CAMP JAKE: Spa night

JoJo and Marie Carmel receiving facials at the camp spa (photo credit: Brian Clark)

Thank you Neill Corporation! (photo credit: Brian Clark)

Over the course of two and a half days, counselors DeeDee, Shawn, Audry, Emily, Ashly and Marigny operated the camp spa. Using Aveda massage oils and facial products generously donated by Neill Corporation, the six set out to accomplish their goal: bringing every single camper to a state of relaxation. 

Capitalizing on the trust being built from camp-to-camp, counselors convinced even the most reluctant camper to experience the healing touch of human hands in the spa. Campers who had refused in the past, agreed to participate. Campers who had previously agreed but refused to be taken out of their wheelchairs, allowed themselves to be placed on a bed for the full treatment. Self-conscious campers softened and finally embraced the experience, delving into relaxation that they had never dreamed possible.

The team made efforts to create a true spa atmosphere, complete with plants, soft lighting, candles, music and crisp white sheets. In some cases, silent tears were shed by counselors when they watched relaxation wash over the faces of the campers. Knowing that people with disabilities in Haiti are often overlooked, abused and ostracized for their differences, demonstrating to the campers that they are loved and valued in whatever form they are is a key tenet of Camp Jake - a tenet that we are very proud of and will continue to embrace for camps to come.

Marigny giving a facial to a camper (photo credit: Brian Clark)

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Interested in serving as as a counselor for Camp Jake 2014? 

Please fill out the volunteer interest form on our website and we'll get back 

to you! We're already looking for people for next year's camp.

CAMP JAKE: Spotlight on spa night

DeeDee sporting her relaxation skills with a blind camper
Photo by Howard Chen

Camp Jake has finalized its programming line-up for July 2013! Campers will continue engaging in creative art and music therapy, aquatics and sports activities throughout the week.

In addition, counselors will introduce boating, sewing, yoga, cooking and fishing! These new activities encourage independence and self-reliance, improve both short- and long-term health, and expose campers to potential career paths, all vital aspects to the Camp Jake experience.

Casey giving one of MANY facials at the July 2012 session
Photo by Howard Chen

Also on the docket is 'Spa Night', one of the ever-popular activities that has continued since our first camp in January 2012. During this activity, campers enjoy a rare treat - complete relaxation, even if only for a bit.

Some may question why this is a part of our programming. They might even say it is frivolous and a waste of time. However, we beg to differ.

Photo by Howard Chen

As you've read in previous posts, the social stigma against people with disabilities in Haiti is prominent, leaving our campers—people with varying disabilities—stressed and tense, day in and day out. We're sure our readers would agree from personal experience that high levels of stress affect our bodies in a multitude of unhealthy ways, from general grouchiness to loss of sleep to depression or anxiety. Perpetual tension also inhibits our ability to learn and fully participate in everyday activities.

The Mayo Clinic dedicates page after page of their website describing the ill-effects of stress:
When the stressors of your life are always present, leaving you constantly feeling stressed, tense, nervous or on edge, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. The less control you have over potentially stress-inducing events and the more uncertainty they create, the more likely you are to feel stressed. Even the typical day-to-day demands of living can contribute to your body's stress response... This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including:

• Heart disease
• Sleep problems
• Digestive problems
• Depression
• Obesity
• Memory impairment
• Worsening of skin conditions, such as eczema

Photo by Howard Chen

For these reasons and more, Spa Night will continue to be a part of Camp Jake as campers learn healthy ways to deal with stress. Not only will they enjoy a full body massage and facial with high-quality products from Aveda (complements of our friends at Neill Corp), they will learn relaxation techniques that they can utilize long after camp.