Teen volunteers help special needs kids at winter camp

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS- Volunteers and participants in the Friendship Circle winter camp enjoy an outing together during winter break. Friendship Circle pairs special needs children with teenage volunteers for social activities. The Conejo Valley Friendship Circle, a local nonprofit organization that pairs teenage volunteers with special needs children, recently hosted its fourth annual winter camp at the Milken Jewish Community Campus in West Hills. Special needs children from the Conejo Valley and western San Fernando Valley attended.

Erica Kane's daughter, 9yearold Abby, took part in her first Friendship Circle winter camp. The biggest benefit of the camp for Abby, said Kane, was inclusion. "She felt she was part of something. She was with her peers and with people that were nice to her and really cared about her."

Depending on function level, one or two teens were assigned to a child. Leah Leiberman, 19, was responsible for Abby during the week. Originally from London, Leiberman spent four years in Chicago during her high school years where she worked with special needs children. She came to the Conejo Valley Friendship Circle in September.

"Abby loved going to the Science Museum, where she patiently watched little chicks hatch," said Leiberman.

"A lot of activities were handson, and she tried everything. She rode the roller coaster at Adventure City, and she spent a lot of time in the camp pool where we played Marco Polo. She also took part in the art program and enjoyed the magician and puppet show," Leiberman said. Founded in 2003, the Conejo Valley Friendship Circle matches volunteer teens with children with Down syndrome, autism, ADD and other emotional or physical challenges.

Currently, 125 families participate, and 250 teens volunteer.

For information, call (818) 865-2233, e-mail staff@ friendshipcircleca.com or visit www.friendshipcircleca.com.