Et cetera : NCCC Team Helps Out at Camp Albrecht Acres

By Andrew Johnson

AmeriCorps NCCC team Maple 3 is serving at Camp Albrecht Acres, a camp for people with special needs in Sherrill, Iowa. The team is acting as camp counselors, assisting in executing the various camp programs as well as personal care for the camp attendees.

Maple 3 arrived in Sherrill, Iowa at the end of June to assist staff until the end of the camp’s summer programming. After arrival the team quickly fell in to the new and challenging routine of 14 hour days assisting and living with campers from the moment they wake up at 7am until they go to sleep at 9pm. The team is taking on one to three campers by themselves and leading them through the camps various daily activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, and recreational activities, while also leading campers to meal times and taking them to the nurse’s office, where they take their daily medication.

To Maple 3, a team that had grown accustomed to outside service in the area of environmental conservation and stewardship, this is a change of pace, but one they have grown to enjoy. Corps Member Brian Krantz says, “There is truly nothing like the satisfaction received from knowing that you have made a positive difference in someone’s life,” the rest of the team shares his sentiment, finding a different reward in their work here compared to the work the team has completed previously. This NCCC team is giving a lot and taking away even more from this humbling experience assisting those who have special needs.

Pic 1: NCCC Maple 3’s Team Leader Keanu, plays a card game with Camp Albrecht Acres attendees during the daily camper favorite “pop and shop”

Pic 2: NCCC Maple 3’s Kurtis, ties an apron around a Camp Albrecht Acres attendee during the daily arts and crafts activity, this days campers were making tie-dye T-shirts.