PLAYWAY CAMP and the ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION LAB of TEFAA Serres, AUTH, have designed and will implement the first camp program in Greece for children with and without disabilities or Special Educational Needs.
Ages: 6-16 years
The Strength of Parents
Dear parents,
most of you will agree that a fundamental aspect of human freedom is the right to make choices about your life and your family. However, those of you with children with disabilities often face limitations, as most extracurricular programs either operate in restricted environments or are categorized as "special" programs. In contrast, within the school setting, children with disabilities have the opportunity to attend general education schools equally with children without disabilities.
Camps, as an alternative form of education, have not yet adopted a similar philosophy of inclusion.
For this reason, Playway Camp has decided this year to give you the opportunity to choose an inclusive camp program, offering children the chance to be part of a diverse children's and youth community. To play with other peer-aged children rather than being excluded in “special” programs due to their disability.
Of course, inclusion is not just a simple process. Instead, respect, knowledge, experience, creativity, effort, and commitment are required to ensure the active participation of every child in the program.
In this pioneering effort, we are collaborating with a specialized scientific team from AUTH, specifically from the Laboratory of Adapted Physical Education of TEFAA Serres. Our goal is to shape a new perspective on inclusive program design and implementation, accessible to ALL our campers.
The Strength of Our Staff
In the inclusive camp program, our staff and counselors will undertake a role of high social responsibility, providing the best possible services with a focus on people and guided by Knowledge, Ethics, Aesthetics, and Well-being. The duties and responsibilities of our staff and counselors are designed to align with the camp's goals and philosophy, which is to meet the motor, educational, social and emotional needs of all children.
Our Staff’s Training is Based on Four Core Values:
- We are responsible: In everything related to our work, we go the extra mile to ensure the best possible experience for every child in the camp.
- We are reliable and honest: We act with integrity in everything we do, without compromise.
- We operate with excellence: We faithfully apply the principles of pedagogy and the scientific field.
- We work as a team: We achieve successful results through effective collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect.
- We are innovative: We embrace and support every valuable innovation, ensuring its effective implementation.
- We show special care for children: placing them at the heart of our operation and demonstrating it in practice by creating a positive environment.
The Team Implementing the Inclusion Camp Program Consists of:
- Camp Staff (Camp Leaders, Deputy Leaders, Team Leaders, Sports & Recreation Staff)
- Scientific Supervisor for the Inclusion Program for Children with Disabilities (AMEA)
- Coordinators Responsible for the Implementation of the Inclusion Program for AMEA
- Sports & Recreation Staff Specialized in Working with AMEA
- Postgraduate Students Specialized in Adapted Physical Education and Special Education
The Power of Playway Camp
Playway Camp is located in Kryopigi, Halkidiki, 90 kilometers from Thessaloniki, covering a privately owned area of 40 acres, surrounded by greenery.
The facilities are accessible, in accordance with the specifications of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Public Works. They are adapted to the needs of children and ensure their unrestricted participation in athletic and recreational activities, compensating for any mobility challenges. The specialized ergonomic design allows easy access for children to all areas, which include:
- Comfortable and welcoming cabins
- Modern kitchen and dining area
- Special toilets and showers suitable for biological cleaning
- Two swimming pools with special specifications
- Spaces for artistic creation: theater, painting, and ceramics
- Amphitheater for various events
- Football, basketball, volleyball, and handball courts
- Canoeing and sea cycling
- Physiotherapy Center
- A fully equipped medical center and infirmary, staffed with a doctor and nurse available 24/7