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Summer Camp
2014 STAR Summer Campers Enjoy a Carnival Day
On Friday July 25th, campers in the Summer Training and Recreation (STAR)
program had a fun-filled Carnival Day complete with a bounce house, slide,
rock climbing wall, and golf cart and limousine rides. The summer campers,
ages 5 to 13, enjoyed the festivities by getting their faces painted,
being entertained by Ziggy the Clown and eating snow cones, cotton candy
and popcorn. Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™
students performed a concert for all those in attendance followed by a
pizza feast. We are thankful to Harvey and Ellen Amster, Dario Gomez, and
Steven Solomon for helping make this a memorable end-of-summer event.
The STAR program is a six-week summer camp providing services to blind or
visually impaired children ages 5-13. The program offers fun, engaging,
and enriching activities including Braille literacy, physical fitness,
social skills development, art and music.
Miami Marlins Host Second Annual Marlins Ayudan Beep Ball Classic at
Marlins Park
On Tuesday, July 8th, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind joined the Marlins
Foundation for the Second Annual Marlins Ayudan Beep Ball Classic at
Marlins Park. Thirty-five Miami Lighthouse teenage summer camp students
and Marlins interns, volunteering through Marlins Ayudan, teamed up to
compete in an exciting game of Beep Baseball. Three games were hosted
simultaneously, and through this adapted version of the game the teenagers
were able to experience the popular game of baseball first-hand. The
competitive and playful nature of the Beep Ball Classic brings to life
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind’s slogan – ‘It’s Possible to See Without
Sight™’. We thank the Marlins Foundation for once again making this
exciting experience for our students possible.
On Tuesday, June 24, fifty Miami Lighthouse summer program students
attended a special fire safety demonstration at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s
training facility in Doral, FL. The students, ages 14-22, received
training in fire extinguishers and kitchen safety and had an anti-venom
presentation. They also participated in a fire truck demonstration.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief
David Downey spoke to the students about the importance of fire safety,
pre-fire preparations and steps to take in case of an emergency.
Through a recently awarded FEMA grant, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue will soon be
providing and installing fire extinguishers and performing home safety
inspections for the families of the participating Miami Lighthouse
students. We thank the Mayor Gimenez, former Fire Chief Ed Donaldson and
the entire Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Team for the great presentation to our
Miami Lighthouse summer camp students.
On July 26th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Better Chance Music Production
Program™ students performed in front of a standing room only crowd taking
part in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization
Ceremony where 195 individuals from 30 countries were sworn in as new U.S
citizens. This is the fifth time our students have been invited to perform
at a naturalization ceremony. This year’s performance included the
National Anthem, God Bless the USA, Coming to America, and more. We are
grateful to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, District Director Linda
Swacina and Acting Field Office Director Eileen López Tomé of the USCIS
Miami Field Office for providing this opportunity. The Miami Lighthouse
Better Chance Music Production Program™ is funded by The Children’s Trust
and community foundations. Photos courtesy of Erick Hueck, aide to
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
On Wednesday, July 10th thirty Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired summer program students, ages 13 to 18, got the opportunity to
take part in an exciting hands-on tour of Marlins Ballpark and learn about
the traditions of America’s national pastime. With the help of Marlins
Foundation staff, Miami Lighthouse summer camp students used their other
senses like touch and smell to learn about the Ballpark. The students were
exposed to a multi-sensory experience by having a special touch tour on
the Marlins Ballpark field and were able to meet catcher Rob Brantly.
After the tour, summer program students were able to experience the Miami
Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2. We thank President David Samson,
Alfredo Mesa, Executive Director, and Joanne Messing, Director of
Partnerships, of Miami Marlins Foundation for making this wonderful
interaction for our summer camp students possible.
2012 “The Pillar of Hope” STAR Summer
Camp Art Project
This ceramic column was created by students participating in the Miami
Lighthouse 20012 Summer Camp Program with the help of visiting artists
Carlos Alves, Jane Carroll, and staff artist Nelba Gonzales. During the
2012 summer camp, children created individual ceramic pieces which the
artists used to create the column.
