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My Story

Lions Camp Badger is a safe and rewarding place for children with special needs to learn and socialize. I have worked at Lions Camp Badger for the past four years and have gained so much from both the students and the staff.

My first summer at camp was as a Counselor. I had five girls in my cabin, ages ranging from ten to twelve. During the day, I was a Teacher Aid, carrying out lesson plans and working one-on-one with many of the students. Asa counselor I had to take care of my girls, whether it be helping them dress, eat, shower, etc. It was a full time job, but worth every minute. That first summer was the year I decided I wanted to enter the field of Special Education.

For the past two summers I have been the Work Study Teacher. In this class I teach basic skills dealing with money, time, nutrition, fitness, rearing comprehension, and letter writing, as well as other life skills. In Work Study you can cover various subjects in creative ways accordingto the students' IEP goals.

Being a teacher at Lions Camp Badger has been very rewarding. Watching as the students work hard and improve over the six-week period brings an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction for a job well done. There is an immense joy that comes with working with the students and triggering the switch that "turns on the light" for them.

In am heading off to graduate school to obtain my Masters in Special Education. I am planning on doing my final project with Lions Camp Badger. I want to return the favor of what Lions Camp Badger has given me, four summers of knowledge and experience that cannot possibly be taught in the classroom.

Mi Dieter

This first appeared in the January 2001 LCB newsletter .