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| Camp “Hands Up,” located in Dayton, Wash., serves deaf and hard of hearing children ages 5 to 18. Photo courtesy of Sheila Coles |
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| Intricately crafted boats are launched in hotly competitive races at Camp “Hands Up,” in Dayton, Wash. Photo courtesy of Sheila Coles |
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| YMCA Camp Kern’s Deaf Adventure Camp in Oregonia, Ohio, is co-hosted by Deaf Community Resource Center of Dayton, Ohio. Photo by Thomas Gisler |
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| Apache Creek Deaf and Youth Ranch in Reserve, N.M., will hold summer camp for children with hearing loss from July 5-10. Photo courtesy of Apache Creek Deaf and Youth Ranch. |
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| House Ear Institute’s (HEI) 2009 Family Camp was in Malibu,Calif. Photo courtesy of HEI © 2010 |
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| Camp SignShine is offered by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy and Resource Center (DHHARC). Photo courtesy of DHHARC |
Cara Frank was born with profound hearing loss. When she started school, the Vancouver, Wash., youngster first went to an oral school for the deaf, where she learned speech and hearing skills. During that time, she was among peers with similar disabilities.
Two years later, she was placed in the mainstream setting at her local elementary school. "I noticed that I was the only one at the school and in my community who was deaf," Frank says. "And to make things more noticeable, I wore a cochlear implant (CI) a device on my ear attached to an awkward box (the processor) that rested on my chest."
Frank recalls being referred to as the deaf girl with the strange accent or the girl with a box on her chest. When people talked to her, they over-emphasized their words, assuming that she couldn't understand normal speech. "Instead of simply saying, 'Hello,' they said something more like 'HELLOOO,'" she says. At one point, she was recognized as the girl who "stuffed" her bra which was actually her CI processor wrapped around her chest. Among the biggest challenges were not being able to follow group conversations or read teachers' lips when they turned their backs.
Frank's response to being different was to become introverted. "I didn't necessarily like the extra attention and curiosity that my cochlear implant brought," she says.
"I grew tired of these challenges and labels and craved for people to acknowledge other characteristics that I possessed," Frank admits. "It was easy for me to want to retreat back into the security of my family and friends (who had hearing loss) where I knew I could make myself understood and where I could truly relax. However, over time I became more attuned to my community and developed strategies that were effective in terms of communication."
An Awesome Opportunity
When Frank learned about an opportunity to attend a camp through the YMCA, at which attendees would use communication modes similar to hers, she expected it to be a comfortable experience. Sure enough, Frank found the staff to be quite understanding and experienced in working with campers with hearing loss. She was also thrilled to have her best friend at that time, who also had hearing loss, attend the camp.At camp, people finally saw Frank for who she was, rather than seeing the disability first. "I was the girl who liked to make candles, go beach combing and play capture the flag," she says. The YMCA camp provided an inclusive setting. Frank recalls that the staff was extremely encouraging and got everyone involved in one way or another and none of the staff was apprehensive about being around people with disabilities.
"Everyone was recognized as being unique, regardless of whatever perceived differences they may have had," Frank says. "Walls were taken down and people were recognized for their personalities and skills. The fact that the camp was centered on recreation gave me an even playing field with my peers and truly just let me be me."
An Inspiring Counselor
Year after year, Frank returned to the YMCA camp. One particular counselor, who had hearing loss herself, worked there for several summers while Frank was a camper. "I looked forward to seeing her every summer and interacting with her," Frank says. "Over time, she became a mentor. By observing her interactions with others, I realized I was often blowing my challenges out of proportion. I realized that I needed to put a more positive spin on things. After all, as she often demonstrated, 'Communication is a two-way street.'"Frank believes that people with hearing loss have the same potential as anyone else, though society often limits opportunities and expectations. The possibility of improved attitudes toward and opportunities for people with hearing loss motivated Frank to become a counselor and later influenced her choice of career.
Originally an art major, Frank switched to Western Washington University's Parks, Leisure and Recreation program. "Working as a camp counselor at the YMCA was one of the greatest jobs I had and I knew I wanted to continue down that career path," Frank says. "Recreation gives me such a sense of empowerment." She also loves the dynamics that occur during camp: "Everyone's always a little timid in the beginning, and at the end of the camp season it's amazing to see the changes that have taken place."
As for the outdoors, Frank says it gives her a sense of balance and satisfies her thirst for adventure. "When I'm out on a backpacking trip and I've reached the summit, or when I'm out on my wakeboard and I've landed an amazing jump or even when I'm just sitting in solitude under the stars that's when I really get my 'ah-ha' moments and a sense of, 'I can do this.'
Thriving Today
Today, as the groups and logistics coordinator at the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) in Crested Butte, Colo., Frank coordinates trip logistics and provides organization and support on outings for people with disabilities, including hearing loss. She enjoys her work because she believes ASC expands opportunities for the diverse populations that come to the center."Ultimately, I believe in what ASC does because I think it impacts participants just as summer camp impacted me," she says. "We have an awesome staff and amazing instructors here. They parallel the same recreational professionals that once worked with me when I was a little girl."
Through her position, Frank is able to create an inviting environment for people with disabilities to participate in outdoor adventures like skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, rock climbing, kayaking, horseback riding and more reminiscent of her own summer camp experiences.
This summer, ASC will be just one of the many camp options for youth with hearing loss. On zip lines, horseback and rafts across the United States, kids with hearing loss will exceed society's expectations and maybe even their own. The success they achieve will empower and inspire them, possibly serving as the first step to a fulfilling career.
To see a complete directory of summer camps for kids with hearing loss, click here