On Friday, August 17th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired Transition summer program students, ages 14 to 18, spent the day
and got the opportunity to experience a private interaction with dolphins,
sea turtles, stingrays, iguanas, horseshoe crabs and birds through the
Miami Seaquarium’s touch tour. Twenty Miami Lighthouse students attended
the exclusive wildlife tour that not only helped educate the participants,
but it also helped them gain the confidence needed to learn through their
other senses. Mr. Arthur Hertz and Andrew Hertz are sincerely thanked for
their kindness in providing this wonderful interaction.
On Wednesday, August 15th thirty Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and
Visually Impaired summer program students, ages 13 to 18, got the
opportunity to take part in an exciting hands-on tour of Marlins Ballpark
and learn about the traditions of America’s national pastime. With the
help of Marlins Foundation staff, Miami Lighthouse summer camp students
used their other senses like touch and smell to learn about the new
Ballpark located just blocks from the Miami Lighthouse facility.
The students were exposed to a multi-sensory experience by having a
special touch tour on the Marlins Ballpark field and in the dugout. The
students also got to feel and handle equipment used in the game, including
bats with pine tar, gloves, a catcher's mask, a batting helmet, balls and
batting gloves. After the tour, summer program students were able to
experience the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-2 and were
greeted by Miami Marlins President David Samson. We thank Alfredo Mesa,
Executive Director, and Joanne Messing, Director of Partnerships, of Miami
Marlins Foundation for making this wonderful interaction for our summer
camp students possible.
On July 25th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Better Chance Music Production
Program™ students performed in front of a standing room only crowd taking
part in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization
Ceremony where over 208 individuals from 30 countries were sworn in as new
U.S citizens. This is the fourth time our students have been invited to
perform at a naturalization ceremony. This year’s performance included the
National Anthem, God Bless the USA, Coming to America, Waving Flag and
more. We are grateful to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, District
Director Linda Swacina and Acting Field Office Director Eileen López Tomé
of the USCIS Miami Field Office for providing this opportunity. The Miami
Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™ is funded by The
Children’s Trust and community foundations.
On Thursday, July 19th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired Better Chance Music Production Program™ students, ages 14 to 18,
spent the day and got the opportunity to take part in an exciting hands-on
marine science lab and learn about environmental studies with multisensory
observations within Biscayne Nature Center’s extensive seagrass beds. With
the help of trained marine biologists and lifeguards, Miami Lighthouse
summer camp students were able to use other senses like touch and smell to
learn more about local sealife. The students were exposed to a
multisensory experience by learning about, catching and touching the
sealife that lives in our very own backyard. Every student, whether blind
or visually impaired, was able to see the aquatic life through physical
interaction. Twenty-one Miami Lighthouse blind and visually impaired music
students along with their sighted peers experienced the wildlife tour that
was not only educational, but it also reinforced what we teach at Miami
Lighthouse—it’s possible to see without sight™. We thank Theodora Long,
Executive Director, and Claudia Succar Ferre, Assistant to the Director,
of Biscayne Nature Center for making this wonderful interaction for our
music summer camp students possible.
On August 11th students from the Miami Lighthouse summer program
participated in an event sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. The
children explored a U.S. Coast Guard airplane and helicopter, got to
examine the equipment used to fix the aircrafts, they got to wear U.S.
Coast Guard gear and everyone received a model U.S. Coast Guard
helicopter. We thank the Opa Locka Coast Guard Station for allowing Miami
Lighthouse summer camp students to spend the day learning about what it
takes to be in the United States Coast Guard.
On Friday, July 8th Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
STAR summer program students, ages 5 to 13, spent the day and got the
opportunity to experience a private interaction with dolphins, sea
turtles, stingrays and birds through the Miami Seaquarium’s touch tour.
The students were exposed to a multisensory experience by feeding, playing
with and petting the animals at the Miami Seaquarium. Every student was
able to see the aquatic life through touch and interaction. Forty Miami
Lighthouse students attended the exclusive wildlife tour that not only
helped educate the participants, but it also helped them gain the
confidence needed to learn through their other senses. Mr. Arthur and
Andrew Hertz are sincerely thanked for their kindness in providing this
wonderful interaction for our STAR summer camp children.
