful on them.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
That is correct, and
sometimes challenges or
disabilities are visual.
So we do have some children whohave, like, motor movement
impairments and they may needbraces or they may need crutches
or they may need canes oradditional supports.
We have kids here who havevisual challenges.
(02:38):
We have kids here who havehearing impairments.
We have students who have thosetypes of disabilities that you
may not see.
So anxiety disorders, traumaticbrain injuries, depression in
children, ADHD those types ofthings you don't see on them but
they impact them tremendously.
(02:59):
And having a camp withproviders, with support
personnel and staff thatunderstand you know you might
need a break when somebody elsedoesn't need a break, or you
might need something presented alittle bit different so that
you can understand what it isyou're supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What is involved with
the organization itself and
obviously, as camp director,there's some staffing that's
involved, but a lot ofvolunteers, and so let's visit a
little bit about the peoplethat make this happen.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation
is one of the people that helpmake this happen as a support
for us and helping us by lettingus have this radio spot and
getting the news out.
High Tech Interiors is anothersupport in the community.
We have a fundraiser tonight atRaising Cane's that will help
(03:52):
get the word out and we'replanning on having some others
within the community.
But, you know, people with thelibrary, with Parks and Rec, the
transportation department,through the school district,
they help us, you know, move allthese with Parks and Rec, the
Transportation Department,through the school district,
they help us, you know, move allthese experiences within the
community.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
How about staffing
and volunteers?
What does that makeup look like?
Having a little bit oftechnical difficulty here with
Sarah Bennett.
She is joining us here onbehalf today of the Flint Hills
(04:33):
Summer Fun Camp and talking alittle bit.
There we are.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, I've lost you
for about 30, 40 seconds or so
there, Sarah.
Oh no, I apologize.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
That's all right.
That's all right.
The question that I asked.
Yeah, the question that I askedwas you know what is the makeup
of the people that make thecamp run?
You know, in terms of staff andvolunteers?
Speaker 2 (04:58):
So we've got a
director, we've got a financial
provider that helps us with that.
We got somebody that helps uswith like media, the social
media page, getting the websiteupdated and helping us with the
Facebook page, and then thecertified teachers and paras
that work with us.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
So this is.
I think you told me beforehand,before we got on the air, that
today's day one of the camp.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Today is day one,
that is correct, and we have
three groups running.
We have nearly all of our kidswho had registered have come,
and that's you know.
That's always something thathappens.
Sometimes parents will registerfor camp and then something
changes, or maybe a child is outill and so they're not here yet
.
But we do have room and we willcontinue to take kids.
(05:48):
If you'd like to register forour camp, if you don't have
something else going on and youwant to come check us out, today
is day one.
We are located at MarletteElementary School and so you can
come by and you can talk to us,or you can meet us at Raising
Cane's tonight for a fundraiser.
We'll be there from three to 10.
And some of our staff will bein and out.
(06:10):
I can't guarantee somebody willbe there all the way until 10
o'clock, but we'll definitely bethere for a good chunk of that
time and you could kind of meetus.
If you have questions aboutwhat's involved in camp or how
to get involved with us, you canalways reach out to us there.
You can always email us.
Check out our websiteflintandhillsummerfundcampcom.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
All right, Sarah.
How long does the camp last?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Six weeks.
We are here until July 11th andwe are here from 8 to 4.
There will be no camp on July4th for the holiday.
Marlette is a feed site, so ifkids come at eight o'clock in
the morning they can havebreakfast here before camp
begins.
They can have lunch here and wehave some parents that will
(06:56):
send a snack for the afternoonand we just we keep the kids
busy.
We partner with the BeachMuseum.
They're here this morning doingvisual training strategies for
our kids.
We partner with the library wewill see them next week and we
just have.
We have a lot of fun thingsgoing.
You know drama.
We've got some Lego therapygoing on this year, so it should
(07:18):
be a lot of fun.
You can always check out ourFacebook page.
Over the next few days We'llget some pictures posted so you
can see what we're all about.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I know that there's
one organization in particular
that you've worked with that ismaking an event happen, and I
think this is going to be anexciting opportunity for your
campers, and that includes amovie that and what do you call
it?
A sensory movie.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
It was a sensory
movie.
So the Pilot Club of Manhattanwas very generous with a
donation to camp for ouractivities this year and with
part of the money that theyprovided we have rented a
theater on the 18th to take theentire camp to a sensory movie.
(08:05):
We will have the whole theaterto ourselves, so they will leave
some of the lights on and theywill turn some of the sounds
down so that it's more sensoryfriendly for all of our campers
to be able to enjoy a movie justlike anybody else could do.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Do they get popcorn?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
They can get popcorn,
they can get a drink, they
could do candy, they could getlots of things.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
See, those are the
sensory things that are
important to me.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
It's a movie without
popcorn.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
It's not a movie if
it doesn't have popcorn.
