THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 31, 1995 TAG: 9507310033
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
It took Romanda Billups all of a nanosecond to list what she'd been doing this summer.
``Nothin.' ''
Nothing, that is, until this week when Billups, 17, and 30 other mentally and physically challenged students saw their days turn into something special - at Camp Special K.
Begun some 25 years ago, the Elizabeth City-based summer day program is the only one of its kind in this area for children and young adults.
Campers enjoy a week of crafts, storytelling, nutrition lessons, music, tae kwon do, line dancing, swimming and field trips.
Oh, and one other thing.
``Eating,'' 15-year-old Tim Jennings said with a big grin, having just finished a morning snack and learned about proper dental care.
Without the camp, many of the participants, who come from all over the Albemarle area, would have only television shows andvideos to talk about when school begins next month.
``They don't have anything to do. If they didn't have transportation, they wouldn't get to come here,'' said Nancy Harris, the camp director and the adaptive physical education instructor for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools.
The public school system provided the transportation. The Pasquotank County 4-H program and Special Olympics are the other major sponsors.
Camp officials raised $2,500 for materials and field trip fees to make the summer special - and free - for its members, most of whom come from low-income families.
The Elizabeth City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints donated use of its air-conditioned building. Free swimming sessions were provided by the Alton Meads Pool in Pasquotank County.
Volunteers were never in short supply. There were as many of them as there were campers.
``Children are very special to me. And Camp Special K is a very special camp,'' said Edith Temple, who has been helping out since the camp, originally called Camp Joy, first started around 1970.
``It keeps you young,'' the 67-year-old added, while an impromptu congo line behind her made its way to the crafts table.
Some of the teenage and adult volunteers sacrificed their own vacations to spend the week with Special K campers. The K, by the way, stands for kids.
``It's just a little reward that I get every year,'' said D.B. Cooper, 20, who works for a local computer software company.
Debbie Scott became involved when her legally blind and mentally retarded daughter, Susan, now 30, was a camper.
``I'm a parent of a handicapped child, and it means a lot for me to have people like that help them,'' said Scott, who teaches special education at Northside Elementary School.
The camp also means a lot to those ages 8 to 21 who were able to attend. Most of them remain at home throughout the summer break, isolated from their school friends.
``I miss school,'' said Jennings, who was proud to wear a luggage tag from home pinned to his T-shirt. ``This is like school - but better.''
Cora Evans, helping out for her second year, said she was impressed with the gratitude expressed by the students.
``I have not seen a young person yet that I have helped that wasn't appreciative,'' she said.
``They always think you're great,'' Pasquotank County 4-H Agent Pat Shepherd interjected.
``You don't see that today with a lot of kids,'' Harris added.
The week was capped with an awards presentation on Friday, in which each camper was given a gold medal to wear around his or her neck.
``Doing something for those who can't help themselves - that's what makes Special K very special,'' Temple said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by ANNE SAITA, Staff
A week of fun at Camp Special K
Park ranger Jane Wyche teaches a class about snakes. Camp Special K,
based in Elizabeth City, is the only summer day program of its kind
in the area for children and young adults.
Instructor Milton Brandt shows camper Jamie Gibbs how to make a
shadow rabbit. Youths attended Camp Special K last week.
by CNB