HENRICO, Va. (WRIC) — Sarah Brooks knots yarn as fast as her hands can move.
“It’s like a key chain, and I’m finishing it off,” the 8-year-old explains. This is one of her favorite camp activities.
“Crafts, she’s a crafts monster,” her dad Derek Brooks interjects.
Derek watches Sarah work and loves seeing her have so much fun. They had tried other camps to no avail, but this one is different.
“When we found RAIN, it was the perfect fit,” he says simply.
RAIN is the Richmond Autism Integration Network, a program providing recreation opportunities to kids ages 8 to 18 on the spectrum. Camp Free2BMe is its signature of the summer.
RAIN and Camp Free2BMe came to be four years ago when founder Robin Davis was looking for an outlet for her then 10-year-old son who is high-functioning. RAIN uses peer integration and matches participants with a buddy their same age.
“They have a place where they feel safe, where they can be themselves, where they’re accepted for their challenge,” explains RAIN Program Director Catherine Pall. “They’re just kids like everyone else. They may have some special needs, they may have some sensory issues, but underneath it all they’re just kids and they should be treated that way.”
RAIN offers day trips throughout the community. Laughter and smiles at camp also help to make a lasting impression.
Derek says he has seen so many positive changes in Sarah since they found RAIN.
“They let them be who they are, they don’t have them conform to a middle of the road standard which makes for a great experience for them.”
RAIN is currently enrolling for summer and fall programs. Follow this link for more information.
