There are many summer camps where parents can unload their children for a week or two. But Jay Nolan is special.
Camp Caters to All Children, Including Those With Disabilities
Jay Nolan summer camp is an all-inclusive camp. Approximately 30% of the children have developmental disabilities. But all the children participate in the same activities. No one is left out, no matter what personal challenges a child may have.
The children quickly embrace this attitude, and are eager to help each other, and cheer on their peers.
Activities Include Sports, Arts, Theatre and Archery
The children have a number of activities each day, including outdoor theatre, archery, arts and crafts, and sports and games. There is also a swimming pool. And once a week the camp goes on a nature hike.
At the outdoor theatre, the children play a number of theatre games, including improvisational games. At the sports & games area, the campers play a variety of games, including volleyball, capture the flag and dodgeball. At arts and crafts, campers can let their creativity flow with a wide variety of materials. And as one might guess, archery is a favorite activity of the campers.
Angeles National Forest – Camp Teresita Pines
The camp is located at Lions Camp at Teresita Pines, approximately 90 miles from Los Angeles.
Set in the Angeles National Forest, the camp is far enough from the smog and noise of the city (and out of cell phone range). Children can see lots of stars during the nightly camp gatherings.
The cabins are divided by gender and age. The girls’ cabins are all located in one area of the camp, and in the boys’ cabins in another, basically to avoid issues with showers and bathrooms.
Camp Dance With Professional DJ
Once a week there is a dance. Last year the dance was brought up several notches by getting a real professional DJ with great equipment, a great sound system, and even lights. Before this, the dining hall lights remained on. But having actual club-type lights helped even the most insecure of children find their way onto the dance floor.
Live Music With Fur Dixon and Steve Werner
Each year the camp director brings special guests up to the camp to entertain and perhaps even educate the children (and counselors). Last year the excellent folk duo Fur Dixon & Steve Werner visited the camp and played a set of traditional folk songs (with one or two originals thrown in for good measure).
Talent Show
Thursday night is the talent show. It’s basically the conclusion of the week. Each cabin performs a skit or other act. The talent show is held at the outdoor theatre, and the Master Of Ceremonies is Spike, the program coordinator for the camp.
The CITs put on a skit too, usually something very silly.
It’s a great cap to the week. For the next morning, Friday, everything needs to be packed up and ready for the buses back to Los Angeles.
Campers Become CITS, CITs Become Assistant Counselors
The campers are ages 8 to 15. The CITs (counselors-in-training) are ages 16 to 17.
There are several counselors who started as campers, became CITs, then assistant counselors before taking their current positions. This helps to create the feeling of a utopian community at the camp. The children know that they too can come back year after year, and someday be counselors.
Todd Bailey Is Camp Director
The camp has had four different directors in the past four years. But last year’s director, Todd Bailey, says he’s in it for the long haul and is now planning this year’s camp sessions. Finding the funding is always an issue with Jay Nolan Camp. The camp does not like to exclude anyone, even for financial reasons. Thus, the camp tends to lose money every year.
But it’s not about the money. It’s about the children, and giving them a wonderful experience, providing them with a place where they feel safe and yet free to express themselves to push themselves and try new things.
First Aid and CPR
Safety is, of course, a prime concern. All of the counselors and staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. There is also a staff nurse on-site at all times.
There are two sessions in the summer. Each session runs for six days, Sunday through Friday. The staff and children meet at a location in Van Nuys, where three buses take everyone up to the camp. It’s a long, slow, hot ride, but totally worth it. The camp really is a magical place where the children learn to help each other and cheer each other on.