Deaf Events Among Families Circle (DEAF Circle) manages the Kids of Deaf Adults & Deaf day camp in Rochester, NY. The camp aims to bring together deaf children and KODAs through a day camp so children can become more enriched with Deaf culture and sign language. American Sign Language (ASL) will be the primary language used, with the goal of keeping spoken English to a minimum.
This unique camp focuses on children from 5 to 10 years old, either deaf themselves (most deaf children have more than one disability) or are kids of deaf parents (KODAs). The one week camp program is usually held during mid-August, usually from 9 to 4 p.m., at one of the local park facilities.
Currently, there are no other available day camps that serve the community for deaf/hard of hearing children and children of deaf parents, other than the existing Camp Mark 7 located in Old Forge, NY and serves children who are 9 years old and older for overnight camp. In the past, we did have a fellow KODA who ran the camp by herself. Due to time constraints and being busy with her own goals, she was not able to continue running the program. It wasn’t until 6 years ago, a group of parents decided to bring the program back under the direction of DEAF Circle’s nonprofit organization.
A Sampling of Photos of Our Events
Teams competed during the Olympics Day for points.
The younger group, ages 5 to 7, used shapes for animals.
Two groups of campers showed their artworks. The first group (8 to 10 year olds) designed their modern pop artworks.
Volunteers and campers created the camp flag.
Campers gathered round after their skits on the last day of camp.
Deaf Circle In the News
Feature Story in Democrat and Chronicle, Saturday, August 18, 2018