On June 18th eight families participated in a family support group session
at the Miami Children’s Museum. Thirty-two children and parents explored
the vast array of exhibits the Miami Children’s Museum offers. The event
was funded through the generosity of a wonderful community philanthropist
Gloria Martin who said, “I am very happy to bring these two organizations
with rich traditions in the community together. This is a great program
for the Miami Lighthouse where they can bring their blind and visually
impaired children to the Miami Children’s Museum to enjoy the exhibits
they have to offer. I am delighted to have made it happen.”
2010 “The Pillar of Hope” STAR Summer
Camp Art Project
This ceramic column was created by students participating in the Miami
Lighthouse 2009 Summer Camp Program with the help of visiting artists
Carlos Alves, Jane Carroll, and staff artist Nelba Gonzales. During the
2010 summer camp, children will again create individual ceramic pieces
which the artists will use to create a second column. These projects are
underwritten by Scott Miller and the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market.
2010 Miami Lighthouse Transition
Program students swim
with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Transition students, ages 14 to 22, spent
the afternoon playing with dolphins at Miami Seaquarium Dolphin Harbor. On
July 29, 20 students fed, played with, pet, hugged and posed with
bottlenose dolphins. Every student, whether blind or visually impaired,
was able to see the dolphins through touch and interaction. The students
saw the dolphins through feeling their textured skin, kissing their beaks
and playing catch with them. The Miami Lighthouse is grateful for this
wonderful experience provided by Andrew and Arthur Hertz.
2010 STAR Summer Campers Enjoy a
Carnival Day
On July 9, campers in the Summer Training and Recreation (STAR) program
had a fun-filled Carnival Day complete with a bounce house, train, slides
and golf cart rides. The carnival was generously provided by Harvey and
Ellen Amster, Elsa Dela Cruz, Dario Gomez and family, and Jack and
Patricia Tierney. The summer campers, ages 5 to 13, enjoyed getting their
faces painted by a clown and eating unlimited snow cones, cotton candy and
popcorn. Miami Lighthouse music program students performed a concert in
the sensory garden for all those in attendance followed by a pizza feast.
The STAR program is a six-week summer camp providing services to blind or
visually impaired children ages 5- 13. The program offers fun, engaging,
and enriching activities including Braille literacy, physical fitness,
social skills development, art and music. In addition to the STAR program
summer campers, Transition students also enjoyed the day’s carnival
activities. The Transition program provides students ages 14 to 22 with
the experience needed to live independent, successful and fulfilling
lives, while teaching students how to succeed together and build
meaningful relationships with their peers. The Transition program offers
students work experience that suits their individual interests, personal
and home management, assistive technology training, orientation and
mobility, field trips, and community integration.
2009 “Touching Our Dreams” STAR Summer Camp Art Project
On July 29th,
parents of children participating in the Miami Lighthouse STAR Summer Camp
were on hand to witness the unveiling of a very special project entitled
“Touching Our Dreams.” With the help of local artist Carlos Alves, Miami
Lighthouse Instructor Nelba Gonzalez, and many volunteers, students
created a mosaic column that was installed in the sensory garden at the
Lighthouse.
When working with
ceramics, a child’s imagination is stimulated allowing the child to
recreate figures using primarily their sense of touch. Using their hands
helps children develop fine motor skills, spatial relation and orientation
allowing them to see through the sense of touch. This project was
conceived with goal of having the children interact and develop social
skills while learning to work together as a team.
Special thanks to
Mr. Scott Miller, President, Opa-Locka Hialeah Flea Market, for his
generous donation which helped make this dream come true.
2009 Miami Lighthouse Transition Summer Camp Students
Visit Coast Guard Air
Station Miami
On July 28th,
students participating in the Transition Summer Camp visited Coast Guard
Air Station Miami. Students were paired with either a pilot or crewmember
and received a personal tour of a Dolphin helicopter and Falcon jet in
addition to learning about Coast Guard missions. This was the first time
students from Miami Lighthouse have had the opportunity to visit a
military facility. A special thank-you is extended to Board Member David
Turner and Coast Guard Captain Robert Grant for facilitating this
once-in-a-lifetime visit.
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