Nebraska Empowered Youth
Leadership Camp

July 26 - 30, 2021
(Day Camp, not Overnight)
Schramm State Recreation Area 
(30 min from both Omaha and Lincoln; 5 miles south of Nebraska Crossing Outlet Mall)

Nebraska Empowered Youth Camp is uniquely designed for students ages 14-21. This exhilarating five-day event encourages personal development, strengthens independent living skills, builds leadership abilities and promotes self-advocacy, laying a solid foundation for growth in school and achieving future workplace and life success. Utilizing a variety of teaching tools and activities Easterseals Nebraska has created a week-long leaders-in-training event where students take on life’s challenges and realities of living, learning and working with a disability.

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Program Goals

The goal of Nebraska Empowered Youth Camp is to provide youth with disabilities with a unique, recreational experience that prepares them for school, work and life inclusion. Students will take interest in learning about their disability, understand the importance of communication and listening skills, challenge one another to explore and share their talents and strengths, understand accommodations in the school and workplace, celebrate and learn about independent living, become excited about opportunities to access the services necessary for job seeking or secondary education and get engaged to return to their communities and advocate for their success and independence.

Eligibility

Age
​Interested applicants must be between ages 14 -21  by the start of the session and not have received their official high school diploma prior to the session.




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Ability
Applicants must have either a disability and/or have an IEP and be socially independent, requiring minimal to moderate (1:4 - 1:8 staff to camper ratio) staff supervision.

Campers with physical, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, learning, developmental disabilities as well as mental illness and chronic medical conditions are welcome to apply.​
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Requirements
Youth must be able to participate in a 45 minute classroom style of session, be socially independent, and not have disruptive behaviors.




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Participant Benefits and Outcomes

• Challenge self and others to explore strengths and talents
• Understand accommodations in school and work
• Be empowered to self-advocate for success and independence
• ​Invaluable work skills that you can apply to any job, such as:
  • Application and interview skills 
  • Knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses
  • Ability to work as a team
  • Understanding a job description
  • Following a schedule​
• Develop independent living skills, such as:
  • Healthy Relationships and Communication
  • Money Management and Organization
  • Meal Prep
  • Healthcare navigation
• Teambuilding and Cooperation skills
• New, lifelong friendships
• Have the best week of summer, ever!

Cost

Thanks to a gift from VocRehab, this session is offered free of charge.

How to Apply

Application:
The application is included within our registration portal, CampDoc. Applications will open soon (as will all other session registrations).

​Acceptance:
Once the application section has been completed, we will notify families within a week of applying.