Muhlenberg athletes are spending the summer of 2024 enjoying fantastic experiences on campus, in their hometowns, across the country and even around the world. Rising senior and Centennial Conference SAAC representative Jamie Carfagna, a psychology major, wrote about her role as inclusion counselor at a summer camp.

This summer I am working at Camp Ruach, which is a JCC camp in Bridgewater, New Jersey. My role at camp is being an inclusion counselor for campers with learning and emotional regulation differences. In this role I ensure children with these disabilities can fully participate and enjoy the camp experience alongside their peers.

As an inclusion counselor, I provide individualized support to these campers to help them participate in activities to the best of their abilities. This support can include physical assistance, emotional support and helping with communication or social interactions. I collaborate with camp staff, leaders and counselors to adapt activities and environments that are needed to accommodate the specific needs of each camper, which could mean modifying equipment, adjusting schedules or providing alternative ways for campers to participate.

My job is to build strong relationships with campers, their families and other camp staff. I strive to understand each camper's strengths, challenges and preferences to help provide the best and effective experiences for the children. The well-being of all campers is a top priority and I have been trained to handle emergencies and any specific health or medical needs that campers may have.

Lastly, while I provide support, I encourage my campers to develop independence and self confidence. I always try to empower campers to take on challenges and to participate as fully as possible in camp activities. Of course the biggest goal is for the campers to have fun! 
    
I decided to take on this role because I have always been part of the camp community. I attended day camp for six summers and sleepaway camp for six summers. I missed being a camper and honestly wanted to go back and experience camp from a different perspective; through a counselor's eyes. I also love working with children, so I knew from the very start that this would be a perfect fit for me.

So far I have really enjoyed meeting and connecting with my campers. Even after only a few weeks of camp, I saw each camper grow individually, and it has been such a pleasure to see the campers' accomplishments and smiling faces. 

This role will prepare me for my future as I would ultimately like to work with children who need more assistance. I do not know exactly in what field yet, but this job will give me the building blocks towards this goal. I will say that most of the psychology courses that I have taken at Muhlenberg have prepared me for this job; my coursework has provided me with the tools and techniques for working in this field and overcoming obstacles when they are thrown my way.

Dr. [Mark] Scuitto's Developmental Psychopathology course prepared me the most for this summer job. Several instances have occurred this summer where I have recognized behaviors about which I learned in this course. It's really so cool. 

Overall, being an inclusion counselor plays a crucial role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all campers, regardless of ability, can have a positive and enriching camp experience. It has been so much fun to be able to put my knowledge that I have learned at school into practice when working with these campers! 

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