by Samantha Dresser
Program Director, Mitvah Corps at Kutz
As Thanksgiving approaches, we prepare to spend time with our families and reflect on the things we appreciate in our lives. I personally am grateful for having had the opportunity for the past 5 summers to be a part of the Mitzvah Corps program at Kutz. Each summer, 200 teens from all over the country come together in Warwick, New York to attend the URJ Kutz Camp. Kutz is also home to the Mitzvah Corps program, which welcomes teens from all over the country who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders into the camp community for a fun, safe and inclusive Jewish camping experience.
Mitvah Corps is truly a transformative experience that allows campers to spend time in a welcoming teen community where they can create Jewish relationships, pursue their interests, and build on their connection to Judaism, with all of the supports necessary for each individual to have a successful experience. What I am truly thankful for is not just the opportunity we are able to offer our campers with special needs who might not otherwise be able to have a Jewish camping experience, but the way that these amazing teens enhance the whole of the Kutz community. They are peer-mentored by teens participating in the Mitzvah Corps major, which provides another group of teens the opportunity to learn the skills of working with special needs populations and inclusion. Each person at camp is impacted.
As a Movement, by facilitating special needs camping and inclusion opportunities, we are fostering the development of inclusive, welcoming, empathic, open and caring Reform Jews of the future. And for our campers, we send the message, which unforutnately is not sent enough in many other venues, that they are truly valued and appreciated. We all have a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other, and for that, I am thankful.
In this video, Mitzvah Corps campers had the opportunity to tell their parents what they were thankful for in their camp experience.
If you know a teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder who is interested in the Mitzvah Corps program at Kutz, please visit the Kutz Mitzvah Corps program site for participants. If you know a teen who would like to begin developing their own personal skillset of working with special needs populations and peer inclusion, please visit the Kutz Mitzvah Corps program site for teen mentors.
The URJ Camps offer a variety of special needs camping and inclusion options. For more information, visit the URJ Camps special needs page.
Samantha Dresser is the Program Director of Mitzvah Corps at Kutz. She is a licensed Social Worker, holding an MSW from New York University, and works as a clinician for YAI: National Institute for People with Disabilities.
