With tears in her eyes leaving the U.S., teacher education student Lauren Windsor had some trepidation trading the familiarity of her classroom for an immersive internship promising challenge, transformation…and the journey of a lifetime.
Windsor was on her way to Barretstown, a nonprofit in Ireland offering residential camps and programs for children and families affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. She is studying to be an early childhood educator and intervention specialist, and saw the live-in activity leader internship as an opportunity to expand her horizons while gaining skills and serving the campers. The challenge of leaving home to work in a different country quickly dissipated as she was introduced to the camp.
“The entire basis of the camp is recreational therapy, which helps get kids outside and participate in activities that they don’t typically participate in, things they never thought possible — canoeing, rock climbing, horseback riding,” Windsor said. “Many of these children have been defined by their illnesses, and we get them to dance, sing and chant while we’re dressed up in costumes and acting silly. It’s this fulfillment of something these campers have missed — they get to be kids again.”
Annie Chiles, intervention specialist major, also experienced the magic of Barretstown. She said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher and special education felt right — one of Chiles’s closest and oldest friends has Down syndrome and inspires Chiles to envision making inclusive classroom spaces. An internship with Barretstown felt like the perfect fit.
In a camp counselor role, Chiles took girl campers to their activities, managed their time, stayed in the cottage and generally hung out with them.
“Working with Barretstown showed me everything is adaptable,” Chiles said, recalling how a wheelchair-bound camper went rock climbing and a blind camper shot a bow and arrow. “There might be some things you think aren’t adaptable, but no! If a kid who doesn’t have the use of his legs can climb a climbing wall, then anything can be adapted and changed.”
Windsor agreed, and included that the changes weren’t isolated to the participants.
“I now find myself trying to be more helpful for people who may need more assistance at the grocery store, in class or wherever,” she said. “I’m trying to serve others a little bit more now.”
Caroline Miller, who is studying to be a middle childhood educator and intervention specialist, also was an activity leader with Barretstown this summer. Miller said the structure of the nearly 16-hour long days challenged her.
“This experience threw you in, almost like a sink or swim,” Miller said. “You had 30 minutes to prepare for the day — you didn’t have time to second guess yourself. It stripped you down to what you were capable of, and you had to trust yourself. Now, when I start my student teaching, I have no question that I can do it.”
It’s because of donor support from John Napoli ’82 that three more Flyers are living the learn, lead, serve motto; and participating in internships that help them see a whole new world of possibilities.
“I wish I could thank the donor in person for the summer of a lifetime. Because without their generosity, I wouldn’t be the same person,” Windsor said; thinking back to her tears on the plane, not on the way to Ireland, but on the way back because of her life-changing experience. “There are no other words than 'thank you.'”
Photo featuring Lauren Windsor (far left) courtesy of Barretstown.