WAVERLY — Magical handcuffs, an ax and a T-rex named Chompy. That’s what Sir Jake and his helpers Slicer and Boppy the Cop needed to save the universe of Corapolis and protect its queen Celestia from the evil dark emperor. This story was created by the young minds of Camp Create.

Camp Create is a visual and theatre arts day camp for children who have special needs, including physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges. For two weeks (Aug. 7-11 and Aug. 14-18), campers explored their creativity by coming up with ideas for a play, building props and making costumes for the first half of the day, while spending the second half of the day rehearsing the play.

“I love doing this and look forward to it every year,”said Amy Colley who runs this camp with her husband Steve Colley, artist-in-residence of the Dietrich Theater, and friend Michaela Moore, owner of All About Theatre Performing Arts School. They started the camp with help from a grant from Lackawanna County and sponsor, including Ronald McDonald House, Rotary Club of Tunkhannock, P&G, Everything Natural, Wegmans, Gerrity’s Supermarkets, POSH, and the Waverly Comm, where Camp Create took place. They work with interns who listen to the campers’ ideas for a play and help set up the props and costumes.

“It (Camp Create) actually helps build communication skills,” said Cassy Rivenburg, an intern. “The kids are shy at first but later they open up. In the end, they become more social.”

This is Cassy’s sixth year at the camp. The first five years, she was a camper. This year, she is a helper.

Tammy Scott, also an intern, has helped with Camp Create for two years.

“I like helping the kids create art for the costumes,” she said. “The kids are nice and I like to make friends, too.”

Other interns include Pari Pancholy, who helped by recording the children’s ideas, and Lily Polizzi and Sarah Horne, who both played robots in the play, which went with the second week’s theme called Fantastic Future.

“We want to give the kids a chance to enjoy themselves and create things no matter what’s holding them back,” said Horne. “It’s our job to make sure no one gets left out, their vision gets shown, and that they’re treated equally.”

The campers perform their play for their parents on Friday of both weeks.

For the first week, the theme was Amazing Adventures! The campers performed an original play called Battle of the Three Crystals. In this story, the crystals all together in one scepter could rule the world.

In the second week, the theme was Fantastic Future. The campers create a universe called Corapolis, which is ruled by a queen (Celestia) played by Dani Scott and her three princesses — Princess Flower, Princess Aqua, and Princess Sophia. The universe is threatened by a dark universe emperor played by Daniel Glynn, who wants to marry the queen. It’s up to Sir Jake played by Eddie Horgan, Slicer played by J.T. Faux, Boppy the Cop played by Aiden Fick, and Chompy played by Matthew Buffington with help from a time traveler named Adventure (played by camper Griffin Turock) and his chicken friend Squawky to save the day.

After the play, some of the campers were given awards. Tina Sanko was given the best friend award for making a fellow camper feel better when he was sad.

“I like to help people when I can,” she said.

Pearl, an autistic service dog owned by campers Andrew and Matthew Buffington, was awarded the furriest camper award. Daniel Glynn, who played the evil emperor, received the best bad guy award.

Camp Create has been encouraging kids to use their creativity despite their disability for the past 17 years.

“We love doing this,” said Michaela Moore. “We hope to do it for many years to come. We are very grateful to all of the organizations and civic groups that donated to let other people know about the program.”

Camp Create interns Lily Polizzi, left, and Kaylee Salony fill bottles of space dust for the play.

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Camp Create interns Lily Polizzi, left, and Kaylee Salony fill bottles of space dust for the play. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Twelve-year-old Eddie Horgan, left, as the hero Sir Jake, fighting Daniel Glynn, age 9, as the evil emperor.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_20170816_112806.jpg.optimal.jpgTwelve-year-old Eddie Horgan, left, as the hero Sir Jake, fighting Daniel Glynn, age 9, as the evil emperor. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Pearl, an autistic service dog owned by campers Andrew and Matthew Huffington, joins Camp Create.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_20170816_112829-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPearl, an autistic service dog owned by campers Andrew and Matthew Huffington, joins Camp Create. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Camp Create campers set up for the ‘Fantastic Future’ play.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_20170816_113247.jpg.optimal.jpgCamp Create campers set up for the ‘Fantastic Future’ play. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

From left, Sarah Horne, Daniel Glynn, Nyrell Daughtry, and Manan Pancholy play the villains in the play. Glynn is the evil emperor while Horne, Daughtry, and Pancholy play robots who serve as his henchmen.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_20170816_135057.jpg.optimal.jpgFrom left, Sarah Horne, Daniel Glynn, Nyrell Daughtry, and Manan Pancholy play the villains in the play. Glynn is the evil emperor while Horne, Daughtry, and Pancholy play robots who serve as his henchmen. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Participate in Camp Create pose for pictures for their parents after the play.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_20170818_141136-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgParticipate in Camp Create pose for pictures for their parents after the play. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Program allows special needs children to be creative

 

By BEN FREDA

For Abington Journal

 

 

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