Ancilla Volleyball Lends Time, Efforts to Camp-We-Can

Members of the Ancilla College volleyball team recently took time to work with special needs children at "Camp-We-Can", held at the Geneva Center in Rochester.

"Camp-We-Can" is a one day camp designed to give the parents of children with special needs a break and for the campers to enjoy a day out in the sun with a multitude of activities available. The primary concept of the camp is to focus on what campers can do and not what they can't do.

This year's theme was "Jungle Safari". All activities had a jungle theme of some sort, and included: tie-dye t-shirts; build-a-bear; bowling; crafts; volleyball; parachute; horseback ride; swimming; dancing; and ice cream.

The camp - directed by Teri Carr and assisted by Jodi Simpson and Tina Haworth - is open to all children with special needs in the local surrounding communities.

Ancilla sophomore Tristan Hunter found the experience to be very rewarding.

"I liked interacting with the kids," said Hunter. "They are just like anyone else, and actually even more fun at times because they don't worry about being judged."

Ancilla volleyball coach Lauren Smith was proud to have her team involved in the day's efforts.

"The idea of the camp is to get the girls out of their comfort zones and to have the experience of working with kids who have special needs," said Smith. "I want the girls to feel humbled at the end of the day and be appreciative of their minds and bodies and what they are capable of. I want them to realize what some of these kids don't get to do on a daily basis. But most of all, I want the campers to have a great day and I'm glad my girls can be a part of it."

Ancilla College is a Catholic, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college in Donaldson, Indiana sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

Photo: (Front Row, from L to R) - Tristan Hunter, Ancilla cheer coach Dianna Cooper, Tamra Schmucker. (Back Row, from L to R) - Ancilla volleyball coach Lauren Smith, Lauren Krempec, Chaneigh Carr, Vickie Snider, Monica Meuninck, Brittney Wolverton, Kaylynn Stephenson.