Spin For Kids

I know I have mentioned Camp Twitch and Shout several times in other posts, but if you aren't sure what Camp Twitch and Shout is, it's a wonderful camp experience for children with Tourette Syndrome. It's a place where my Monster Man (and now my Little Man, as well) can connect with other kids that have TS, getting a chance to feel 'normal' for a week. While I don't think that everyone should always be the same, I recognize the value of having a place where they don't feel so out of place, so alone with their daily struggles. For Monster Man, Camp Twitch and Shout has been a little slice of heaven on earth.
Camp Twitch and Shout is a camp partner of Camp Twin Lakes, a wonderful organization that offers camping experiences for children and families going through so many struggles - medically, emotionally, and more! Camp Twin Lakes depends on donations to make these great camps possible.

This October, I am heading up the Camp Twitch and Shout team for a Camp Twin Lakes fundraiser, Spin For Kids. Our team goal is to reach $5000 in donations, and I am hoping to have somewhere around 20 riders on our team. Please join us in reaching our goal. If you live in Georgia, please consider joining the Camp Twitch and Shout team. If you are unable to join the team, please consider making a donation to sponsor a rider and help our team reach (or possibly surpass!) it's goal.  You don't have to make a decision right away, as the ride isn't until October 20, but our team would appreciate you taking a moment to consider riding or sponsoring.  Thank you in advance!
 
Click Here to Donate

Family Camp Photos

I just realized that I never did update and tell everyone how Camp Twitch and Shout's family camp went.  I apologize for not doing so sooner.

The month of September was crazy for us.  Georgia Boy had a business trip to England, which left me home with Angel Baby, Monster Man, and Little Man for two weeks.  Family camp happened to fall during the time that he was gone, so the kids and I went to camp without him.  My mom was supposed to go with us, but she was unable to take the time off of work.  It was a great experience for the kids and I to have this extra time alone, and it gave us a fun distraction from missing their Daddy.

The camp weekend was filled with activity!  Dodgeball, kayaking, archery, wall climbing... There were so many great activities that we all got to enjoy.

Meal times were great, and they were often followed by dancing while the kids got to dress up in different costumes.

The kids were shocked that I was more than willing to dig for worms and even put them on the hooks when we went fishing.

What would a camp experience be without some s'mores?!

The group was smaller than usual, but we still had a blast.  We're already looking forward to next year's family camp!

Camp Twin Lakes

I thought I'd post something a little different for day 5 of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month.  I've mentioned in previous posts about Camp Twitch and Shout, the wonderful camp that Monster Man attended last summer, and that we attended as a family in the fall.  Camp Twitch and Shout is a week-long summer camp for children ages 7 to 17 that have Tourette Syndrome.  For that week, the kids are free to tic to their heart's desire.  There is no one staring at them while they twitch, no one feeling disrupted by their need to shout.  It's a special place where they can feel 100% 'normal'.  In the fall, families come together for a weekend filled with camp activities, a little bit of education for the parents, and (most importantly to us) the chance to connect with other families that know what we experience daily.

Camp Twitch and Shout is one of several wonderful camps offered through Camp Twin Lakes.  Camp Twin Lakes holds several different camps for children living with disabilities, life threatening diseases, or other challenges.  There are camps for children with Tourette Syndrome, diabetes, weight management issues, Autism spectrum disorders, developmental or intellectual disabilities, burn injuries, asthma, sickle cell disease, spina bifida, cancer, celiac disease, muscular dystrophy, juvenile arthritis, hearing impairment, brain injuries, bleeding disorders, epilepsy, amputations, and so many other situations, including some camps for children living with family members going through some of these situations.  All of these camps offer their campers a chance to connect, a chance to feel like they are truly accepted, a chance to feel like they belong.

Camp Twin Lakes is one of five organizations in the running today for a chance to win a Toyota vehicle.  Each day for 100 days, Toyota is giving away a vehicle to an organization that is trying to make a difference.  Camp Twin Lakes could really use the Toyota Tundra.  Among the many ways that the camp could benefit from having this vehicle is their newest program, Camp-To-Go, which allows Camp Twin Lakes to have camp activities in children's hospitals around Georgia.  It's such a great opportunity for children who can't make it to a camp location due to their medical needs.

Please take a few moments today to check out the Toyota 100 Cars for Good page on Facebook.  While you're there, please put in your vote to help Camp Twin Lakes be today's winner.  Voting begins at 10am Eastern time, and runs until 11:59pm.