I mean, you can't go to a ballgame, a football, a baseball
game without having a hot dog orsome peanuts.
It's just.
That's just the way it isPopcorn and movie.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
You can't come to
camp without having fun.
So if you'd like to have somefun, you're welcome to come and
join us.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, now I
understand that you have a
number of community events andyou yeah, now I understand that
you have a number of communityevents and you talked about the
pilot club, raising the moneyfor the sensory movie.
Shout out to them, and I knowthat there are a lot of other
organizations that help out, butthere are events that you have
in the rest of the year to helpsupport your camp.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yes, so we always do
take donations.
We have fundraisers that wewill put out through our website
or through our Facebook pagewhere community members can
connect with us or parents canconnect with us, because we
cannot do this without communitysupport.
We have been truly very luckyto be connected with the
(09:36):
community and have Camp Run foras long as it has and to grow to
this level, and we just hopethat we can continue to do that
and meet the needs of thechildren in the area.
We do not only serve Manhattanstudents.
We have students from threedifferent school districts here
this summer.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Now you are a part of
the 100 groups that also
benefit from Grow Green MatchDay here through the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
What does that mean to theFlint Hills Summer Fun Camp?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
We will be oh you
will be.
Yeah, we kind of missed out onthat opportunity to participate
this year, but we are workingtowards that and that will mean
that we will have that financialsupport and backing to offer
scholarships to kids, to helppay for the support providers
(10:33):
that come in and work with thekids, to continue to provide
community activities that aredesperately needed for these
kids to be able to go out and dothe things that they would not
normally be able to do and sothat the community knows that
we're here and we're.
You know we're doing this,we're doing this together.
We all need each other'ssupport.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Bennett is the camp
director for Flint Hills Summer
Fun Camp and Sarah, I know thatalmost anybody that is involved
in a nonprofit entity, such asthe camp or any of the others
that we have here in thecommunity, there's a personal
tie that brought to thatindividual into that particular
entity.
What's your backstory ongetting involved in the Flint
(11:19):
Hills Summer Fun Camp?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
So this is year 13
for me.
I came as an ABA provider tosupport a child who had never
been able to go to any kind ofother camp opportunity and the
director here at the time saidyes.
And the director here at thetime said, yes, let's try this.
And we did it.
And so for about three years Icame as an ABA provider
(11:47):
supporting the kids at camp, andthen I moved into a para
position.
I was at that point a parathrough the school district and
so being a para for camp justseemed to fit.
And then, when I got my teachingdegree, I teach during the
(12:07):
school year special education,and so I teach special education
during the summer at camp.
And two years ago theopportunity opened up.
The then current directorneeded to step down and so I
stepped up, and this is is wheremy heart is.
I only want to continue towatch this grow and thrive.
We we're looking at potentially40 44 kids this summer that
(12:32):
will be able to serve, and Iwould just love to see that
number continue to grow, youknow.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Well, we wish you'd
continued success in your
efforts here, as you bring abunch of happiness, a lot of fun
and joy to not only the kidsbut to their families as well.
And I know that you know whenthe Flint Hills Summer Fun Camp
started with Kristen Brightongosh that seems like such a long
(13:00):
time ago and how that impactedher son and her family.
I know that that is somethingthat was truly special for them
and all the others that havegone through the program since.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
We just want to
continue to do the good work
that was started and make surethat we're able to reach all of
those who can benefit.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Sarah Bennett is her
name.
She's the camp director ofFlint Hills Summer Fun Camp.
That is the website,flinthillssummerfuncampcom If
you'd like to find out moreinformation.
Yes, you can still get ayoungster that's in your life
involved and give them anopportunity to have a lot of fun
and make it a meaningful summerfor for everybody involved.
(13:44):
Sarah, thanks for joining usagain.
Continued good wishes to you.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Thank you, you have a
good day.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I'm planning on.
I'm having a great day becauseI get to do the GMCF community
Raising canes for dinner tonight.
Oh, thank you for that finalplug.
Let's do that again.
That's from three to 10,correct, Sarah?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yes, yes, yes, and
camp shirts this year are bright
orange, so you won't miss us.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Okay, raising Cane's
is the place to be.
Good last minute plug.
Way to jump in there.
High fives through Zoom Vern isback in the studio.
We're going to talk about somethings that are happening in the
community, and there is a lotof them, because, you know, here
during the summertime, justthings seem to pop up.
They just seem to pop up.
The GMCF Community Hour is backin just a couple of moments.
Once again, you can always findout more about the Community
(14:34):
Foundation's work at mcfksorg.
Back in a moment.