[Shriners Children's Northern California logo]
Speaker 1:
Camp Winning Hands is a camp for kids with hand differences or upper extremity differences, and the intent was to create a safe space for kids with hand differences, to be together, to try things they might not otherwise try. It ended up exceeding all our expectations.
Speaker 2:
Our mission really is to provide a safe campaign experience where kids can be focused on being at camp, doing typical camp activities, without having to worry about explaining the hand difference.
Speaker 3:
The activities I really enjoy the most are Teen Talks because they give you advice on how to not let your physical difference affect you, and how you can learn to be more open and explain that you can pretty much do anything.
Speaker 1:
One of the unexpected joys of Hand Camp is that when I'm spending time with people with hand differences, eating, playing, watching them swim or climb the climbing wall, I gain a better understanding of what life is like for them, and it helps me to be a better ally, to be someone who can advocate for kids with hand differences and just be there in the world trying to help them negotiate some of the challenges that they run into.
Speaker 4:
I feel like it's really important. A lot of us kids have this space because when they're at home, a lot of the times they keep their hands in their pocket or their arms in their pocket. They don't want people to see, or they cover it with sleeves, but at camp they're like, "Oh, I don't mind it, because everyone here is the same. We all know each other. No one's going to come up to you and ask all these random questions. You're there and everyone understands you, and I think that makes it a lot easier. It takes off a big burden from the campers. You can actually come to camp and focus on the things about having fun and not have to worry about what other people are thinking.
Speaker 1:
Camp Winning Hands is supported by Shriners Hospitals in addition to other charities that enable our patients and our kids to benefit from this enriched environment. I want to especially thank Judy Houston, first Lady of Tehran Shriners for supporting Hand Camp.
Speaker 3:
Thank you so much for making this happen and making this camp possible because it's something I look forward to every summer.
Speaker 4:
Thank you for making all of the things that we do exist and letting us have such a safe environment to do it in and have fun with each other, and be able to experience all these other opportunities and have the time to learn things in a secluded environment, where otherwise it would be harder somewhere else.
Group:
Camp Winning Hands.
[Shriners Children's Northern California logo]
