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Governor and First Lady officially open "Camp Shriver" in the USVI

Participants in "Camp Shriver" St. Thomas gather at Antilles School MCM Center on Monday morning for opening of two-week camp.

First Lady Cecile deJongh visited the James C. Savage Center for the Performing Arts at Good Hope School today to officially open and launch the St. Croix chapter of "Camp Shriver." Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. was concurrently opening the St. Thomas-St. John chapter at the Mark C. Marin Center at Antilles School. Both the Governor and First Lady provided remarks to the children present, joining the Camp Directors and executive staff in celebrating the camp’s inauguration. 

"Camp Shriver is truly a blessing to so many Virgin Islands families in the territory, and to so many young people and adults with intellectual disabilities. With the official opening of Camp Shriver on St. Croix, and the companion facility on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands residents with intellectual disabilities can participate in summer activities and sports training alongside dedicated and caring camp counselors and professional athletes. With Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s energy and vision supporting this endeavor, and these special individuals, the ideals, the hopes, and dreams of a new generation of people with disabilities is realized. I am so pleased to be celebrating this new initiative in support of the first ever off-shore ‘Camp Shriver’ facility in the nation," Mrs. deJongh said. 

An initiative of the First Lady, the Virgin Islands "Camp Shriver" chapters were developed in March, at the Maryland home of camp founder and disabilities activist, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. At that time, the Governor and First Lady held a meeting along with Janice Lee, St. Croix Special Olympics Chapter Director, Dr. Thomas Songster, Special Olympics, and Michael Akin, Catholic Charities, to discuss the formal arrangements in launching the two facilities and bringing sports training to the disabilities community in the Virgin Islands. Campers participate in the two-week summer session in coordination with the Special Olympics, and engage in swimming, basketball, soccer, softball, and other recreational sporting activities.

"Sharing in the love of sport with friends and family, coaches and other mentors, children and adults with disabilities are able to enjoy a sense of inclusion and belonging at ‘Camp Shriver.’ In raising the availability of these facilities and special services, we raise the quality of life for residents with special needs, territory-wide, and that is an accomplishment that I am very proud of," Mrs. deJongh said.

"Camp Shriver" was originally developed by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1962 in Rockville, Maryland, to provide intellectually challenged children and adults with an opportunity to participate in sports training and social skills development. Originally launched from Ms. Kennedy Shriver’s home, the home-camp is still holding two-week sessions during the summer months, along with the other camp facilities nationwide, Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Campers are challenged to reach their highest physical limits, develop physical fitness and experience the joys and friendships that come from attending a summer camp. 

"We are here to show respect, learn some new skills, and make some new friends. Let’s go out there and have some fun -- ‘Camp Shriver’ St. Croix has begun!" said Janice Lee, St. Croix Chapter Director, Special Olympics. 
Shriver's vision and passion provided the inspiration that led to the First International Special Olympics Summer Games. On July 20, 1968, the Kennedy Foundation planned and underwrote the Games, with 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 26 U.S. states and Canada competing in athletics, floor hockey and aquatics. The Special Olympics today includes almost 1.4 million athletes worldwide.

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