Camp Gonzo Finally Becoming A Reality?

The CB/TTC's 123somethingextra updated us on her efforts of getting the BAF's Camp Gonzo project into all YMCAs in Georgia. The project, which had a successful pilot run at the YMCA in Raleigh, aims to make ALL YMCA facilities more inclusive of children with disabilities. More information on the project, now formally known as the Summer Camp Project (SCP), can be found on the Bubel Aiken Foundation's website. There is now indication that the initiative is finally taking shape nationwide - a long time goal of Clay's.

Here's what 123somethingextra posted yesterday on That's The Clay:

Just recently the Georgia Claymates began talking with a YMCA in Atlanta about us donating time, materials, etc. to the YMCA summer camp in hopes of eventually getting a Camp Gonzo in Atlanta.

A lady who is the Coordinator for the Georgia YMCA's has been working with us closely and asked us the other day what was our ultimate goal as far as volunteering and donations to the YMCA Georgia. So, we told her. Our ultimate goal is to have a Camp Gonzo in Georgia. She had no idea what we were talking about so we explained. Everything. We explained Clay, the BAF and the initiative that Clay started within the Camp Gonzo summer camp program. She told us that their summer camps already had programs for children with disabilities. So, we told her that we appreciated that YMCA Georgia had summer camps for children with disabilities but that Clay's dream was for children with disabilities and children without disabilities to go to camp together, to experience the same summer program along side each other. Well, we were informed that that is exactly what they do.

Prior to contacting the YMCA Georgia we had gone to the BAF site and downloaded flyers about the camps that had already been started so that we could use them. After this lady told us that they already have a program set up for children with and without disabilities to attend together, I went back over to the BAF site and the flyers are gone. The programs are no longer called Camp Gonzo but rather simply Summer Camps. We have been told that all the YMCA's are now involved in summer camps where exclusion is a thing of the past.

This is great news. This means that Clay's initiative has been met. He has accomplished his agenda. Why haven't we heard about this? Why hasn't it been discussed on the boards? This is great news. Have I just missed it? Does anyone recall seeing a thread about this? Does anyone know more about it than what I have discussed?

Also of interest is this newly added paragraph about this program on the BAF's website:

In July 2006, the Foundation was asked to present its For All—Inclusion in Your YMCA workshop at The YMCA of the USA’s International Conference. The workshop focuses on embracing the philosophy of inclusion and what the YMCA’s role could and should be. The Foundation continues to introduce its Summer Camp curriculum and showcase its current partnership with several YMCAs throughout the country.

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