Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland
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Music/Activity Camp 2001 The first annual Williams Syndrome Music/Activity camp was held in the Share Holiday Village in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh from Sunday 15th July to Sunday 22nd July 2001. It was a very successful and wonderful week. It is hard to actually describe how it feels to see something become reality after so many years of work and planning. This camp has been in the “works” since we had our Music weekend in Ballinasloe in 1997. I hope it will continue as an annual event. The location chosen for the camp is a purpose built holiday village that caters particularly for people with disabilities. It is situated on the edge of Lough Erne and offers extensive water based activities as well as land-based activities. There is also a purpose built theatre that can seat an audience of up to 300 people. Fully qualified instructors run all the water based activities. A total group of 40 participated in the camp. This included eight Williams Syndrome individuals, two of whom attended without their own family members present. A personal helper was assigned to each WS camper. This helper was responsible for their WS camper from 9.00am until 6.00pm each day i.e. the helpers ensured that the WS campers got to their music classes on time, collected them afterwards and accompanied them to their next class. They also participated in all Share activities that their WS camper wanted to take part in. They remained with them during the whole day and I think some lasting friendships were made during the week. The week started on Sunday 15th with all participants arriving on site at the Share Village during the afternoon. People spent some time settling into their accommodation and getting familiar with the layout of the centre before they had dinner at 6.00pm. At 7.30pm a general meeting was held for the whole group. At this meeting, I (Ann Breen) welcomed everyone and distributed welcome gift packs to all the campers. Details of the week’s music and activity programme were made available. The music schedule would be run during the mornings as far as possible and the activities available in the Share Village would be organised during the afternoons. I then held a separate meeting with all the teachers and
helpers to ensure that everyone had details of their responsibilities for the
week and that the music schedule for all the WS campers was in place. The whole
group then reconvened and all helpers were introduced to their particular WS
camper. A typical day during the week was something like this: Breakfast 8.00am for those who made it!!!! Music classes 9.30am to 11.00am WS campers Break-time 11.00am to 11.30am All Group workshop 11.30am to 12.30pm All Music class 12.30pm to 1.00pm WS campers Lunch 1.00pm All Share Activities 2.00pm to 4.30pm All Dinner 6.00pm All Evening entertainment 7.30pm to 12.00 All Break-time was held in Chalet 13 – hub of operations for the week. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, snacks were available for all during the day. Breakfast, lunch or dinner was even provided for some at times! Sincere thanks must go to Nuala Keady and Olivia Murray who fed and watered many people in Chalet 13 during the week. Share activities included canoeing, banana boating, face painting, video workshop, cruise boat, tee-shirt printing, etc,etc,etc,…… Many happy hours were spent……. The evening entertainment was quite a mixture! Some evening
entertainment was available in the Arts Arena in the Share Village e.g. a
variety show on the Monday night. However, entertainment was not provided every
night so we provided our own quite a number of nights!! We had a teacher’s
musical performance one night, a helper’s performance another night and
musical sessions many nights in the Youth Pavilion – a huge “living room”
– which we had all to ourselves for the week. The culmination of the week was the final performance in the Art Arena on the Saturday night. The first item on the programme was a mini music recital. All the WS campers took part ably assisted by helpers and teachers. Some amazing performances were seen with some campers playing one or two different instruments, singing, playing in groups, playing solo, etc, etc. The variety and the superb standard of the performances after just a week of practice were astounding. The second item on the programme was a presentation of
songs from “Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” by almost the
whole group! At one stage we were apprehensive that we would have no audience
considering the fact that almost all our own group was on stage! We need not
have worried! A large crowd took over the available seats in the theatre and
were admirably entertained by the “Williams Unlimited” troupe. Sustained
applause gave testimony to the entertainment value of the production. Everyone
will long remember the party that followed!! Sunday afternoon saw the departure
home of a tired but happy group. The week was a huge success. All the WS campers expressed their hope that the event would be repeated and I have to say that is my hope also. Here’s to next year!!!!! Ann Breen - Camp Organiser |
Last modified: November 12, 2002 |
