Summer Programs at Camp Lakodia

From: CSD - Apr 14, 2004

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: April 14, 2004
Contact: Erin Casler
CSD Communications Office

"Camp Lakodia Announces Summer Programs for '04"

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The staff at Camp Lakodia is pleased to unveil programming that has been enhanced to better meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. We will have our National Middlers Leadership and Literacy Camp (NMLLC) for 5th - 8th graders from July 6th - 19th, and then the National Leadership and Literacy Camp from July 22nd - August 2nd for older students in 9th - 10th grades. Campers who are entering the 11th and 12th grades may want to consider the National Association of the Deaf 's Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) that will be hosted in Florida this summer (specifics below).

The new NLLC is an expansion of or enhancement to the renowned National Middlers Literacy and Leadership Camp (NMLLC), but for older students who are entering their freshmen and sophomore years – literacy and academic development remains the primary focus. Our camps are for everyone — both deaf and hearing campers alike. Ideally, we encourage our hearing campers to be children of deaf adults (CODAs) or those who already have sign language skills.

Both the NMLLC and the NLLC incorporate the SPICE philosophy in all aspects of its programming. SPICE stands for the Social, Physical, Intellectual, Communicative and Emotional domains of learning and becoming. These camps focus on all of these aspects of personal growth to provide each camper with the tools needed for a meaningful and productive life in a competitive and ever-changing world. The camp experience encourages the growth of an artistic sensibility, technological astuteness and the development of strong literacy skills — all necessary to successfully function in today's society.

Tentative plans are in the works for various programming at Camp Lakodia, such as a camp for deaf senior citizens, a CODA camp, a signing camp for those who would like to hone their sign language skills, a sports camp for deaf athletes and sports enthusiasts, an art camp for those interested in the arts, and many others.

Camp Lakodia was built in 1941 and was granted to the South Dakota 4-H Foundation in 1967. In 2002, full ownership was reverted to the state of South Dakota and then to CSD. Throughout the past year, CSD has been renovating and updating the property to develop a year-round multipurpose program that serves targeted populations. This serene 32-acre camp is located along the shores of Lake Herman, near Madison, S.D. and includes a 3,000-foot sandy beach, renovated cabins, a brand new dining hall, a main lodge, meeting facilities with a capacity for 200, a bath house, sports field and a spacious playground.

About CSD – CSD (also known as Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc.) was established in 1975, primarily to provide sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing adults in South Dakota. Today, CSD employs over 2,000 individuals in offices across the nation, providing a broad continuum of social and human services programs, as well as telecommunications relay services. CSD is a private, nonprofit agency dedicated to providing quality services; ensuring public accessibility; and increasing awareness of issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities. For more information, please visit www.c-s-d.org.

About NAD YLC – The NAD Youth Leadership Camp offers rich opportunities for leadership, scholarship, and citizenship skills development. The NAD YLC also focuses on health; drama; deaf culture; language and heritage; literacy; current issues; group dynamics; team building outdoor activities, and much more. For more information, please visit: http://www.nad.org/YLC/index.html.

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