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Camp Spifida Builds Self-Esteem
Part of Camp Spifida’s mission is to encourage the children’s independence to build self-esteem and confidence. For many of the children who come to camp, they are the only ones in their school, the only ones in their community, who have spina bifida. Camp Spifida is a place to go where they are like everyone else. Each camper brings his or her unique abilities, and that contributes to the whole camping experience. As one mother says, “Camp Spifida has given my daughter the chance to be a kid - not a disabled kid - but a kid”.
Camp Spifida helps children and parents know that they still love each other very much, but they can also enjoy some things apart from each other. Because of the tremendous bond that forms between parents and a child with spina bifida, it is hard for parents to let their children do something new on their own for the first time. “Camp is great for them,” another parent says, “because it lets them know what it’s like, for once, to be part of the norm.”
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