Some partnerships show their impact in spreadsheets. Others show it in smiles that last for days.
On Wednesday, July 1, Central Region Youth Specialist Paula Pogue joined a crew from Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation for a full day of service at Wonderland Camp, which serves children and adults with disabilities at the Lake of the Ozarks.
The group spent the day engaging with campers and lending a hand wherever needed, including in the kitchen and dining hall. Paula wasted no time rolling up her sleeves.
“Paula has some mad kitchen skills. She had no problem jumping right in and leading the way in a commercial kitchen,” said Elizabeth Perkins with Vocational Rehabilitation, who also serves on the Central Workforce Development Board.
The visit also gave the team a chance to meet this summer’s Vocational Rehabilitation interns and to sit down with the camp’s administrative team to discuss how the internship program is progressing. The answer? It’s working, and then some.
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From Interns to Employees
The most exciting update from the day came in the form of real outcomes. Several students who completed internships at Wonderland Camp have returned and been hired on as camp employees. The camp’s leadership also shared how much the internship program supports the camp’s long-term sustainability, keeping a beloved place running strong for the campers who count on it.
That’s the kind of result this partnership was built for: young people gaining meaningful work experience, and a community organization gaining dedicated team members.
A Partnership That Keeps Growing
Camp leadership shared how much they value the partnership, and the feeling is mutual. The collaboration between Vocational Rehabilitation and the Central Workforce Development Region continues to grow stronger each year.
“They may not always be small undertakings, and might not impact a high number of participants, but they truly make a meaningful impact,” Perkins said of the collaborative efforts.
For Perkins, the day was about more than checking in on a program. “There is so much joy in talking with the campers and hearing about their experiences,” she said. “Wonderland Camp truly is one of the happiest places on earth.”
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To learn more about youth programs and services available across our 19-county region, visit cwdregion.com/youth.