Inclusion

Inclusion

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois partners with the National Inclusion Project to bring programs to all girls of all abilities. The National Inclusion Project provided Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois with a grant to implement and present Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM) Camps in the Quad Cities, Waterloo and Burlington.

The National Inclusion Project is a national non-profit that serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. They partner with communities and inclusive programs creating awareness about the possibilities that inclusion can bring. They work every day to make the inclusion of children with disabilities a reality. Since inception, they have made a real impact by ensuring that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer.

TEAM Camp is designed to promote inclusiveness by offering all girls the opportunity to participate in recreational and team building activities while developing leadership skills. Girls will participate in activities such as swimming, volleyball, challenge courses, crafts and much more.  Also, volunteers and parents will learn ways to on how they can incorporate inclusiveness into other Girl Scout pathways throughout the year.

For parents, these are moments of dread: Recognizing a child’s longing to be included, knowing all too keenly the profound pain of being left out, and wanting desperately to make it better.

For children challenged with physical and developmental disabilities and for those who love them, there is a strong desire to belong, but the obstacles can seem insurmountable.

By teaching children to welcome others into their worlds, the principles of inclusion can help foster a greater sense of cooperation and empathy in the next generation.

As the recognized leader in the inclusion movement, the National Inclusion Project seeks to address both the practical and philosophical nature of creating a world where all children can enjoy a sense of belonging . . .no longer on the outside looking in, but always included.

TEAM Camps are Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois’s first step to providing inclusive programs. Together with The National Inclusion Project, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois will continue bridging the gap between girls with disabilities and the world around them.

To register for TEAM Camps, visit www.GirlScoutsToday.org/calendar.

For questions about inclusion, call 800-798-0833 or email Inclusion@GirlScoutsToday.org.