Video: A Special Week at Camp Tik-A-Witha

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OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) — Volunteers and a group of 45 special kids are camped out in Chickasaw County.

Under the watchful eyes of a volunteer life guard, children with developmental disabilities are being pushed to the limit as they swim on the 20 acre lake at Camp Tik-A-Witha.

“We just swimming in the water. I came up, and I came up by the trampoline and I kept on going,” said Jeremiah King/Special Needs Camper.

“We do cookouts, we have camp fires, anything that a regular camper would do, we do it,” said Beth Moody/Camp Director.

“This is my third year, so I definitely met a lot of people here. And I just really have fun,” said Kaitlyn McKinness/Memphis.

To help build confidence in a fun way they will never soon forget, a variety of activities are prepared to keep them busy all week long.

“We have a horse back program. They spend some time in the ring riding and then we also take them on a sensory trail where they experience senses and different things able to do on a horse and help balance and that kind of thing. Work on other skills and that fashion,” said Moody.

If only for a week, at a place where they get to blossom and shine, the very special children become the beautiful stars that they are.

“They are able to do things that they are not exposed to. Things that they are not able to do with our staff. We are able to encourage them and help them develop skills that they may not get,” said Moody.

Children attending this year’s camp are from North Mississippi; two from Maryland, and at least one from Memphis.